APOV

I stood watching the news as it played out on the TV's in the den. I never knew why Christian needed so many screens in here, how many games could he possibly watch at one time, but at the moment they're all on, all on different news channels that were still reporting the fires that littered Oregon and Washington State. They had been going on for over a week now and no one could understand how they were linked because they were all random buildings.

According to the press, there is an arsonist on the loose. What they don't realise is that this is not just arson, this is revenge.

Christian had shown me the list of addresses, all companies that were set up by our enemies or they were people who were working with them or on their payroll. We didn't know why Cameron would have had this list unless what Theo had said was true and that he was playing both sides and the list was for us. Either way, not one of those buildings on that list was still standing.

I had thought originally that they would have set the fires off at the same time, sent them a message to how big our organisation was but Christian said as far as the police were concerned, it had to look like one individual and not a group. That is where Harvey comes in. He was brought onto Theo's team and if he is seen on CCTV, it looks like the same individual setting all the fires although with the amount they have bulked him out to disguise him and with his face covered, you would be hard pressed to figure out it was him if he stood in front of you.

There is also the fact that he is seen on the camera's at Carrick's offices when some of these fires were started, where he now has a legit job to add to his other employment.

Sometimes if I think of how they get these details to fit together, I would just give myself a headache. I don't even bother any more to wonder how one person can been seen in two places at the same time, as long as it works then that's all that matters.

I left the den, leaving Luca and Oriella who were cuddled on one of the couches, paying no attention to the screens in front of them and headed for the kitchen.

Passing the living room, my Dad and Lucy were sat talking quietly on one of the couches. I was going to ask if they wanted a drink but after hearing the words spoken, I didn't want to intrude.

"It's hard to believe sometimes Granddad."

"What little Princess."

"I'm going to be 16 this year. If I was my Mum, that would mean it would be another ten years until I met you."

"I know Lucy. It took me a long time to get my head around what your mother went through and how much I had missed out on as she grew up. I knew the second I saw her that she was mine and that I would do anything to keep her safe and protect her. The past twenty-two years, we have spent as much time as we can together, making up for lost time and a lot more."

"I'm glad. I'm also lucky as I didn't have to wait at all to meet you."

I smiled, leaving them to their conversation before I decided to head outside and enjoy a bit of the warm sun.

"They're not coming in" Matteo told me as he joined me on my bench.

"Leave them. If they're too wet by the time we go down the street to your Grandparents, I will walk them down."

I looked up to see his raised eyebrow, which made me laugh.

"Alright we will get them to the house somehow, maybe they can swim down. It's not that far."

The dogs who were currently jumping off the end of the jetty into the water with Theo, probably would swim there if we let them. The fourth of July had sort of snuck up on us with everything that had been going on but it's a day we're going to try and relax and spend it all together.

"Sooo" I said.

"Soooo, what Mum."

"Trixie, she missed Sunday dinner with all the chaos that was going on."

"Mum please" he complained which just made me laugh.

"What, she said she was your girlfriend, before Grandma ran her out of the bakery that is."

"Thank heavens for Grandma. I'm sorry she bothered you, she had no right to go into the bakery. It was just."

"One night, I know. Some girls don't see it that way though, you sleep with them and you could've proposed as far as she was concerned. You say you will call, and some will expect you to do just that. I saw through her as soon as she said she was your girlfriend. I hope Son when that day comes that I finally get to meet your one, that it is you that introduces her."

"I'm not ready to settle down yet, not for a long time. I look at Luca and I forget he's 19 sometimes as he has had his whole life planned out for a long time and he's completely happy about that. He's my twin but we're completely different in that aspect."

"And I'm perfectly fine with that son. I have no problem with you going out and having fun as long as no one gets hurts or let me rephrase that, as long as my children don't get hurt."

"Love you Mum" he said, putting his arm around my shoulder and kissed my forehead.

"Love you too…. noooo" I squealed as Sprout ran excitedly over and shook what felt like half The Sound over each of us.

"Thanks bro, I'm wet" Matteo shouted to Theo.

"I'm not fairing that much better either" I said, wiping the water that dripped from my face. Note to self, next time a wet dog comes running at you, stand because Matteo and I sitting down were the perfect height to get soaked.

"You ok Mum" Theo asked as he ran over to us laughing.

"Wonderful, I'm going to change. I'm giving you the job to ferry the dogs over to your Grandmothers."

"That's fine by me" Theo said.

I walked back towards the house, getting a soaking by an excited Milo on the way. I shut the back door, leaving them all outside as I didn't want a wet dog on the coach. They would dry off in the sun.

"You look a bit wet Princess" Christian said as I passed him and started to climb the stairs.

"I feel a bit wet" I laughed.

"I love you wet" he whispered, coming up to join me where I had stopped.

"Don't start something neither of us has the time to finish Christian. Go or else you will be late and then we will have one unhappy daughter."

"We're leaving soon. How are you all getting to Mums."

"Driving, although if we didn't have all the food to take, today it would have been a nice walk down there. I know before you say anything" I said placing my finger to his lips, knowing he didn't want me completely out in the open with everything that is going on at the moment. "Theo is taking the dogs, either by swimming them there or jogging down the block. I wanted to ask you something but it can wait until later."

"Princess, what is it. Our only time limit to pick what is she called up, oh Rosie today, is set by our impatient daughter. If you want to speak to me, please speak."

"We burnt their businesses down."

"Yes, we did" he smirked.

"What are the chances that they will retaliate and do the same to ours. The bakery, your club. The surgery even."

"Even though those businesses are closed today, they're still guarded 24/7. I know how much the bakery means to you Ana, I won't let anyone touch it."

"I know, I'm glad we hurt them in the best way for these people, their pockets."

"When I find out where the rats have scurried off to, I will be hurting them too."

"My big scary Mafia Boss" I said wrapping my arms around his neck.

I was stood on the step above him, so I was the perfect height for once. I bushed the hair from Christian's forehead, bringing my lips to his. Our kiss, although short was full of the passion that is always there between us. It was short because Lucy now stood impatiently at the bottom of the stairs waiting for her father.

"Before you go, how is your foot" I asked her.

"Better Mum, I'm fine. It's a shame it didn't happen when I went back to school, it would've gotten me out of gym class."

"No thank you, I'm not going through that again. I will see you both at your Grandparents."

As they headed for the door, I made my way to my bedroom, opting to take a shower instead of just changing my clothes when I found a bit of weed that had come off Sprout in my hair.

…

"Mum are you ready to go" Luca asked me, as I finished packing the food to take with us.

"Yes, there is tiramisu in the fridge and these trays to take, then that should be it."

"Tiramisu, how many trays are there."

"Enough for everyone and that doesn't mean a tray each. Leave one of them here for later as you know what your father is like if he doesn't get any."

"Yes, the same as all of us, grumpy."

"Ana, are these the things that you wanted" Oriella asked me as she held the little pink dog bed.

"Yes, everything should be in there. My god it's tiny, compared to the boy's beds."

"We're going to have fun, especially when the boys realise she's a girl" Matteo told me.

"They will all be fine" I hope.

Matteo locked the house up as I put the last of the food into the trunk. Theo had decided to go jogging with the dogs around the block, stopping at Grace and Carrick's where we will all be spending the afternoon.

"We ready" Dad asked.

"Yes, if I have forgotten something I will send one of the boys back. It's not as if we're going far."

The drive to my in-laws took seconds never mind minutes, the food quickly taken inside and put away from eager hands and mouths.

"Are they back yet" my Grandmother asked as I stepped onto the terrace.

"No, they had to go into the city so they might be a while, hopefully traffic is light at this time."

"That little girl was so excited this morning" my Grandfather laughed.

"I know, I'm just glad she has opened herself up again to another dog, no matter what the breed" I chuckled looking at my four who were lay by the pool, a covered pool which they were waiting to be opened.

"Those dogs with their love of water, get more and more like their great Grandfather everyday" my Dad said.

"I know and I love it. Who knows what Rosie will bring to the family, chaos no doubt at the start."

I headed back into the house to get my purse, having put it down in the hallway quickly when I came in with my hands full. Passing the living room, Theo was there looking at the photos on the mantel. Over it was a large photo, Grace's favourite of all her grandchildren together. All the boys wearing dark suits and Lucy in the middle of them all in her pale pink dress.

"Are you ok son" I asked as he turned to me, the photo of my mother and Grace in his hand.

"I'm fine Mum. Ever since you told us about what happened to you, every time I'm here, I always have to stop and look at this photo. It's silly, it's like it draws me in."

"It's not silly at all. This is the photo that completely changed my life. It gave me a family that I was too scared to ever dream of at the time. It does have a different frame now as I dropped it that day."

"Dropped it" he asked.

"Yes, I had seen it and wanted answers but everyone was too shocked to give them to me. I was so scared at the time that I dropped it and ran out the door. Your father ran after me, took me back to what was my apartment at the time and told me he was never letting go."

"I'm glad he didn't."

"He wouldn't have been able to anyway. My mind was telling me to run but the grip I held onto him and my heart were both refusing to let go."

We both turned when we heard the door open and footsteps approaching. Stood there with a beaming smile on her face was my daughter, who held a tiny ball of fluff in her hands.

"She's sleeping" Lucy said excitedly."

"Car journey's usually do that, whether human or animal babies. Let me look at her."

She placed Rosie into my arms and she really was a tiny thing, smaller than I even remember her as it had been weeks since we had been there. I thought she might have grown a bit but in her own time.

"Oh my god, she's tiny. The boy's are going to have an extra special Fourth of July lunch" Matteo teased Lucy as I handed Rosie back.

"Behave son" I told him as we headed for the terrace.

Milo was immediately up as I stepped out, coming forward before he stopped. He had probably smelled the new addition to the family so continued his walk towards us slowly, gauging if it was a threat.

Lucy slowly lowered her arms so he could sniff the little fur bundle. He was immediately joined by the other three who soon crowded around. Finally waking and wondering who the hell these four dogs were that had dared to sniff her, Rosie let out a little yap. It was so instantaneous and so funny as all four dogs sat down. As she continued to yap at them, neither of them dared to move.

"This is perfect" Lucy laughed. "The girls are in charge as always."

Lucy placed Rosie down and she immediately went toward the dogs. Gizmo the coward stood up, giving Rosie a bridge to walk under. She seemed to like Gizmo the best, either that or she chose to annoy him the most as when he decided enough was enough and went to find a quiet spot, Rosie followed slowly behind.

Anyone looking on would've thought this was hilarious as the most feared mafia family on the west coast stood watching and smiling at the little dog who seemed to be on her adventure around the garden. Sniffing the boys, she realised there was no threat from them so she started to explore more. The only time a loud bark was heard, was when she got too close to the pool and it was Milo taking charge. Whether he was worried for her safety or he was telling her that the pool was their territory I didn't know but she did move away. As we all took a seat, enjoying the sunshine, our focus was still on the little dog who had declared herself the leader of the pack.

"Max, can we have one" Gemma asked, looking down at Rosie who was at her feet.

"Gemma, we have a baby who's a couple of months old, we hardly have any energy as it is and you want to add a dog into the mix."

"When she's older maybe" she laughed as I was handed little autumn.

"How are you all doing" I asked, having not seen them since the boy's birthdays.

"Getting the routine down or trying to. Our lives and how much we sleep is dictated to by the little madam in your arms."

"You're a beautiful little girl, aren't you" I asked, tickling under her little chin. I was sure I got a smile but it could've been wind.

"How is she being away from her Mum" Rhian asked us about Rosie.

"She was on her own when we got there, entertaining herself as she rolled around in shredded newspaper. The other pups were with their Mum. I was worried that she wouldn't socialise with the other dogs well but look at her with the boys. Oh no, poor Rosie is going to be like me" Lucy complained.

"How so" Christian asked her.

"I have three overprotective brothers and Rosie is going to be just the same with them four. I need to get her trained so she can escape them."

"By the look of it at the moment, I think it's the boys who need to escape her."

At the moment, Rosie had hold of Rocco's tail and is refusing to let go. I can hear his whimpers from here but he is such a good dog, they all are, they would never retaliate.

"Teeth and claws to yourself young lady" Christian said, rescuing Rocco who headed into the house for some peace.

"Having fun there Christian" I asked, watching him wince as he became Rosie's next chew toy.

"Her teeth are like needles" he complained as he retook his seat by my side.

We had a lot of fun times ahead but it's always nice to welcome a new addition to the family, especially if it's a fur baby.

…

There was so much food here, I couldn't believe how much. Christian and I had done a shop, he had volunteered to come along and even decided to take his own shopping trolley around the store. By the time we reached the checkout, I had everything we needed for today, including food for a couple of days at home and all I can say that was in his, was crap. More chocolate and snacks than I would ever buy, enough alcohol to have us all drunk for a month and a blow up crocodile for the pool. Why, who the hell knows. That will be destroyed by the dogs, long before it gets near the pool. He declared shopping a success and had actually enjoyed himself so I didn't say anything about the giant sugar load that filled the trunk.

"I cannot believe how much they have consumed" Kate told me as she watched her husband and boys eat.

"They're like human garbage cans. All will be complaining tomorrow when they realise they have many hours in the gym to work it off or in the case of the boys, a stomach ache as they don't know when to stop." Mia laughed.

"Photographic evidence is what we need when they complain, to remind them of how much they have eaten" I laughed, taking a photo of Christian who had his mouth wrapped around a burger.

"Is it that good" I asked as he nodded before drinking his full bottle of beer. "How much alcohol have you had."

"Not enough yet, the night is young and if my mother decides to get on the karaoke later, I would rather be drunk by then."

"Mum, what are we doing with Rosie when the fireworks go off" Lucy asked me.

"She will stay inside with the boys, I'm sure she can hide between them if she gets scared."

Rosie was currently sleeping on Oriella's knee, her little tummy full like the boys.

We spent the rest of the afternoon getting wet for the most part. Either going in the pool with the dogs or getting shook on when they got out. Even Rosie tried to go in, promptly getting plucked up in Milo's mouth and put back on the side. After that she didn't go near the water again.

"Hey boys, we need to have a little word" I said the Jac and Daniel as they came from the house with a drink.

"What have we done" they asked, looking between themselves before back to me.

"Nothing that I know of, or do you have something to confess."

"Don't know what you mean Aunt Ana" Daniel told me, smirking.

"I heard about your work, involving the showing of a video that went out in the school and I just wanted to thank you" I smiled.

"Thank us, I thought you were going to tell us off" Jac told me.

"Yeah, I thought we were in trouble then" Daniel laughed.

"No, keep up the good work and make sure you don't get caught" I smiled, smacking their outstretched hands. My sister had her hands full with these two but they always make me laugh.

….

"Who's ready for the fireworks" Eamon asked, just as excited as the kids.

"Us, come on Granddad it will be nice to see some real fireworks for once" Giorgio told them.

"What other fireworks have you seen young man" Ethan asked him.

"None yet, apart from all the burning buildings on the news that keep exploding. I wish they would come and burn our school down" he told us.

"Could be arranged" Elliot mumbled, receiving an elbow to the ribs from my sister.

Turning back to the fireworks, it wasn't long before the sky lit up above us joining the other fireworks that were set off across the city.

"Tired" Christian whispered in my ear as he wrapped his arms around my waist, nuzzling my neck.

"No I'm fine. How are we getting home as I don't think you will be driving and I have had a few drinks as well."

"I will give Lucy the car keys, she will get us home" he said as I looked up to him. "I'm kidding, she would take a detour towards the Bravern if it was open. We could take a stroll home."

"If my husband wasn't drunk and I suggested going for a stroll down the street to our house, he would have steam coming out of his ears."

"I know. No matter how much alcohol I have had, I could still shoot someone between the eyes who came near you" I doubt it but I will humour him.

"Grandma can we all stay here tonight, camp out in the living room. It's been years since we have done that" Lucy asked.

"It's been years because some of us have grown up" Matteo complained.

"I think that would be a wonderful idea" Grace said excitedly as I heard Matteo groan.

I don't know what he was complaining about, unless he had plans but they can wait as today is family time.

"If we have to do it then so does Theo, Alex and Max, they're your Grandchildren as well. Just because they are the eldest doesn't mean they can get out of it" Matteo told everyone as the three mentioned tried to escape.

"Fine by me" Alex said, coming back to take a seat. Even Theo agreed. Anything to make their Grandmother happy.

Me, if we were staying, I was sleeping in Christian's old room in a comfy bed with hopefully if he doesn't get roped into staying downstairs, my husband.

We had stayed up long into the evening talking and laughing, one giant family together. The only people who went back to my house were my Dad and Isabella and my Grandparent, hoping to get some sleep away from the rowdy bunch here. When Christian and I finally climbed up the stairs to bed we were both exhausted from the day. Grace must have found every blanket she had as the living room floor was littered with them. Lucy and Oriella had both declared that the couches were theirs. Luca had tried to get on Oriella's until he was pulled back by Jac before they all piled on.

I love this family, I love the fun we have and especially every person in it.

…

We were just enjoying breakfast on the terrace before going home when there was some activity. Christian and Carrick had been in the house and had rushed out to let us know that the police were here.

"What do they want" I asked Christian.

"They're asking for you Princess. Lyle who is on our gate called it in after they had gone to our house asking for you. I don't know why but they have decided to try here as well. Your dad and Grandparents want to come here but it will look suspicious if they just run round. We can get the gate to tell them that you're not here too if you want."

"No, we will never find out what they want if we send them away."

"Ok" he said, kissing my forehead. "All guns need to be in the panic room" he said and everyone started to moved.

"All right, they're on their way up. Gate says there is only two of them. Lets continue as if we're having breakfast. Ana sweetheart, let me deal with it to start with please" Carrick told me as I nodded.

"I will be ok Lucy, you keep hold of her" I told my daughter who was now gripping onto my arm to stop me going anywhere, while trying to keep Rosie in her hold too.

This wasn't the first time the police had paid a visit to one of our homes and I doubt it will be the last. I just hated it when it was the cause of our children's worry

"Gentlemen, what can I do for you" Carrick asked when they were shown onto the terrace. No one else had moved as if we were having a lovely morning, to which we were before they turned up.

"Senator Grey, we apologise for the intrusion but time is of the utmost importance at the moment as you can understand with the spate of fires that had been taking place both here in Washington state and also Oregon. My name is Agent Meadows and this is my colleague Agent Coleman" he said as Carrick shook both of their hands.

"Gentlemen, what is it that I can help you with."

"We would actually like to speak to a member of your family, Dr Anastasia Grey. We did try the home address registered to Dr Grey where we were told she was not present so with yesterday being a family day, we took a chance that she might be here" Agent Coleman said, looking around the group.

"We were right" Agent Meadows said smugly, which I know would have pissed my husband and boys off.

"What do you want to speak to me about" I asked, squeezing Christian's hand so he would remain calm.

The dogs had been quiet, observing the two men but as they started to walk forward, the growling started and they were on their feet.

"Boys, quiet" I told them standing. I didn't want someone trying to take my dogs away because they had bitten a cop. No matter what title these men had, that is what they essentially were.

I reluctantly let go of Christian's hand for a moment and was soon surrounded by the dogs. Stroking their heads and scratching their ears, they started to settle. I put my hand behind me, reaching for Christian's which in seconds was wrapped around mine again.

"My apologies gentlemen. My dogs are very wary of strangers and as you can see, very protective of me. Now what is it that I can help you with."

"We would like to ask you a few questions, either here or at the station, whatever you prefer."

"Questions, am I under arrest for something" I asked, knowing that everyone would kick off here if they tried to take me away.

"No ma'am, nothing like that. Like I said we just have a few questions that I hope you will be able to help us answer, maybe stepping inside will be better" Meadows said, keeping an eye on my dogs.

I gestured for them to step inside the house as I felt a hand come down gently on my shoulder.

"You're not going in there without me" Max said as we followed the men and closed the door, going into the living room as I waited for them to start.

"Max Flynn, Dr Grey's legal representative."

"It's not needed but I won't object" Agent meadows said before turning to me.

"Dr Grey, we were called out to a large explosion just over a week ago in a town called Montesano. It's a small town about a hundred miles from here."

"I know where it is agent" I told them, no point denying I knew that town.

"Good. Now the explosion was on an abandoned lot, I say lot as there is nothing but rubble there any more. From what the locals have told us, it had been vacant for a long time before the house was destroyed in a gas explosion around fifteen years ago. This time, weapons were found on the property."

"I don't understand, what does an explosion or these weapons you have found, have to do with me."

"We believe that the house that was originally there, was where you spent your childhood."

"Childhood, I certainly didn't have one of those there" I said quietly, leaning back into Christian's arm as we sat on the couch together.

"If you have seen the news, you can understand that we're investigating a spate of building fires that have been happening not just here in Washington but also Oregon as well. They all started within a few days of this explosion in Montesano."

"And you think I have something to do with this" I asked appalled.

I didn't miss the quick look he gave to Christian before he focused back on me so I was going to stop this before it started.

"Gentlemen, I haven't stepped foot in that town for twenty-one years and I have no desire to ever go back."

"Can I ask why you have such a dislike for the town Dr Grey" Agent meadows asked.

"You want to know why I hate that town so much."

"Yes, I would."

I stood, turning my back so they could see what the evil of that town did.

"Who?" I heard someone ask when she realised what I was showing them, my bullet wound.

"When I was five, my mother was killed in a car accident. She had been brought to that town against her will when she was pregnant with me and as she was beaten and threatened, the town turned a blind eye and did nothing. From the age of five to nearly eleven I was beaten daily by the man who had made it his mission to slowly end my life while having his fun in the process and yet again the town knew what was happening and continued to ignore it. Just before my eleventh birthday, I woke up to a man on top of me which I was thankfully able to fight off when I hit him with my lamp. I ran for my life before I was shot, left in a ditch to die. Do you know who the man was in that town, their new shiny chief of police. Thankfully I was able to get to help who took me away from that place but it was a long time until I could step back there again even to visit my mothers grave as I didn't know if he was waiting for me. That is why I hate that town. Only a handful of people in that town tried to help my mother and they left with me as soon as they could. That town is poison and if you think I would ever step foot in that place, ever let any of my family step foot in that town again then you're sadly mistaken. I know the whispers about my family, even before I met my husband and this is not the first time that someone has tried to pin something on us. My file was sealed, please tell me it is not now unsealed as you looked to it for information."

They were stunned into silence by my speech, looking to the other as Christian wrapped his arms around me.

"No Ma'am, when we looked into the property details we did find out it was owned by a man named Stephen Morton and that an incident had occurred over thirty years ago but the details that were logged were sketchy."

My whole body went cold on hearing that name but I tried not to show it. Christian knew though as I felt his lips to my forehead.

"Of course, they were sketchy. It was one of their own doing it and they were saving their own necks to the fact that they had turned a blind eye to what my aunt and her mother had gone through" Max told them. "How did you link her to the property now."

"We interviewed the neighbours who mentioned the Kavanagh's had lived their before. Speaking to some of the towns residence, they spoke of you as a child, gave me your first name and told us you were a family member of Senator Grey now. They wouldn't say more than that other than you had visited the cemetery once, probably worried that you would come back again."

"I bet they're worried. The reception they gave us was disgusting and all we were there for was to visit my mother's grave. Having me stood in front of them, they couldn't ignore what they had done any more. They wanted us to leave, even the police had tried to start with us. I couldn't breath in that town when we were there, couldn't wait to leave again. I will never go back.

"Your mother is still there" he asked.

"No, my mother is with her Grandparents in Italy. Look gentlemen I'm sorry I cannot help you, if you have to go to that town then I feel very sorry for you but I will never set foot in that place again and hell will freeze over before I ever let my family go there. These people who are leaving guns around, I know from the news that it isn't the first instance. I just hope you catch them before someone gets hurt" namely us.

I waited for them to make the next move but they just looked to each other, shoulders sagging as they realised they hadn't received the answers they were looking for. It they start naming the family, they will be shut down like many before them, lawsuits taken out that we have always won as there is no proof that they seek. This state would have hardly elected Carrick Senator if they thought he was a criminal. The two agents apologised for taking up our time, before making their leave.

…..

"I'm so proud of you" Christian told me when he had taken me up to his room.

Downstairs was being checked for bugs in case they had casually dropped one but at the moment, I didn't care. I was in Christian's arms where I wanted to be.

"I hope the children didn't hear what I said, them hearing it once was bad enough."

"No, they didn't come in. Too busy keeping the dogs back so they didn't bust down the door."

"Do you think they will continue snooping."

"They will probably be like every other cop or agent that has looked into the family and found nothing, frustrated. Hopefully they will find, Garcia and Ramirez and deal with them for us, if not then I will do it myself."

Being given the all clear by Barney, we made our way back downstairs again and out onto the terrace. I was immediately set on by four large dogs, all sniffing me and wanting to know I was ok. They only settled down after an ear rub and I was finally able to reach my children who wanted their acknowledgement that I was ok too.

"I'm fine, really" I smiled. "There is something I have been wondering though, not about the cops today but about them setting up an arms factory on that actual site. If my file is sealed, how would they know to set it up there, how did they know it would be the last place any of us would go."

"I have been wondering that" Max said. "The only way for someone to know what happened there is either the gossips in town or to get details from your sealed file."

"But to know about that town in the first place, you would've had to look into my history and hit my sealed file" I repeated.

"The only legal way to get a file opened is to apply to the courts and a judge to approve it" Max told us.

"Legal" I said as he nodded, not really knowing how you can get in there illegally.

"Who can legally get access to that file without having to go through the courts" Matteo asked him.

"Ana" Max said, nodding to me. "She would have to prove who she was though beforehand."

"They had a cop on their books, who's to say they don't have a judge too" Theo said and it made me feel sick. "Mum, you have just gone white."

"Princess, look at me" Christian said, cradling my face in his hands.

"If they opened my file, they have everything Christian. All the details of the property, what went on there. Who I was taken to live with, they have everything."

"Barney can you check" Christian asked him.

"If it was opened then there should be a record of it and who opened it as well as which judge approved it. That is if it was done legally. If we're dealing with a bent judge then he might have tried to cover his track but they always leave a trail somewhere. I can hopefully go so far as to find those details out but if I try and open it myself then not only will I will be blocked like last time but there is a chance I will leave a trail as well."

"Last time" I asked, seeing sheepish faces all around me.

"When Max was in the hospital and all you girls were getting close, I had a check done to see you weren't related to the cops. We found out details on Kate and Mia but we could only get so far with you before we were blocked. Barney see what you can do and let us know" Carrick told us.

"Will do" he said, grabbing his bag and headed back into the house.

"It's a good job you didn't find out we were secret agents" I smiled.

"I would've brought you over to the dark side" Christian whispered in my ear.

…

We were sat in Christian's office with everyone crowded around the phone as Barney gave us the information we needed and didn't want. My file had been opened, only briefly on the order of a judge over in Olympia. It had been resealed the same day but they had obviously gotten everything they needed and tried to cover their tracks, not very well as Barney said the details were not too hard to find. Three months ago, it had been opened and I had not been informed. I was told no one would ever be able to view it, the police who Eamon had spoken to when I was a child had obviously been wrong which is typical as far as I'm concerned with the justice system. Christian has a trip to Olympia planned and I wouldn't be surprised if this Judge wasn't found floating face down in some body of water nearby."

Thank you for reading and reviewing.

Any law information is written for the sake of the story as I was giving myself a headache trying to find out about sealed records so I just went with what fit here.

I have finally had time to add some more to my Pinterest of who I imagine the characters of my story to look like. It is under mattlukejess

Until next time, take care

Caroline.