#Chapter 98 – Home again

Victor is the last to leave the venue, wanting to ensure that he has left no mess behind and that no one lingers to gossip. He wanted the affair finished, complete, and stayed to ensure that it would happen.

Some of his guests protested, saying they wanted to stay overnight, but offered the venue an obscene amount of money to close out their tabs and ask them, politely, to leave. The venue happily complied.

He had been hoping that Evelyn and the children would have stayed behind – he still wanted a word with Ian and Alvin, whom he hadn’t seen since that morning’s awful trail, but he had received a text from her, earlier, letting him know that she wanted to get them home.

Evelyn: Stephen has offered us a ride home with some of the Betas and we are going to take it. I’m sorry if you wanted us to stay, but they boys are so upset – I just want this day to be over.

He understood, of course – he wanted the best thing for them. And Evelyn was a good mother – she would know what they needed.

Finally, when all is complete, there is only a single black sedan left with Beta Stephen as the driver. Burton gives him a little bow, holding the door open as Victor leaves the venue at last.

“I’ll follow tomorrow, sir. Some affairs to complete here.” Burton murmurs.

“Good,” Victor says, pausing to look him in the eye. “We’ll be glad to have you.”

Burton nods and smiles, heading back into the venue as Victor climbs into the car.

“Sir?” Beta Stephen asks through the lowered partition between front and back seats.

“Home, Beta.” Victor says, leaning his head back and closing his eyes. “Let’s go home.”

Some time later, they pull into the driveway and Victor blinks awake, not realizing he had fallen asleep. He runs a hand through his hair, looking up at his house, not knowing, really, what to expect when he goes in. Will Amelia be there, packing? Or waiting to scream at him?

Honestly, he wouldn’t be surprised by anything at this point.

Giving Stephen a nod as he exits the car, Victor makes his way up the drive. The Betas guarding his door give him a salute and, he could swear, a sympathetic look. Well, at least they’re still on his side.

He gives them a nod and opens the door.

The house is silent, empty and dark. The cleaning and cooking staff have been dismissed for a couple of days, on vacation during the time when Victor and Amelia expected to be celebrating.

for a few days,” he

the house. He wonders if Amelia has come and gone, or if all

open, and Victor is

boy’s head and eye peek around the corner of the door and Victor can’t help the smile that bursts

he says, coming around the island to

afraid. Looking beyond them, Victor doesn’t

wary. “Are you mad at

knees so as to be at the same eye

out from behind his mother. “She promised you weren’t

we feel bad,” Ian picks up, hanging his head. “For ruining your

sorrow. “Come here, guys,” he says, his voice gruff with feeling. He opens his arms and his boys rush to

should be the one who is sorry. I never should have let it get that

have been nicer to her!” Alvin says, his voice guilty. “We tried to

mean to ruin everything,”

“You two deserve a mother who loves you, who can take a few pranks without resorting to cruelty,” Victor says, surer now of

doesn’t try to have us

Colorado,”

frowns. “You knew about that

at Victor. “We know

for being such good spies. But you’re right. You deserve

he also

mommy who is better than that,” Ian says, smiling and stretching his hands over his head. Victor

say anything, just gives Victor a knowing look. Victor chuckles and

your good mother. Does

Victor looks up, surprised, to see that she’s leaning against the door frame,

Victor says, standing slowly, a little at

she says, giving

moment as they stare at

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