Page 60 of Thick as Thieves
“We’ll look into it, but the story is not really presenting anything as factual, just speculation. Whoever wrote it has been very careful,” he says, dialling Patrick, our head lawyer.
Marcus waves at me, he’s reached James. “Hey sunshine, we need you to get your mum and the kids back to the house. There’s a story out there about her and the twins, and you might get hassled.” He stops while he listens. “About paternity,” he tells him. “Are they there already?” His voice goes an octave higher. For him that’s full panic mode. “Fuck. Can you all move without them noticing?” He listens some more. “How many of Valentina’s family are there? How many paps?” He continues to listen but then says calmly, “Yes James, I think you could take them, but we don’t want you to be—” He listens to James talk. “Not today. You can be the diversion another day. Put Tommy on.”
Mick has come to stand with us, as has Jase. Marcus asks them, “Can you sort out transport for them? James says there are loads of Valentina’s family, so they are hidden in a crowd of locals. But he’s seen some photographers he recognises stalking the park. He’s tipped everyone off and they’re getting a plan together.”
Thank god for that boy.Heis thinking, while I am certainly not.
Marcus has a hold of my elbow. Gabe is standing on the other side of me, Levi behind. It’s as if they know I may explode. Mick gets on with Tommy and Jase, locations are pinged through and cars sent off.
My phone rings, and even in this shit show, I smile. Jonno.
“Have you got them? Are they with you?” he asks straight out. Clearly he knows. “I’ve called E, but can’t get her. The genie is out of the bottle. You need to sort this out, and quick. I’ll do what I can on this end.”
“They’re at the park, and the paps are there already.”
He’s deadly silent for a heartbeat. “I’m calling Jax. He has some police there he’s worked with before. We might need them anyway if you’re staying there. They’ll keep people away.”
“Okay, sounds good,” I answer. My brain is spinning off to god knows where.
“I’ll let you know the plan. Is Tommy with her?”
“Yes, and Darryl,” I tell him.
“Good, they’ll be fine. It just might be a rugby scrum before we can secure them.”
I cut the call and Marcus is looking at me. I must look bad, as he touches my hand, covering mine with his, reassuring me. “Xan, we’ll get them. Was that Jonno?”
“Yes. He’s calling Jackson. Apparently they have police here they can trust. Fuck, Marcus, what the hell. What if?—”
“No, listen, it’s just paps. It’s nothing we haven’t dealt with before.” I think he’s trying to convince himself.
“Let’s head back to the house and wait for them,” Tim suggests, trying to push us all out towards the doors.
My feet don’t move, they’re planted. I can’t just sit and wait, and I can see Marcus baulking at the idea of nonaction.
“Get us a car, Mick. We’ll go meet them at the Zoo.” Marcus pulls me towards him as he barks out the order, making it clear who is going in that car. Levi and Gabe also stand behind us. We’re all going—no way are we sitting in a house like frightened rabbits, waiting for others to deliver our family back to us.
Tim has lost his mind if he thinks that’s happening. I need them with me. I’m not letting them out of my sight again.
“Be rational. It’s a huge city. The traffic is a nightmare. By the time we get a car and anywhere near, they’ll be at home.” Tim is being logical, but my brain has gone into overdrive, logic be damned. I can almost smell Evie’s scent. The babies’ laughter is ringing in my mind.
“We need a car, Jase. Get us one.” I never make demands normally. I’m easy going Xan, letting others take the reins, going with the flow. But not today, and not ever where my family is concerned.
“Xan, Marcus, please,” Tim pleads. We need to get everyone back to the house. If you go haring off around the city, it just complicates things.”
I open my mouth to argue as my phone pings. A text.
Jonno
Car at the park. Eyes on Kitten. Go the fuck home.
I almost laugh. The man’s a menace, but he’s our menace. Thank the lord for that. I show Kell the text.
“Let’s go home then,” he states grimly.
But what the hell are we walking into.
We step outside the doors of the radio station and all hell breaks loose.
