•KINLEY•My half-drunken coffee sat in front of me with empty pain pill sachets scattered across the table.My head hurt and my eyes felt heavy.It was already halfway through the night and neither Callum nor Noah was talking.I glanced over to where Barney and Luca were talking amongst themselves while shooting glances over at our hostages.I looked over at Fin, thinking over what he said earlier. He was sleeping across two strategically placed chairs and looked a bit odd considering his large build.I took a sip of my now cold coffee while trying to think what our next move should be.And then an idea came over me.I got up and went over to Fin, crouching down I shook him."What?" He asked as he opened his eyes with confusion."Come outside, I have an idea, but I need your input on it." I got up and walked out without waiting.A few minutes later Fin walked out, still rubbing his eyes, "Okay, what is it?""Jodie was in a relationship with Callum, right?""Yeah, I guess," he shrugged
•KINLEY•My heart was racing in my chest as I followed behind Luca.Callum, who was still restrained had brought us to a pretty normal-looking house.I don't know why this surprised me, but I had been imagining something else.Barney and a few men had surrounded the sides and back yard while Luca and Fin walked towards the front with me and around five or six others.Luca had instructed I was to stay behind them and handed me a gun.The moment my feet made it into the house my heart dropped.It was empty, void of furniture or any further signs of inhabitants.It was as if I could feel my soul drop in despair.They searched the house while I stood silently in the empty living room, staring at nothing.Fin walked back in shaking his head, "I'm sorry, he's not here."I nodded, "Kinda figured that."He leaned back against the wall, "We'll get them. Barney and Luca are out talking to the neighbors, King is on his way."I nodded again looking away with a heavy sigh, "Jodie is good."Fin wal
•GIANNI•I watched through narrowed eyes as Jodie paraded around with my son on her hip acting as if he was her child.My hands were cuffed, making it impossible for me to move, and that drove me insane because all I wanted to do was rip her head off."Oh, you're such a beautiful little boy, aren't you?" She smiled at me, "Daddy must be real proud, huh?""Jodie, this is ridiculous. What game do you think you're playing? Taking me was one thing, but to take my son too? How far are you willing to take this?"She continued smiling while she warmly embraced my son, "You have no idea how far I'm willing to take this, baby. I will take it as far as I need to to make sure I get what I want.""My wife isn't the type of mother who is going to let this go. My men are as good as I am, you should know this better than anyone. Do you really think they will allow you to get away with this?"She shrugged, "I have it all figured out. They will never find us," she walked over to me, "Look, I know that
•KINLEY•"Hey, Kin?"I opened my eyes, rubbing at them as they adjusted to the light, "What is it?" I asked Fin.He brought me to a hotel after my anxiety attack, and the moment I hit the bed I was out."Uh, well, there's good news and bad news."I sat up, "Is Renato okay?"He nodded, "Yeah, he's okay."I looked over at Barney who was looking a bit awkward."Is Gia okay?"Again they nodded."Well? What is it then? Can one of you spit it out already?"Fin sat down on the bed, "Well, the good news is that your son and husband are alive. The bad news," he turned to reach his hand out to Barney who handed him something, "Is this." I took the envelope from Fin and opened it slowly, worry sitting in my stomach as to what I might find.I pulled out the contents of the envelope and hurt with a mixture of anger took over me.My chest tightened as I looked at the color pictures in my hands.Pictures of Jodie in skimpy lingerie on top of Gianni. His hands were on her ass as she straddled him.H
•KINLEY•Luca was looking as confused as I felt after Fin told him of his suspicions."We should ask Barney where he got the envelope and go from there." Luca finally spoke.I nodded, "I guess that makes the most sense. But we have to do it in such a way that he won't think we suspect him of being up to something." "Agreed. Is he at the warehouse?" Asked Fin."Yes. Let's go." When we arrived at the warehouse we were trying to play it cool.Fin was holding onto the pictures frowning when he looked over at Barney, "Where did she deliver them to?"Barney frowned, "Sorry?" It was obvious he was stalling."Where did you get the envelope from?"Barney took a sip of his coffee, "Oh. It was handed to me earlier when I was in the coffee place down the road."I glanced at Fin, but he was still playing it cool, "So that means she has someone watching us. So this place has been compromised. Why didn't you think to tell us that?" My eyes darted back to Barney.He shrugged, "It honestly didn't s
•GIANNI•Jodie was grinning like the maniac she was while looking down at her phone."She's got the photos!"I frowned, "What photos?""I sent your sweet little wife some pictures of us.""Jodie, we agreed that I would be with the both of you. Why are you still doing this?"She turned to me with the same manic smile, "Because I can. This is so much fun.""What photos did you send her?"She skipped over to me excitedly shoving the phone in my face and my mouth dropped open in horror, "What?! Jesus. You photographed us?" I was looking at pictures of one of the first times I slept with her.She nodded, "It's always good to have a backup, don't you think?""You know, Jodie, the crazier you act, the more I'm beginning to worry about our agreement. I can't be with someone who's going to act like this. You know what I like. You know me so well." Of course, I was bullshitting her, she didn't know much about me at all. She sat down, "I didn't think about that. I'm sorry. I'll speak to Kinley.
•KINLEY•When Luca broke the door down I all but ran out at top speed while waiting for Luca and Fin to check the basement. We heard far too much noise down there to believe that we were alone.When they returned I wasn't surprised to see a man with them, but judging by the fact that no one had a gun pointed at him, I could only assume that he wasn't a threat."Looks like Barney has his own little secret," Luca spoke giving me a look with pursed lips."Barney threw this guy down there?" I turned to him, "Why? And who are you?""Because I found out what he was doing with Jodie and I was going to tell you about it. I'm his boyfriend. Well, ex now."My mouth dropped in shock."Do you know where they are?" Fin asked.He nodded, "Yeah. I'll take you there."I got back in Fin's car with him and Barney's boyfriend, Luca following behind us.This was it, finally, I would get my son and husband back.When we pulled up in front of a house my stomach was flip-flopping at the thought of this. I w
•KINLEY•I stared at the doctor in disbelief."Excuse me? I'm what?""Pregnant."His words kind of echoed around me at first."How is that possible?! Look at me!" "Should I bring Mr. Esposito in?""No. I'll tell him at home..." The doctor checked me out, and the baby through the ultrasound before letting me leave the room.I walked back to Gianni in a daze."What's wrong?" Of course, he could instantly tell something was up."I, uh, I'm pregnant."Gianni's eyes widened, "What? How?"I shook my head, "I don't know. Somehow the baby survived everything.""What do you want to do?""What?" I looked at him, a bit confused."What do you want to do? You said you didn't want more children right now.""Oh. I don't know. I'm kind of in shock at the moment."He nodded, "Of course. This is... Something."I nodded too, not sure what to say back to that. I was still feeling confused and surprised by this news.I couldn't wrap my head around how an unborn baby would survive everything I went throu