What Remy didnāt clock, the numbskull that he was- distracted and heart-eyed over a pair of perfectly siren-like eyes and a voice as smooth and grounding as the smoke that his brother favored, pipes over cigarettes- What he didnāt see was the fact that there apparently seemed to be a pin, a brooch- hell maybe even jewelry that was detected too late by Tristanās survalialce theme on Asteriaās body somewhere.Ā
It seemed to be a broadcasting device of some sort, broadcasting Remy and Asteria, The Sterlingsā second in command, their entire conversation loud, proud, and feckinā obvious to anyone within a certain mileās radius broadcast for all to see.Ā
And it wasnāt as though it was a miscalculation on Sterlingās part. He had a feeling that the head of the Stearlingās knew exactly what they were doing. Show anyone interested in either the Vipers or Stearlingās any, minuscule as it may be, information, and while the Stearlingās were prepared for it, the Vipers were not.Ā
They were hit by a barrage of lower ranked groups, thinking they had one up on the men who would never let that happen- any corrupt news journalist now thinking they knew every damn thing there was to know about Orion and his clan, despite the fact that Remy didnāt actually reveal much of anything and other than being himself, the massive flirt that he was, didnāt leak any imporntant information- Thank God for that.Ā
Even though a part of him, deep, deep, not that deep, inside huffed at the thought that he would have to wait to give his younger twin an arse whoopinā for the time beinā.Ā
So while Tristan was now aware, a full eighteen hours later, due to the fact that Remyās nanny had been on a list of Tristanās for a while, one entitled: āTo be observedā, and blimey, was he right to go with his instinct?
He had caught her trying to lure the girls into a black van that no one recognized, the name of a third organization murmured from her lips just as she was taken down. He wished he had been the one to do it, woman or not, that bitch had the audacity to try to hurt his family? HIS FAMILY?
His only saving grace at that moment was that Remy had yet to learn of Michelle, the nanny's, deception. Had that happened, Christ Almighty knew what kind āo hell he was subject to bring down on their heads for involving Tristanās nieces, Remyās two twin daughters.Ā
Back to the point at hand- his information was relayed back to him with a considerable delay since just after Remy went into the casino and positioned, did everything occur with Michelle. And there was not a chance in bleedinā hell Tristan was going to worry Remy OR let a single soul keep his beloved girls within arms reach but himself.Ā
Unfortunately, he had to recuse himself from the OP he was assigned to, for which he was responsible. Fortunately, Orion Hastings, the head of the Vipers, understood that family came first, no matter what. So arrangements were made, and half-assed plans were put into place, but that didnāt mean they were lacking in any way.Ā
Things went according to plan, the right words were exchanged with just enough information to keep plausible deniability by both parties, yet Tristan knew, he fuckinā knew, had he been the one watching the live feed?
He wouldāve been able to spot the micro-sized pin-like camera on Asteriaās body, despite the fact that, judging by their conversation, Remy wouldnāt have wanted Tristanās gaze anywhere near her body.Ā
So, the next morning, when he had just finished rolling a babbling Remy, half-drunk on liquor and something pheromonal, it seemed, into bed, assuring his bruv that he had the girls for the day, Tristan couldnāt help himself when Remy finally fell asleep.Ā
He kicked his leg. Hard. Hard enough for Remy to scowl and scrunch up in his sleep, leaving Tristan feeling strangely satisfied.Ā
Heād spent days upon days with Ari and Esme and always would, but it seemed that that particular morning, the twins woke up in a mood. The only way to rectify it seemed to be the promise of ice lollies from a cart at the park, and even then, it was half enthused.Ā
Women.
Heād never get them.Ā
Precisely why heād gone so long between being with one in any manner other than briefly, no names included. He had enough on his plate to end up like his brother, heart eyes already facing the direction that Asteria had turned from and left him at the table, having presumably gotten what she needed to know, yet leaving Remy in such a state that she seemed to be all that he could and would talk about.Ā
More trouble than theyāre worth.
Except for his darlings, that is, Ariana and Esmerlda, could do no wrong.Ā
Until it came to mornings and their grumpiness and their unwillingness to do a damn thing unless their demands were met.
Thatās when things started to annoy him.
Not that heād ever let it show, not to them, never to them.Ā
Thatās how he found himself at the pier in the middle of the park, despite all instincts telling him otherwise, getting the two darlings, brats, their ice lollies at an unforsaken time in the morning, one where he hadnāt even had his usual third cuppa. Or his second. Or his bleedinā first.Ā
But it was all worth it when he saw their smiles and with sticky, miscolored hands reaching up for their āUnca Twistan, uppies!ā time. There wasnāt a damn thing in the world heād deny from them. There wasnāt a damn thing in the world he wouldnāt protect them from. There wasnāt a damn thing in the world that wouldnāt bring down the house of Payne on the poor soul who even dared to mess with one of the Payne girls.Ā
So with a twin on each shoulder, their sticky, red and purple glazed hands playing with his now sticky hair, he didnāt see the woman that seemed to watch him like a hawk, a look of confusion on her features as she looked down at the profile for Remy Agustus Payne and back to Tristan Laughten Payne, knowing there was a huge difference in their demeanors, not to mention looks but nothing in her intel brought up any red flags.Ā
Unbeknowest to the eyes focused on him, Tristan crossed the street and mindlessly babbled along with the girlās chatter about their favorite TV show- until Ariās hands covered his eyes momentarily- leaving an opening for the woman to step in, innocently, and Tristan to huff and scold his niece right as he bumped into the woman, pure muscle, instinct and training keeping himself, the girls and the woman upright, teetering as they may have been, they were okay.Ā
āSorry, luv. Didnā see ya there. Ya alright?ā His propriety and manners came first as he took in the woman before him with a sharp inhale. He had no idea who she was.
That needed to change.Ā
Now.Ā
ā¦And of course, he looked like the damn melted snowman with color, stickiness, and filth on his features, causing him to flush unexpectedly, only for him to mentally pause.Ā
Wait.Ā
What?
When did he get embarrassed like this?
He could only come back to the fact that he needed to know who this beautiful woman was, small and meek but authoritative and commanding, god knows heād follow her command to the letter at this poin-
āCalm down, Tris, youāve got your girls with you, and you donāt even know her name.ā He scolded himself before effortlessly shifting the girls into a more steady position on his shoulders so they were secure and reached out with a, now wiped clean, hand for her to take.Ā
āDidnāt mean to be the bloke who ālmost knocked ya off yer feet. Didnāt hurt ya, did I?ā
