Book Two: Chapter Ten


    “Finally you guys are back,” Theo whispered as Alexis and Sean slipped back with the group.


    Lunch was almost over so they hurriedly gobbled their sandwiches. Despite his impatience he let them


    knowing it had to be difficult to face their father even with his sister’s nerves of steel. They just


    managed to finish eating before the teachers called them to gather. Lining up with the rest of the ss


    Alexis hooked her arms through those of her brothers allowing them to continue their silent


    conversation.


    ‘So what was he like? Up tight? A real jerk right?’


    ‘Actually no. He was nice…awkward but nice.’


    ‘How can you say that after what he did to mom?’


    ‘I know…but…I don’t think he meant it. It sounds like he’s as much a victim as she was.’


    ‘I agree,’ Sean seconded. ‘He said his friends drugged him to loosen him up by sleeping with a woman.


    He thought they paid a maid to do it. You should have seen his face. He seemed devastated it turned


    out to be mom.’


    ‘You sure he wasn’t just acting?’


    ‘No. It wasn’t an act.’


    Theo didn’t argue. If there was one thing he could always count on it was his sister’s intuition.


    ‘So what did you do with the photographer’s wallet?’ Alexis asked.


    ‘I left it on one of the tables. Someone will find it and turn it in.’ Theo shrugged. He wasn’t really


    concerned whether the reporter received it or not. The hassle of recing his credit cards was the least


    punishment he deserved for interfering.


    ‘Well anyway…We’ll have toe up with a n about our grandfather. We may have to elerate


    our time table,’ Alexis announced bringing both of her brother’s to attention.


    Ever since learning the truth about their maternal family the trio had been nning their revenge on


    everyone who hurt their mother. Ss Prescott had also been on their list which was why Sean had


    gone to the trouble of infiltrating hispany. Now it seemed unnecessary…at least for now. There


    were plenty of others in need of theireuppance starting with their aunt.


    For her they had already begun. Sean programmed bots to floodment sections of any news outlet


    reporting on her party activities with unttering critiques. He also created bots toment on her


    social media posts with the same feature. Her reputation was already abysmal to start with but their


    goal was to ruin itpletely. It was no secret she flirted with the idea of being an actress but the bad


    press the triplets continually instigated quickly dried up her offers. That was only the start. The final


    blow wouldeter.


    The punishment for their grandfather was different. Several years ago the Trent family ran afoul of the


    DaLairs and was practically wiped off the face of the world. It was an inspiration for the triplets. Their


    revenge would only beplete once they sessfully recreated the event with the Carlisles. Time


    was naturally on their side. They were only ten after all and since no one knew they existed they could


    work from the shadows without interference from either party.


    But it was different now. Their father knew of them and so did their maternal grandfather. They needed


    to change their strategy if they were going to go through with their n. For now Alexis was willing to


    wait to see what their father would do but as for their grandfather…she wasn’t so sure.


    “Okay kids we’re now entering the Ocean Voyage so let’s stay together and have fun.”


    * * *


    Ss stood back watching as the triplets followed along with their ss. Sean and Theo stood on either


    side of their sister protecting and guiding her through the exhibit. They stopped periodically marveling


    at the sharks and fish swimming all around them. Sean read every disy they passed for Alexis’s


    benefit.


    Theo started dancing in ce singing Baby Shark immediately bringing his siblings toughter as well


    as some of their ssmates. The trio trailed after their ss as if in their own little bubble. It seemed


    odd to Ss they didn’t make more of an effort to socialize with the other kids. Then again the trio had


    always been together allowing them to form deep bonds others simply couldn’t touch. It wasn’t any


    wonder the brothers guarded their sister so closely or that they would make such an impressive united


    front.


    Ss stood watching them with a mixture of pride and concern. How would he convince all three he


    wanted to be in their lives and that he wanted their mother now more than anything? It was intimidating


    to be so outnumbered and hecked experience with children.


    He did not have the advantage of surprise. They already knew who he was to them. Worse they knew


    what happened ten years ago though there seemed to be some confusion. Alexis said her mother had


    also been drugged in a plot conceived by her aunt. It certainly didn’t surprise him to know Marilynn was


    so devious but to think she would do something so reprehensible to her own sister. And worse his


    children actually believed he had been a part of the plot. It was enough to make him sick. Alexis


    seemed willing to listen to his side at least. Ss hoped his sons were as open-minded as her.


    But what of Ava? Did Ava also believe he had been a part of her sister’s plot? At the very least she


    must think he was heartless for the way he walked out on her and abandoned her to her fate. How


    could he convince her it wasn’t true? Would she even consider forgiving him?


    Alexis mentioned her mother having a crush and her heart had been broken by that same person. She


    seemed to imply he was the object of her mother’s desire. If that was true then that meant…Ava had


    been in love with him? Could it really be the woman he desired for so long harbored the same feelings


    for him? Ss cringed as he recalled thest words he said to her.


    God, what have I done?


    Pain enveloped his chest knowing he hurt her but even he hadn’t known she had feelings for him. And


    her wounds ran deep.


    Alexis imed her mother no longer believed in love and that was the real reason she no longer yed


    music. The very idea Ava refused to y left him feeling empty. He had to find some way to make it up


    to her and if he was lucky mend her heart to allow him back into it. She was too important to simply let


    her be. He had to fix this…somehow…


    “Ss?” Thomas prompted watching him closely.


    “Jake, you and Matthew keep close eye on my children. Do not let anything happen to them.”


    “Of course,” Jake nodded as he and Matthew shared a look. They were still wrapping their head around


    the fact Ss had children but they would not risk failing to protect them and incur his wrath.


    “Thomas,e with me,” Ss said giving one more look to the triplets before departing. There was


    someone he had to see right now.


    Reaching the car Ss sat in the passenger seat rubbing his temples. He had to see her, in person, not


    in pictures. He had waited long enough. Concerned Thomas slid into the driver’s seat before


    prompting, “Back to the office?”


    “The diner.”


    Thomas sucked in a breath. There was only one ce he could possibly mean. Without a word


    Thomas started the car and pulled into traffic. He wasn’t certain what would happen when they reached


    their destination he only hoped Ss wouldn’t do anything rash.


    * * *


    Mike sighed as he stretched in his seat. Beside him his partner had nodded off. Watching the diner day


    in and day out was rather monotonous. Mike expected a woman to have a more varied routine: grocery


    shopping, trips to the hair and nail salon, but their target only ever seemed to work.


    He just couldn’t figure her out or why Ss Prescott would be interested in her. She was pretty enough


    but ordinary. There was nothing extravagant or morous about her. She was a hard worker in fact she


    might work too hard and she was a devoted mother. None of those traits screamed: Attention!


    Maybe if he talked to her he would learn the answers to his puzzle but he didn’t dare go back into the


    diner and risk being recognized. As a security officer his number one priority was to go unnoticed that


    way he could move freely even in a crowd.


    ncing at his rearview mirror he noticed a ck sedan pull behind them. A secondter he


    recognized the driver just as his phone rang. Smacking his partner to wake him Mike picked up the


    phone, “Yes sir?”


    In the car behind Thomas looked at the SUV saying, “Anything unusual happen?”


    “No. Looks like the regr lunch crowd. This ce tends to attract a small but loyal clientele.”


    In today’s age of whole foods, vegetarians and diets the diner’s dated décor and food options was


    definitely something of a niche attracting older people who were looking for something nostalgic but


    also younger people looking for something different. There were several older folks enjoying a quiet


    meal but also a younger couple indicating that its appeal was broader than one might give it credit for.


    “Boss, are we…”


    “Maintain your position. We’re just following up.” Thomas hung up and studied the diner. He saw


    several guests but there was no sign of the server.


    Beside him Ss suddenly jerked to attention. Thomas nced at his friend then turned back to the


    diner following the other’s gaze. Outside beside the restaurant and just visible from their position was a


    dumpster. As they watched Ava emerged wearing a coat over her uniform as she hauled arge bag of


    garbage.


    With strength belying her small frame Ava flung the bag into therger container. Stepping back she


    hugged herself rubbing her arms as a sudden breeze brought a chill. She grimaced remaining outside


    a few moments more before retreating inside.


    She reappeared inside a few minutester after discarding her jacket and washing her hands. The


    moment she appeared at the counter a customer signaled for coffee. Ava grabbed the carafe from its


    hot te and refilled the cup with a smile. She repeated this twice before new guests stepped in to take


    seats at a booth.


    Ava brought them a pair of coffee cups filling them as she greeted them and asked if they needed more


    time only for them to rattle off their order without looking at her. Without missing a beat Ava wrote down


    the orders repeating it back before departing. Ss scowled at how they dismissed her. They should be


    the ones vying for her attention.


    His gaze followed her the next few minutes as she refreshed coffee, cleaned tables and served all the


    while maintaining a forced smile that had be a natural expression over the years. Those who


    didn’t know her would make the mistake of thinking she was happy but there was no warmth in the


    expression and her gaze remained t. It was clear she was anything but happy.


    Ss frowned. Ten years had taken their toll. A decade of struggles raising three children on her own


    weighed on her shoulders. It shouldn’t have been this way. He should have been by her side taking


    care of her, supporting her, loving her.


    He wanted nothing more than to cross the street, sweep her off her feet and carry her out the door. But


    he hesitated. Did he have the right to do so after abandoning her? Would she ept him? Would she


    be happy? Or would she be terrified?


    Ss sucked in a breath. If she were angry he would understand. Her anger he could take but not her


    fear. He recalled again the way she trembled, clutching the nket to her naked chest as he stood over


    her enraged by his friends’ actions and by what he thought she was. She had to have been terrified of


    him and the threat he made. It wasn’t any wonder she never tried to contact him after the triplets were


    born or when Alexis was diagnosed with her condition.


    Ss leaned back running his hands through his hair. If only he realized it was her that day. If only he


    asked her to raise her head. He would have recognized her immediately even in his self-righteous


    rage. Why did he take his anger out on her? She didn’t deserve it especially after what Alexis told him.


    Ss gritted his teeth. Marilynn Carlisle. She was a crude, disgusting creature. He had never met such


    an egotistical, wretched person as her in his life. It was hard to believe she was even Ava’s sister. The


    two wereplete opposites. But how could she have done that to her own sister? Just thinking about


    it caused his rage to boil. If it was thest thing he did he would make her pay for inflicting such harm


    on Ava. But first…he had to find a way to win Ava’s heart and keep her at his side where she belonged.


    Somehow…


    Ss looked to the diner again watching as she moved from table to table. She was too thin. Even from


    a distance he saw she was tired. She was pale, too pale. Her hair was dull and stringy though that


    could also be due to lower quality products. He refused to allow it to continue. But how could he


    approach her without frightening her?


    “Ss?” Thomas prompted after a while. “Did…you want to go in?”


    He hesitated. Every fiber of his being screamed Yes! but he couldn’t risk frightening her. It wasn’t like


    him to be indecisive. He always knew his path but suddenly he didn’t know what to do.


    “No,” he finally said. “I need…I need a little more time.”


    Thomas nodded starting the car. He had never seen Ss like this before. But perhaps it was to be


    expected. The woman he loved and looked for the past ten years had been right under his nose the


    entire time. What was worse she had been caring for his children without aid or support.


    Ss never showed much interest in children before and now he was a father of three no less. If they


    were normal kids it would be one thing but they were anything but normal. Thomas hesitated to say it


    but they were clearly geniuses. They had to be in order to infiltrate thepany’s security system at


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    ten years old. Ss was definitely in over his head even if he didn’t realize it yet.