Tucker was waiting for him as Cain was done with Passport Control and baggage retrieval. He looked round faced as usual, sweaty, edgy. Cain wanted to hug him and slap him on the back. He was glad to have someone he could torment.

"Miss me Tucks?" He threw his bag at Tucker, almost making him buckle under the weight of it and the suddenness of the throw.

"Not very much." Tucker said around a grunt, then looked back towards where Cain had emerged. "Where are the others?"

"Don't know, don't care." He stopped and turned to face Tucker. "No one knows that I took about six officers on my trip, do they?"

Tucker shifted uncomfortably and cleared his throat. "Someone knows."

"Who?!"

"Me."

Cain grimaced and resumed his walk. A cop van was waiting for them. He recognized the man behind the wheel and gave him a small nod but as he was about to open the door, he was side tracked by two, maybe three cops. He knew about two by name.

"You can't get in."

He whipped off his sun shades to face Drew Stormoen who had given the order. "Excuse me?"

"I said you can't get in."

Cain was insulted. Apart from the fact that he was Stormoen's superior, he was a couple years older and had a heavier purse too. He was also bigger in size, not to mention stronger, or the one that went without saying - more handsome. He was everything the stunted man wasn't. How dare the little wisp of a man talk to him that way?

Cain eyed him. "You're not referring to me, are you?"

"I am, Rodgers. You have been barred from using any property of the State Government."

Cain gave a laugh of disbelief and shared a look among the other cops. "I just got back from an official assignment is this how you welcome me?"

"Official assignment my ass."

No. It wasn't Drew Stormoen that replied him. It was someone else entirely and he didn't have to turn to recognize who it was.

He turned anyway and spread his arms and grinned brightly. "Detective Dwayne! How nice of you to personally welcome me."

Dwayne gave him a creepy smile. "Oh, don't mention. In fact, I have a Welcome Home gift for you."

Cain looked left and right, then looked at the sky.

"What are you doing?"

"I was making sure I was still alive and well. Artem Dwayne has a gift for me? It must be my lucky day. How very sweet and thoughtful of you."

"It was no problem. In fact, it was no bother at all." Dwayne raised a pair of hand cuffs at him and jiggled it. "Surprise!"

Cain scoffed. "What is this about?"

"You're under arrest Cain Rodgers. You're finally going to rot in jail and trust me, it would be especially unpleasant for you."

"Wow! I'm shaking in my boots."

Dwayne walked closer. "You don't get the severity of this do you? I have multiple crime charges against you, starting with physical assault. And I have proof and a witness."

"Let me guess, the witness is Juanita, my ex wife."

"Correct."

He laughed. "That won't hold up."

"You think so?"

He put forward his hands in surrender with a grin on his lips. "Forget it. I'll save it for my lawyer. Chances are, you won't be able to find enough evidence to take me to a grand jury, so why waste my breath?"

Art calmly cuffed him, then stepped back. "That's not all. You will also face charges for falsification of documents, tampering with evidence and --" Art took in a deep breath. "and the sexual assault of Miss Sarah Dwayne."

Cain froze. "What are you talking about?"

Art moved closer so that they were almost nose to nose. "Don't try denying it you bastard. I know you raped my daughter. I have iron fist evidence to indict you. I believe the word you used was "Tell him I enjoyed fucking your daughter." " He bunched his fists and stepped back. "My point is, I got your message. Loud and clear."

"How did you know --" Alarm bells went off in Cain's head as it dawned on him. Of course. Tucker. Tucker had snitched! He took two steps towards him. "You traitor!"

"I - I -" Tucker stammered, shaking with fear.

"I will kill you! How dare you?"

"Don't blame him, I was able to wear him down and make him see reason. I made him understand that obeying your vile ways was never going to end. It was just going to be an endless cycle of doing the wrong things to innocent people. So, I asked him to call you and we recorded your conversation. We have it on tape, Cain Rodgers. You shot yourself in the leg."

Cain laughed scornfully. "We will see. And as for you Tucker, you better hide. Run and hide like the coward you were born to be because If I get to lay my hands on you, you will die a slow and painful death."

"I'd rather die in peace than keep on licking your boots!"

"Now, now, don't be too forward, Mr. Tucker, you're not going to die. At least not in peace. Your license as a National Forensics Agent will be revoked and --"

"No!"

"And, you will be sentenced to years of community service. Depending on how nice the judge will be."

"Please don't take my job! That's all I have."

Tucker's plea outweighed Cain's mocking laughter as he was led into the van. "Next time, when you choose sides, make sure you get something out of it. That's the law of the streets!" He shouted over his head.

But as the car started to move and the siren wailed, reality started to hit him hard. He was done. His life was over. Pig's figs he was done.

~

As Devlin stepped into the house, the smell of freshly baked waffles greeted him. He stopped by the door and took in a deep breath. He noticed that the flowers had been replaced with fresh ones.

This was something he took for granted in the past, but now he seemed to notice everything, even the smallest, beautiful details about nature. Everything looked brighter, different, new. He felt freer, as if a weight had been taken off his shoulders.

The weight he'd been carrying for decades -- hating Vivian, longing for a mother -- was all gone. In the past, nothing seemed to ease it. The money he made, the thrill he derived from being a feared drug lord, the women he'd had -- they did naught but make a tiny dent in easing the weight; temporary one too.

Meeting, falling in love with and marrying Pamela had helped relieve a part of it. He'd thought meeting Fiona would be the end, but it hadn't. It had eased most of it, but it hadn't completely gone because his hate for Vivian had been a part of it. Now that he'd forgiven her, he felt completely free.

It had been a week since he'd had that life changing discussion with Vivian and they both hadn't spoken a word to each other since then. She was discharged from the hospital the next day with strict instructions that she rest.

Fiona had been all to happy to shower her with attention but Vivian had refused to go back to the Chernyshevsky house but had insisted on staying at her private house, a few miles from the house, alone. The Chernyshevsky house had been locked up, the servants and guards had been released from their duties with compensation.

Now, as Devlin stood at the door of his condo, he genuinely hoped she was coping well. He had just got back from the police station where Campbell was held. He'd been charged to court for physical assault but the issue of sexual assault had not stood because Lilian refused to bear witness. Devlin had phoned her that morning but she'd begged off, saying she didn't want to relive the nightmare. He understood her. In all, the prosecutor had assured him that physical assault was a sensitive issue and Campbell would be indicted. He hoped so.

He walked further in and met Pamela and Fiona setting the table. They both waved him over. On the table were different full plates of waffles, as he'd suspected with side dishes of sautéed apples and cinnamon, macerated berries and whipped cream. Then French fries with chilli bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich.

Damn, they'd been busy.

"What's the occasion?" He said when he saw two bottles of champagne in an ice bucket.

"We're celebrating." Pamela replied.

He gasped. "Get out of here! Is it our anniversary already? Honey I'm so sorry I forgot."

"Very funny."

He laughed and picked a piece of fries and Pamela slapped his hand. "Don't be a child." She said.

"But I want to be. Come and baby me, darling." He winked at her.

Fiona cleared her throat. "Vivian will be joining us."

He hesitated for only a heartbeat before nodding. "Thank you for inviting her."

Fiona smiled at him. "Thank you honey. Honestly, I expected a reprimand."

"Oh, no of course it's alright. That reminds me. We'll be going back to the States next week."

Fiona and Pamela both stopped what they were doing to stare at him.

"I thought we couldn't go back."

"Turns out we can, Mrs. Chernyshevsky. We have new names, new identities. Besides, Cain Rodgers has been nabbed. So we can, and Mom, you're coming with us."

"Oh, that's great!"

"Mama?"

"Yes, Child?"

"You just shouted. And why does your smile look forced? If you don't want to go --"

She laughed. "Do not be ridiculous! It's a wonderful idea. I would love to see what you do over there. Pamela told me already though."

Pamela coughed loudly. Too loud for comfort. "Water, please?"

Devlin calmly poured her a glass. "I see. What did she say I do?"

Pamela coughed again. "Fiona --"

"That you sell drugs. Are you a pharmacist?"

"Yes, Mother. Pamela, upstairs, now."

She placed the glass of water gingerly on the table. "I'm helping Fiona out."

"You don't want me to carry you on my shoulders do you? I certainly have before." He turned and started for the stairs.

Pamela groaned, threw the napkin she was holding and followed him.

"Nice butt." She said the moment they entered the bedroom. He raised a brow at her. "I was staring at it as you climbed."

He reached behind her and shut the door, then turned to face her, his eyes narrowed into slits. He took a step towards her. "What did you tell Fiona?"

"Nothing." She took a step backwards.

He knew what he was doing and his aim was to back her into a corner. He took another step and she took another away. "What do you think you're doing? Having mother and daughter conversation?"

"I was only filling her in." She had taken backward steps that she was finally backed into a wall and couldn't move. Downstairs a phone rang. He placed both hands above her head, imprisoning her to the spot.

"Pamela, you can't tell her what I do. You cannot."

She swallowed audibly. "Got it."

He smirked. He had no idea why she looked afraid of him but he was loving it and enjoying himself. He looked down at her lips. "I want to kiss my wife right now and do a lot of bad things to you. You look sexy as hell."

"What's stopping you?"

He gave a small laugh. "I like it when you're this way, baby." His hands travelled down her skirt and he lifted them up to her hips, bunching them in a fist so that only her underwear was remaining. He parted it and slipped a finger into her. She was moist already. The fact that she was already turned on made him feel giddy. He started a slow oscillation with his finger into her sex. She moaned and clung to him. He could feel her legs turning to jelly, giving in to the passion of his strokes.

"Devlin," she breathed.

"Hmm?" He slipped two fingers in.

She gasped and bit her lower lip. He leaned in and ravaged the lips in a kiss, while still stroking her gently. He used his thumb to fondle her love button and she gasped again.

"Devlin," She said again in between a gasp.

"Hush baby, I'm trying to concentrate." He pressed a wet, hot kiss against her lips.

"You do know your mom's in the other room right? She can walk in on us anytime."

"Then let her." He said before jamming his lips with hers again. He worked with his tongue and his finger, teasing at the same time, thrusting, tantalizing her. Her pleasure gave him pleasure. The look on her face was to die for. She looked ripe and ready to be taken and he planned on it. Right there, pinned to the wall.

She clung unto him and held him tighter just as her walls closed in on his fingers and she came. He loved her sighs of satisfaction. He loved how fast her heart was beating. She leaned in and he jammed his lips on hers and they kissed ravenously, not like a couple who was merely tuned on and knew they had the rest of their lives to make love, but as one who wanted to live in the moment, in the now, as it could be shattered anytime.

The knock on the door was that shattering. The knock came again and Devin's thought of ignoring whoever was behind the door was shot to hell. And the fact that it was his Mom made them pull back.

As Pamela was adjusting her clothes, he leaned in and whispered into her ears. "We'll pick up from here tonight, sweetness."

Her cheeks were flushed, her lips looked swollen from being kissed and her hair was all over the place but she couldn't have looked sexier as she purred with satisfaction and said, "It's a date, husband."

He then yanked open the door before he changed his mind about postponing. He hoped his Mom wasn't just knocking to remind them about dinner. Hell, he wished there was no dinner. If he could, he would say to hell with dinner and go make love to his woman. But he had to respect her and besides, Vivian was coming. She might have arrived already.

He waited for Pamela to be ready before going down the stairs with her. What greeted them was something they weren't ready for. Fiona was sitting alone of the sofa, clutching her phone. She looked up when she heard their footsteps and tears was in her eyes. Devlin was immediately alert.

"Are you okay?" Pamela was beside her the next second and took her hands in hers.

"What's wrong?" Devlin didn't trust his voice to ask but he was glad he was able to.

"It's --" Her voice was cracked and broken with emotion. Speaking seemed like a task. "It's Vivian."

"What about her?" Pamela asked.

Devlin knew what to expect before Fiona said the words. He knew something bad had happened. He knew the signs, knew the feeling. He knew exactly what to expect.

He just didn't expect the pain that came with it.

~

Happy new month of February! I know it's a little too late for that but this is the first update this month, so, happy new month!

Thank you so much for reading. Please vote for this chapter, comment your thoughts, and if you haven't, add to your library and reading lists and share with others. Thank you!