Trouble comes in Three's

Chapter 5

Scott POV

The meal was lovely, but watching the boys leave after dinner was strange. They had not participated in our conversations as much as they normally would, and it had me suspicious. They had been watching time, constantly looking at their watch or phone. Did they have a person of interest who had organized a group chat? A girlfriend perhaps? But being the two of them doing this strange behavior, it had to be more than a girl, couldn't it?

While Alex was chatting and laughing with Gemma, I tried not to be overly concerned about Alex's interest in Gemma. They have always been close. Of the three of them, they seem to do homework together, and Alex helps her in other ways, too; I am sure she is doing so well at school because of all the time Alex has given her, helping explain the homework in words they both relate to and her sports improved too, as Alex and Gemma were often in the gym. I try not to keep tabs on them; being the head of security, it is hard not to notice when they are together.

I wanted to go and tell them to sit further apart, but Melony would not let me. Melony kept telling me to leave the children alone and that it was okay. Both are at that age to discover each other and most likely start dating to trust Alex and Gemma will behave. If we pushed them apart, they would only come together in secret, and she would prefer their relationship if it blooms into more than friends, to happen in front of them and not in hiding. She said it was poor judgment on our part to push them apart.

I did not understand what she was trying to say.

I was more worried about two young kids trying to be adults. I remember being that age and wanting to investigate a woman's body.

Although Alex is still only sixteen, he is still huge and every bit a man with hormones working in overdrive, and he could break my eldest child's heart.

'They need to learn at their own pace and know that we are here if they need clarification or one tries to go further than the other wants to go. Refrain from judging our youngsters and allow them to make mistakes. I was sheltered and was not allowed a boyfriend, and I hated my parents for that. My sister was bedding every man in sight, making it look like I was giving in to the men. When we got together, I had no experience and needed to figure out what I was doing. I do not want our girl to go through what I did. I want her to have a chance to have her first kiss, and if it goes further, we will worry about that when it comes. Let them be young and foolish.' she was all sweet and loving, and my night was filled with making love to my wife, and all thoughts of the children fled my mind. My wife was good and causing distractions.

The next morning, we had a quick breakfast and headed to the sports room, where the screen was already showing the pregame stats, and the commentators were giving their views on who was a little off their game and who they thought would star today. On the other screens were Bethany, Theo, Hank, Jacko, and a slew of children. I noticed there was no Thomas or Lucas. Thomas, I understand he. He is often absent from these sports meetings at Bethany's house. He might show up on the screen as the day progresses, as he often logs in from his home now and does not travel so far. His job is more demanding, and he prefers to give his family time at his house rather than waste half a day traveling to and fro. I understand that it can be hard doing nothing but traveling and wasting quality time with family.

Alex was there, and Gemma walked over to him and sat snugly on the couch. I felt Melony's hand slip into mine as a gentle reminder of our conversation regarding these two. All I can hope is that he does not break her heart or get her pregnant. I am sure Bob had given his boys the talk, and Melony assured me that she had given Gemma that talk.

Talking about boys, where are Axel and Austin? Have they slept in? I checked with security last night, and they said they were on their chairs in front of the computer. Maybe they stayed up all night talking to whoever or played games till the wee small hours. Neither were big fans of the game, but I would have thought they were here to see their cousins and other friends. After the game, I will have to check on them and talk to them about not showing up today, and an important day to join the group, having most of the family available to talk to.

I noticed Bob looking around and frowning, so he, too, noticed two of his boys' failure to arrive. They may show up in the second half. The game started, and Gemma and her sisters got up to do the happy dance; it was good to see them joining in as Bethany, her girls, and others also got up and jiggled about. It was a good time. Bethany's girls are knockouts. None of them have boyfriends yet, and neither does her son. I believe they are interested but have not done anything about it.

'Is there anything new over there that would interest us?' Bob asked when half-time started. My mouth was watering as I watched Bethany's famous pies get handed out. Though we have pies here, the cook could not replicate what Bethany had perfected.

'There have been reports of movement in the old quarry.' Jacko replied, and a bite of his pie in his hand.

'Anyone we know? New buyer?' I asked, already interested in getting some of my men to check up on it.

'Not that we have in our system. Also, some new businesses have popped up in places that have been abandoned for years; that sort of change always piques my interest.'

'Can you send me the information and see what I can scrounge up? Could you get some of my people snooping about?'

'Sure thing, keep me posted. I am sure it is nothing, but it always gets my hackles up when these changes start. Until recently, we had the cabin removed, and the site cleaned up, and we have included all that land as part of the national park. The old house has been demolished, and a new block of units is going to be built there. It will be a rehabilitation center for the blind, those not born blind but who lost sight because of some other unfortunate accident or illness. Everything seemed to be moving along so far besides the above-mentioned changes.' Jacko was always thorough with his responses, as if he were making a report back to his bosses. We had been through too much together, and giving a full report was our norm now.

The game came back on, and we were all on the edge of our seats. The game was neck and neck. It could go either way. Gemma was screaming at the screen along with Alex, and I could hear Bethany and her crew doing the same, calling the same names and yelling at them to do the same things. It was music to my ears.

Our team won by the skin of their teeth, and the celebrations were on. Screaming and dancing, I turned my head to see Alex giving Gemma a kiss. Melony grabbed my arm and whispered.

'Don't you dare say a word, you hear me? NOT A WORD.' I huffed at her command but gave in. Besides, I just noticed that Bob was watching and had a frown on his face, yet Pam seemed to be very pleased.

I am not sure if this is a good sign or not. I feel our women have us by the short and curlies or, what some say, p***y whipped.

After much cheering and sad goodbyes, we left the sports room, but we all had things to do.

I headed up to the boys' room and knocked on the door, but there was no answer. I pushed Austin's bedroom door open, and it looked clean and tidy. I did the same to Axil, so I called security.

'Where are Axil and Austin?' I demanded of whoever answered the phone.

'Sitting at their desks.' I headed to the office room, where their desks were, and could not see them. I moved forward to the desk, and their pendants were on their chairs. A cold shiver ran down my back at the thought that those boys had been out all night and all day, and we had an idea and had not heard a word.

I headed off to find Bob and Pam. As I went, I called security to start checking the cameras to see if they could find them. Begin from when the boys left to start dinner yesterday, I found Bob and Pam in the sitting room, along with Alex, Gemma, and Melony. I walked straight up to Alex, pulled him out of his chair by his arm, and growled at his face.

'Where are your brothers?'