The Mafia Triplets

Chapter Ten

Timothy's POV

Mason and I continued to wander around the mansion in an attempt to find wherever Matthew took her. The lying bastard didn't take her to her bedroom like he said he would.

I was still pissed that Mason let her go with him so willingly, and I couldn't give two shits if we were related to any of these buffoons or not. I had no trust in them, and after what happened in the hall, I was not sure I ever would.

"I'm getting sick and tired of this. How long does it take to find one person in a house?"

Mason scoffed, "In a place this size," he glanced around us in sardonic exasperation before meeting my gaze, "apparently more than twenty minutes." I huffed an indignant response, facing forward once more.

We wandered down the hall while continuing to ignore the guards' eyes that followed us as we passed. The halls, like most of the house, were a deep, rich wooden charcoal with dark burgundy runners. The walls were a lighter shade of gray, and they were decorated handsomely with canvases ranging from oil pastels to acrylics.

Even in our search, my eyes would sometimes linger on the paintings as we passed, though I didn't give any of the art much thought, only the fleeting thought of Alice's love for art crossed my mind as my eyes danced on the next piece. My only true concern at the moment was for my twin sister and how she was faring on her end.

I didn't know about Mason, but I was slowly losing my cool; my nerves were running higher by the step while not having her in my sight, and the stares were beginning to make my skin crawl as every pair of eyes of the roaming guards in the given hall try to discreetly linger on us as we pass. They were failing miserably today.

I grunted, grabbing Mason's sleeve as we passed one of the guards who rode with us; I was tired of wandering aimlessly. "Eugene, where is our sister?" I demanded.

He sighed slightly, not even bothering to correct his name anymore. I had to suppress a smirk; I live for getting under people's skin. Instead, he pointed down the opposite corridor. "Matthew took her into his study, and from what I heard, he called a family friend that lives close by to examine her injuries."

"Thank you, Ryder," Mason nodded as we headed down the hall he indicated. Mason and I turned our heads as we heard a door bang close further down one of the labyrinth halls. Moments later, Mason and I exchanged a side glance as Duke bounded past, carrying Lolly by her scruff; that mongrel, something I would never call him aloud- because I'm convinced Alice has bat hearing, was obsessed with his new friend. We quickened our pace- Alice wouldn't be far, and before we turned the corner, I felt someone slam into my chest.

I caught Alice by the waist as she began to fall; a frightened scream bubbled from her lips, something I should have expected since she'd been jumpier more than usual- momentarily deafening me before Mason covered her mouth. "Ali, it's just us," he cringed.

She stared at us with wide, fearful eyes; her nails, by the looks of it, dug painfully into Mason's wrist in a panicked attempt to remove his hand before realizing who she had run into. I watched as her chest rose and fell heavily with each breath she took. She leaned into me as Mason removed his hand; she released a shuddered breath, and I tightened my arms around her as she rested her forehead on my chest.

Before I was able to express my concern, I heard thundering steps approaching us before nearly half a dozen men appeared on each side of us, cornering us, each with a gun drawn. I heard Alice whimper slightly at the sight, but I pressed her head into my chest so she couldn't see them.

"Miss Kingsley, are you alright?" one of the guards questioned while several of them scanned us for injuries; seeing none, they slowly relaxed as Alice answered. "I'm alright; my twin brothers just startled me." She lightly smacked my chest, and I playfully scoffed. "I'm sorry," she murmured.

I heard some of them sigh as they all holstered their weapons. "There's no need to apologize; it's our job to protect the Kingsley family, and that includes you three, Miss."

"Yeah, thanks; you can leave now," I snapped, tugging Alice closer to myself in a futile attempt to shield her from all the eyes. It was then that I noticed as I glared at the guards that Alexander, Matthew, and two other young men were standing on the outskirts of the group, conversing quietly amongst themselves.

Begrudgingly, the guards began to fan out once more, resuming their previous posts. I shared a glance with Mason and nodded slightly in the direction of the four lingering men. I ignored their looks and glanced down at Alice, only to find her staring intently at my chest, which happened to be eye level for her. Her lips rested in a tight-lipped purse, with her brows slightly furrowed in concentration.

"Come on, Ali; let's all go to my room," Mason prompted gently; he placed his hand on her shoulder, which seemed to tear her from her trance as she flinched away from his touch. Mason's eyes saddened at the sight, but he perked up infinitesimally when she offered him an apologetic smile before wrapping her hand around his. She did the same to me for a moment, giving our hands a reassuring squeeze before dropping our hands once more before her arms wove around her waist.

Mason grasped her arm firmly this time, just beginning to drag her down the hall as the men each turned their gazes towards us, and my brother attempted to steer the three of us away from the impending onslaught of the next dreaded family interaction.

She shoved his hand away as she stumbled forward, nearly tripping at his long, abrupt strides; she regained her footing, standing with her hand clutching her chest. "What the heck is wrong with you two, sneaking up on me like that?" Alice finally exclaimed, ignoring the four approaching men as Mason came to stand by my side with a sigh; though, likely, she didn't even realize that they were in the hall with us.

The sour expression never left my face as they came to a stop behind her. Alice remained oblivious as she continued once more.

"And you," she pointing an accusing finger at Mason, "you know I don't like to be manhandled, Masey," she chastised, pouting adorably at him while failing miserably at giving him a stern look. I had to stop myself from antagonizing her further by awwing and pinching her cheeks, only because I knew she hated it, and this was supposed to be a serious moment.

Mason groaned at what he wished was a long-forgotten nickname, and I had to stifle a laugh with a cough at his displeasure. However, it didn't stop him from smacking me in my chest. I choked on my laugh and glared back.

"Well?" Alice prompted, her eyes narrowing in contempt.

"Alice, are you alright, my dear?" Alexander questioned before I had the chance to fumble a response to sister. She whirled around wide-eyed as she stumbled slightly away from them, nearly tripping over Mason's feet in the process. He wrapped a protective arm around her middle, and she leaned against his chest at the comforting movement.

I tried my hardest to make my expression passive as surprise flooded my senses when I watched Alice's eyes harden at the men. Though, she replied with a simple, clench-jawed nod to his question.

We stood in ever-growing awkward silence for several long moments, and I watched out of the corner of my eye as she fidgeted slightly as they all continued to stare at her. I stepped up to the plate, simultaneously taking the attention off of her, along with taking a half-step in front of her as Mason tightened his arm around her; he pulled her to his side as he too sensed her anxiousness.

My eyes narrowed at the four men, and I easily recognized Daddy Dearest and Mattie among the four men; my scowl intensified as I stared at the unknown men.

My lip twisted into a sneer before I demanded, gesturing toward the other men beside Matthew:

"Who the hell are those two fuckers?"

————

Who's your favorite of the younger triplets?