Tanner's pov ***

We sit and listen to the nephews pain. Nobody will abuse my boys and get away with it! Not even their own damn mother!

My Bethany gets Chris set up with the new passwords and PINs. My woman is fucking brilliant! Chris goes to bed and we do too. I hold her until we wake up a few hours later.

Bethany starts making breakfast before mom came down. I had seen Chris going into mom and dad's room as I came out of my room. "Need help, sweetheart?" I ask as I kiss her neck.

"Could you get me a glass of juice?"

"Your wish is my command." I smile at her.

I see Thermo, Granger, and Decker come into the kitchen following the smell of coffee and food. "Hey guys, we need to chat outside." I hand Bethany her glass and nod. Then I lead the way outside after they fill their coffee cups.

We go to the dock. "After I turned in last night, Chris came to me. Gracie is abusing the boys among other things. I'm telling you this because shit is about to hit the fan. I'm talking massive loads of shit! You guys may want to head out soon."

"Is there anything that we can do to help?" Granger asked.

"I don't think so. I brought nerd in on it last night. She hacked into their security system to check out some stuff. Gracie had locked Chris out of it. Then nerd set up new passwords and stuff. Nerd is going to do some other high tech stuff to help Chris."

"Gotcha! So I will stay long enough to eat breakfast. Then I'm outta your hair." Thermo said first. I nod. We go back into the kitchen.

"Breakfast in five guys." Bethany says as she gets the bacon out of the pan.

"What do you need help with, nerd?" Granger asked.

"Table set and eggs scrambled. I'm making gravy. The sausage, bacon, biscuits, and potatoes are done."

"I got the eggs. How many?"

"Two dozen. Already cracked in the bowl."

"We got the table. Do you want more juice, Bethany?" I ask my woman.

"Please!" She answers immediately with a smile.

"You know that I like it when you beg!" I whisper while Thermo walks out of the room. Bethany laughed loudly.

"You guys are too cute!" Decker chuckled. Bethany blushed.

"Shut up, Decker!" Bethany replied.

We all laugh. Mom and the kids come into the kitchen. Followed by dad and Chris. I make another pot of coffee. The talk is easy throughout breakfast. The boys have a lot to say about visiting gram and gramps.

After breakfast, mom and Bethany wash dishes. Then it was time for Thermo to leave. "Hey, nerd. You still have my keys. I need them."

I tell the guys to go out to the driveway. Even Chris and dad go out there. Bethany tells Thermo that she'll get the keys and meet him out front. He agrees and follows everyone out.

We are all standing around when Bethany comes out with a smile.

She hands Thermo the keys that have a pink ball on them.

Thermo looks from the keys in his hand back to Bethany. Then he starts laughing. "Funny, nerd! Where are my keys? I don't want yours." He looks around as we are all grinning. "Where is my truck?"

"You are grounded from your truck for a week. As agreed in a bet that you and I made a few months ago."

"Huh? What bet?" He looked completely lost.

"The one when you called me while you were having sex and I proved that she was faking. Remember now?"

"You have no evidence. So no, I don't recall." He smirked.

"Maybe this will help jog your memory." Bethany put her phone on speaker and we all heard the recording of the conversation.

"Oh that is bad, Thermo! You owe nerd a week in a car of her choice!" Granger laughed.

"That must be your ride over there." Decker points to the pink smart car.

"It is. At least it is for a week." Bethany grinned.

She had paid just over two thousand to get the car the way she wants.

"I'm not driving that poor excuse of a car. You can't force me too." Thermo tells her as he hands back the keys. "Now where are my keys and truck?''

Bethany's face fell. "Fine! But don't call me again unless it is about business!" Beth slapped the keys to his truck against his chest. Then turned and went back into the house.

Dad and Chris follow her in. The rest of us are looking at Thermo. In shock and shame.

"What? Don't tell me that any of you would drive that car for one minute! Much less, a fucking week!"

"Yes! If we were stupid enough to make the bet and lose! Your fucking ego got you into trouble and you won't pay up." Decker told him.

"A real man would pay his bets. If the situation was reversed and she lost the bet, would you expect her to drive around what you pick out?" I ask the idiot.

"Yes, of course! But I'm not driving a pussy car!" Thermo replied.

"Then you owe her the two thousand dollars that she put into this car. Payable by the fifteenth. Your truck is in the garage. Have a safe trip home." I turn for the house without waiting for his reply.

"You're sorry as fuck man!" I hear Granger tell him.

I find Bethany in the kitchen pouring herself more juice.

"You ok, sweetheart?" I ask as I kiss her behind her ear.

"I'm good. I know not to depend on him again." She took a drink then smiled at me. "At least we don't have to deal with him for the rest of the weekend." She stretched up to kiss my chin.

I start lowering my lips to her's, but was blocked by three little boy voices.

"Uncle Tanner! We are about to leave for gram and gramps for our whole week!" Hudson said.

"I can't wait to go!" Parker added.

"Yeah! We always have fun there! And don't get in trouble!" Tristan replied.

I plaster a smile on my face as I turn to them. "That sounds like fun! But I'm gonna miss you guys."

I got on my knees and open my arms. They all came to hug me. Mom and dad are standing in the doorway watching us with smiles.

"We will miss you too, uncle Tanner. But you have Bethany to keep you company. We like her!" Parker tells me.

"I'm glad that you do. Because I like her too. A lot! And she is very pretty and smart."

"You should marry her!" Hudson said.

"I'll work on that! Now you guys go have fun. I'll see you all as soon as I can. Ok?"

"Ok, uncle Tanner! We love you! See you soon!" They all hugged me tightly.

Then they turn to Bethany. She squats to her knees. "I am so very happy that I got to meet you young men! You are all awesome!" She hugged each one of them in turn.

"We want to ask you something. But we don't want you to be mad." Parker said quietly.

"I promise to not be mad. Ask me anything you want."

"Do you love uncle Tanner?" Hudson asked.

"Will you be our aunt?" Parker asked.

"We promise to be good if you do!" Hudson finished for them.

"Oh honey! I do love Tanner. If we get married, I will officially be your aunt. But in the meantime, I will be honored to call you my nephews! I love you too! And finally! You guys are good young men! You're awesome at being good! Don't ever forget that! You hear me?" She was talking straight from her heart, and it shows.

All three boys hugged her at once. "Thank you, aunt Bethany! We love you too!"

When they stood straight, she kissed each of them on the forehead. "Now! You guys go with gram and gramps and have lots of fun. You deserve it! But most of all, remember to be kids."

"Ok! Let's go tell daddy bye." They ran to their daddy.

Mom and dad came to us. "Bethany, it has been a great pleasure meeting you. We see that you and Tanner are going to be great together. Here is our numbers. Call any time. Thank you for making the boys feel loved. They haven't been shown a lot from women. Just me and you, apparently. Anyway! Thank you, dear!" Mom said then hugged her.

"It has been my pleasure, Erika! You have a great family. Let me give you my number." She wrote it down on a sticky note from the fridge door.

"Bethany! What she said!" Dad said as he took his hug. We all chuckled at dad.

We watch as the boys and our parents load up and leave.

"Now we can deal with the bitch without the boys getting hurt." Chris said from the driveway as we watch the car drive away.

"Is she even awake yet? I mean it is almost eleven o'clock."

"Yes, she is. I heard her in the bathroom. She was on the phone with Maggie. Apparently she has invited her, Sam, and Lacy here for the day and to spend the night. She was talking about getting Bethany out of the picture. They want you with Lacy."

"The slut has guts! First to invite herself here. Then her slutty friends. We need to warn Bethany."

We return to the house and find Bethany in the office. "Hey sweetheart! What are you working on?"

"A video collage for your slut-in- law. She came down bragging about her friends coming and that there isn't enough room here for me." She replies.

"Where is she now?" I ask Beth.

"She is upstairs. Getting a guest room ready for the invaders. Don't worry. I locked your door." She never stopped typing.

I looked at the screen that Bethany was working on. She pushed a microphone button and spoke. "Things you should not do as a wife!"

"Things you should not do as a wife to a police officer!"

"Things you should not do as a mother and wife to a police officer."

Bethany then started pasting different pictures of people waving goodbye. Last was a video of the boys waving goodbye this morning. They all had huge smiles on their faces.

Bethany played the entire video as Chris and I watch from behind her chair.

"That is awesome, Bethany!" I laughed after watching the entire video play from start to finish.

"Can you add something to it?" Chris asked.

"Anything you want. What do you have in mind?"

Chris held up a couple credit cards and a debit card. "I want me shredding these on there somewhere. They are all her cards."

Bethany recorded Chris showing each card, then feeding it to the shredder. Then she added one card scene to each offense. We watched the new version and Chris approved it with a laugh.

"She is going to blow a gasket! Thank you, Bethany! You're the best!" Chris hugged Bethany.

We hear the doorbell. I exit the office and see that Gracie is opening the door as if she owns the house.

"I don't remember inviting anyone to Especially when I just wanted a weekend with my girlfriend!" I said rudely. I'm sick of looking at this bitch and want her out!

Gracie chuckled nervously. "Don't be rude, Tanner. We're all friends here."

"Friends don't invite themselves and others to a house that belongs to someone else."

I see Lacy trying to get closer to me. I guess that Bethany does too.

"Tanner, honey, are we ready to watch the new video?" She asks sweetly as she comes to my side. I put my arm around her and kiss her head.

"I guess that we can watch it. Let me introduce you all to the love of my life. Sam, Maggie, and Lacy. This is Bethany Adamson, my fiancee." I kiss Bethany's lips. "Sam, it is actually good to see you." We shake hands. "By the way, are you able to pay up on our bet?"

"I can. Are you sure you're gonna win it?" Sam smiles as he shakes Bethany's hand. The women are giving Bethany the evil eye.

"Positive!" I return the smile. "I actually need to see you in my office for a quick minute."

"Why don't we go to the den?" Chris said.

"Let me lock the office door and get my laptop." Bethany tells me. I nod and we go into the office.

Sam follows me in and sits in the chair. "I need to warn you before we go in there. We found video footage of Gracie and Maggie cheating and doing drugs."

"Really?! We were supposed to be working on our relationship. Maggie said that she wants marriage. But something felt off. So I refused to commit. Fuck! She is doing drugs and I'm a narcotics agent. What the hell?!" He was pacing the floor. He stopped and looked at me. "This is your house?" I nod. "Did you invite us?" I shook my head. "That figures! That is exactly why I have been having doubts. She lies and schemes all the time! Alrighty then! Let's do this!" He went and opened the door.

I sit in my recliner and Sam, Chris, and I are talking as the women are plotting. Lacy interrupts us. "Tanner, baby, I simply love your house! Why don't you give me a tour? Personally!"

"I just simply don't like you. The last time I got close to you, I needed a doctor to cure me."

Bethany enters the den. "Oh! Sorry, Bethany! There seems to be no seat for you." Maggie says snidely.

"Oh no worries! My seat is available, always!" She sits in my lap with a sly smile.

"Always, sweetheart!" I turn her lips to mine and kiss her deeply.

"Can we watch the video?" Chris asked laughing.

We chuckle as we separate our lips. "Of course brother!" Bethany says with a shit-eating grin. She starts up the video.

"Are you all watching? Pay close attention, Sam!" I say.

"Things that you should not do as a wife!" We hear Bethany's sweet voice. The scene on the TV screen was of Maggie, Gracie, and two men having sex on Chris' bed. It switches to Gracie and Maggie accepting money as the guys leave. Then Maggie and Gracie kiss before Maggie leaves. Another scene is the one where Gracie and Maggie are with the three men on the couch. No money is exchanged this time.

I look at Sam. He is furious! Gracie and Maggie, both have their mouths open in shock.

"What the fuck? You have some explaining to do, Maggie!" He looks at Chris. "How long have you known of this?"

"We found it last night. There are several occasions where this happens."

"Is this why we were invited here? To drop this bomb on me?" He looks at me. He is really playing pissed.

"No! I didn't even know that you were coming until half an hour ago. Gracie has decided that she wants to play hostess. In someone else's house without his permission."

" Hell! We weren't even invited. That was her idea too." Chris answers.

Sam nods his head. Bethany starts up the video again. It shows Chris shredding a debit card.

"How did you get my card? Why did you shred it?" Gracie screamed at Chris. He just laughed.

"Things you should not do as a wife to a police officer." We hear Bethany say.

On the screen, we see Gracie, Maggie, and Lacy snorting cocaine on the dining table. Then we see them popping pills of some sort.

Then Chris is shredding two more credit cards.

"Holy shit! I'm a fucking narcotics agent! And here is video proof of my girlfriend taking drugs! Are you deliberately trying to get me thrown in prison?" Sam asks Maggie.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to do it! Forgive me! Please!" She cries fake tears as she begs her boyfriend.

Sam shakes his head.

"Things you should not do as a mother and a police officer's wife."

On the TV, we see Gracie hitting Hudson in the kitchen. Then her pushing Parker into the wall and slapping the back of his head. Then we see her kicking Tristan down a couple steps. We see her screaming at all three of them and pushing them toward the stairs.

Chris shreds the last of the cards. Then we see all of the people waving goodbye. Last was the boys waving.

Gracie was still in shock! She was speechless! It was awesome!

"This is why we are getting a divorce! You will go home and I will pack your bags. You will move out of my house today. You will never be welcome back into my house again. I will retain full custody of my sons. You can have supervised visitation. Any questions?"

"How did you get that video?"

"My brother is in love with a genius who was able to get me logged back into the security cameras. You know, the ones that you locked me out of. To cover up your abuse of my sons, your adultery, and drug use. I have all of the evidence that I need to get what I want in a divorce." He looks at Sam. "I'm sorry, Sam. I truly am. We have been friends for a long time. I never wanted to hurt you."

"I think that we need to go home. I need a dog to go through my house. Then I also need some of those videos." He stood and left.

Maggie and Lacy follow as Maggie is begging for forgiveness from her ex- boyfriend, Sam.

"You're throwing away our marriage because this bitch went snooping? I thought that you loved me!" Gracie said to Chris as he stood to go pack his overnight bag.

They come back down. Chris gives Bethany a hug. "Thank you for your help."

"I wish we hadn't found anything. But this will help you keep your sons safe. You all deserve it. Get my number from Tanner if you need anything from me. Have a safe trip."

Chris nodded and turned to me as Gracie leaves the house. She gives me and Beth an evil glare as she stood by a locked truck.

"Be careful brother! Call if you need me. Or just want to talk. I'm always here for you." I told him as we hugged.

"I may take you up on that." Chris left with his soon to be ex-wife.