Baller: A Bad Boy Romance (44 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

Angeline held Theo close and gave him her breast. As the baby suckled her flesh, Angeline cradled her baby closer and kissed his soft head. Drinking in his sweet scent, she had to smile at the thought of Kane pressing Theo to his shoulder and walking him around their room, trying to get the little one to fall asleep. Kane’s face never showed one trace of exasperation, but sometimes he would look to Angeline with confusion in his eyes, as if he was thinking,
“You think he’d be beat by now. Is this…like…normal?”

She would smile and slowly nod her head, assure him that it was par for the course and that there was nothing to worry about. Of course, Angeline couldn’t help but worry though.

In Kane’s presence, she kept up a brave face and told him that they’d be out before they knew it. He was talking Colorado; he liked the idea of living near the mountains and teaching Theo to climb when he was ready. She would always remind him that that was a long way off, but he promised her that they’d have all the time in the world—very soon.

All that hit her now was a sharp pain in her heart, as she glanced out the window and saw the sky growing darker. He was late, later than he said he would be. That had happened before, too; but, he always came back assuring her that Noel was leaning on him less and less, and Angeline always asked if they could get away. Her father was on board with the idea. Like Kane, he wanted his family far away from the Blood Brothers.

His response was always the same, “Not yet, Angel. Soon though. I swear.”

She clung to the idea of fleeing, but every time he left, as every minute ticked by without his return, she wondered if something had changed, if Noel was squashing their plans before they were off the ground.

And sometimes she thought the darkest thought of all.

Should she just take the baby and run away without him?

It was the last thing that she wanted to do, and when her heart’s memory ached at the lonely years without him, Angeline nearly kicked herself for even entertaining the notion. Life without him was more misery than not and how could she even consider denying her body the feel of his arms around her?

However, this wasn’t just about
her
body and
her
heart anymore.

Theo slipped away from her breast, and she patted his tiny back as her eyes drifted back to the window. Kane was her love, but Theo was her life. If push came to shove, she knew which one she would sacrifice—even as the idea of leaving him pierced her soul like a jagged blade that would inflict the sharpest pain.

The sound of his bike finally coming up the drive brought her fears to rest. As she settled Theo in his crib, Angeline kissed her fingers and laid her touch on his rosy cheeks.

“Daddy’s home,” she whispered. “Good news, you think?”

Theo giggled and kicked his chubby arms and legs in the air, as if he knew something that she didn’t. As she moved down the steps to meet him, Angeline took a deep breath and flung the door open wide.

“Kane, I… Kane?”

He was a sweating mass of heaving breaths and clenched fists. Pushing past her without meeting her gaze, Kane took the steps two at a time as he raced towards the nursery.

“Kane!” Angeline screamed, as she charged after him. “What’s wrong? What’s happened?”

He stayed silent as he looked into the crib. Upon seeing Theo, a great sigh left his lips.

“Thank God,” he muttered under his breath.

Moving out of the room again, Kane still failed to look at her, and he raced to their bedroom. Throwing the closet door open, he started pulling suitcases from the top shelf, grunting and groaning with each move.

“Kane, what—”

“No time, Angel,” he said. “Wake your father up. Get the baby. Jem is on his way.”

Just like that they were leaving? It was all that she wanted for months—forever; but, it wasn’t supposed to go down like this. And why was Jeremy coming? There was no way that he was leaving with them.

Unless…

“Kane? Kane!”

Reaching for his arm, Angeline stalled his furious packing. Acting on what seemed like pure instinct, he shoved her away. Bouncing into the wall, Angeline cried out in pain as her back slammed into the plaster, and when Kane heard her agonized groan, he finally forgot what he was doing and realized what he had done.

“Angel?” he asked. “Christ. I’m sorry.”

He tried to take her into his arms, but Angeline clasped his face in her shaking hands. Her stare was steady, as she peered into his eyes. “What the hell is going on?” she demanded.

“It’s nothing for you to worry about,” he started. Cocking her eyebrow in disbelief, Kane kept speaking. Fast. “Colorado,” he continued. “Jem will get you there tonight. It’s all good.”

It felt like the biggest lie that anyone had ever told her, equal to the moment when Noel said that Kane was lost to her.

And she wasn’t having it.

“No,” she said. “What’s changed?”

“Angel, there’s no time.”

“Just tell me!”

Wilting slightly under the force of her demand, Kane hung his head and took her hands in his.

“They… Noel got to your boss,” he said.

“Lillian?” she asked.

That didn’t make sense. Why would Lillian…?

“They’re gonna push pills. And… and they’re… Noel wants you to help.”

Angeline’s mouth went dry, as her heart pounded in her chest. What she had done, crime or not, was borne out of desperation and love for her father. What Noel wanted was something very different, and when she thought of helping him to turn a profit in the face of pain, Angeline felt as if she would be sick. Her legs started to tremble, and Kane wrapped his arms around her and whispered into her ear.

“Not gonna happen,” he said. “But it has to be now.”

Yes. Of course it did.

“But… but Jeremy… why?”

“He’ll get you out,” Kane said. “All of you. And I… I will…” His speech stopped short as he claimed her lips, kissing her fiercely. Angeline sank into his mouth, clinging to him. Her mind moved to the promise of freedom, a life without the club or Noel breathing down their backs.

“And you’re coming with us,” she said. “Right, Kane?”

Pulling away from their kiss, Kane released her and went back to packing the suitcase. As she watched his frantic movements, she was struck by the sight that her clothes, only her clothes, were leaving the drawers, the hangers.

“Kane, you’re—”

He cut her off with a wave of his hand. “I will,” he said. “When I… when I can.”

She had known that this moment might come, the time when she’d have to leave him for Theo’s sake. But now that she was confronted by the reality of his choice, Angeline felt that the danger was greater than ever. Could she really just leave him behind to face it?

“No,” she said. “You have to come, too. While you still can.”

“Not now, Angel,” he said. “Not yet.”

Zipping the bag shut, Kane hauled the suitcase out of the room and descended the stairs. Before he reached the floor, Brent was up, hobbling on his cane, his eyes full of his own questions.

“What’s this about?” Brent asked.

“You’re leaving with Angel,” Kane said. “And the baby. Get packed.”

“Why right—”

“It has to be now, Brent!” Kane bellowed. “Just listen to me.”

Angeline saw her father looking around the house that been his whole world, and then he glanced at Kane ordering him out into the unknown. Tossing his cane aside, her father found his footing and forced his way into Kane’s face.

“Now I have to take orders for you?” Brent asked. “Theo’s not even your kid!”

“Like hell he isn’t!” Kane spat. Angeline watched her father form a fist, but before he could land a blow, the front window exploded into a million shatters. Screaming and hiding her head in her hands, Angeline peered through her fingers and saw Kane throwing his body across her father’s. As they collapsed to the ground, Kane shielded Brent’s crumpled form, and Theo’s cries filled her ears. She could see headlights and shadowy figures moving towards the house. Were some of them already inside? Was Theo safe?

Crawling back to the nursery, she braced her falling body against the arm of the crib. The commotion had stopped her son’s giggles, and Angeline collected him into her arms and held him tight. Her embrace intensified when she heard the rumbling of voices at the foot of the stairs and the sound of fists and feet smacking into flesh. Kane yelled for the intruders to get lost, but her father’s attempt to protest was drowned out before it even started.

“Where is that sweet little Angel of yours, K Man?”

Her body was pulled from the floor by Noel’s vile call. She couldn’t just leave them like this. Exiting the nursery, clutching Theo to her breast, she tentatively stepped to the top of the staircase and looked down at an awful scene.

Her father had his hand to his chest, struggling to catch his breath. A big guy, she remembered him as Waldo, jammed his toes into Brent’s ribs and her father went quiet.

“Dad!”

Noel’s eyes moved up the stairs with a smirk, and Angeline quivered under his gaze.

“There she is,” he said. “Come on down, honey. High time I got a proper look at the little guy.”

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

Descending slowly, Angeline heard Kane yelling for her to go back, to try to run.

“Shut up, kid.”

Noel bent down and shoved his fist into Kane’s open mouth. At the sight of his lip splitting open, the blood dribbling down his chin, Angeline moved quicker to his side. She had to help him, like she had when they first met.

“Not so fast.” Noel stopped her where she stood and flashed a set of yellow teeth as his scar seemed to stretch up his face. Angeline tried to back away from him, but Noel’s arm encircled her back, and he pulled her close. “So this is the little shit that’s got Kane all mixed up,” he said.

She hated the sight of Noel’s hands on her son’s head, and even as Theo seemed to cringe under his father’s touch, she held her baby tighter.

She wanted to whisper to her innocent baby, “No. You’re Kane’s, sweetie. I promise,” but she remained quiet.

“Little bugger kind if looks like me,” Noel said with a wicked laugh. “How about that, boys?”

The other Blood Brothers nodded, but Angeline could see that they were uneasy. Could that be her way back to Kane? If she could just get them on her side, then maybe there was still a chance.

“Get your hands off—” Kane clawed at the air, and Waldo sent him crashing back to the ground with the force of a single, swift kick. Angeline winced, as he groaned in pain, and Noel turned Angeline’s face to his.

“We made a cute kid,” Noel teased. “I’d love the chance to get under you again.”

Angeline closed her eyes at the idea of his hands on her. His fingers came to rest under her lips, and Angeline barely suppressed a whimper, as he traced the line of her mouth. “Might be sweeter to plug this little hole,” he said. “What about it, Angel?”

Doing everything in her power not to tell him that he has no right to call her Angel—never did, she focused on the previous statement and said, “Try it and I’ll bite it off.”

Noel seemed stunned by her defiance, and he brought a sharp slap to her face. As her body absorbed the blow, she spun back and fought to keep Theo’s crying form in her arms.

“You son of a bitch!” Kane screamed through his bleeding mouth. “I will fucking kill you!”

“Trash eating scum!” Noel yelled, as he hoisted Kane from the floor. His fists went to work on his chest, and Kane went limp in his hold. “Like to see you try.”

Angeline tried to calm her son, as Noel dragged a chair from the kitchen. Placing it before her fallen body, Noel sat Kane down and pressed his hands to his shoulders.

“What do you think, kid?” Noel asked, glowering at Angeline as she crouched in the corner. “I mean, the possibilities are like endless.”

Whistling for Waldo and the guy with the dreads, they assumed Noel’s position and steadied Kane’s swaying shoulders. Kane was made to watch as Noel knelt at her side and brushed the matted hair from her cheek.

“I’d like to see her dance,” Noel said. “Bet I could turn her out before she knew what hit her.” Noel’s palm surrounded her face, and he looked back to Kane, seething in his chair. “She is a fine piece of ass,” he continued. “Think we can both attest to that.”

Angeline shivered at the thought that Noel would make her a whore. His whore. Her father was groaning weakly just a few feet away, and Kane was a prisoner of his Brothers even as he tried to kick the chair out from under him. However, they were outnumbered, and there was nothing to stop Noel from ripping her from her home, from the boys that she loved, and sending her into total blackness.

“And as for the little one… well…” Theo wailed when Noel touched his face, and Angeline clutched him desperately. “He might fetch a fair price. Lots of people would give their eye teeth for such a sweet kid.”

Theo sold on the black market to anyone with the right amount of cash? Raised in a home where he might never be loved? She wouldn’t have it. “This is my son!” she screamed. “I won’t—”

“Ain’t she a fighter!”

As she struggled to rise, Noel danced her to his chest and pressed her to his body. Angeline bit down on her tongue at the feel of his cock rising under his jeans, and Kane screamed like a mad man. “Leave her alone! Leave them alone!”

“I don’t know,” Noel said. “She’s mighty soft. They both are.”

Noel pressing his hand under her skirt and probing her dry pussy with his wretched finger was one thing. When he touched Theo again, she followed Kane’s lead and tried to kick him away.

“Not so fast!” Noel said, tightening his grip and forcing Angeline to her knees. Breathing hard, she saw Kane ensnared. They couldn’t hold each other, but she brought her head to Theo’s chest and tried to find some salvation in the feel of his heart beating wildly into her ear.

“I’m sorry, Angel,” Kane said. “I am so sorry.”

With the little hope that she had left, Angeline looked into his eyes. His dark eyes. Even now, when her future, when Theo’s future was in jeopardy, she still felt a kind of safety when she could just linger in his stare. Sadness clouded her soul at the thought that this would be the last time that she would see him. She should have found another solution for her father’s pain. She should have fought harder or at least pressed charges when Noel raped her.

She should never have met him.

“I’m… I’m sorry, too,” she murmured.

Straining towards his bloody lips as she kept Theo close, Angeline felt the room fall way. For just a second, there was nothing but them and
their
child in her home. The brutes at her back, at his arms, seemed to vanish, and she felt his blood swirling on her tongue and down her throat as she kissed him lightly. Even injured, he tasted like a dream, but sorrow washed over her when she realized that this kiss would have to sustain her for a lifetime of servitude.

Without him.

Kane’s mouth came to rest against her ear, and Angeline drank in words of love that she might never hear again.

“That’s it!” Noel cried. “That’s enough.”

He pulled her away from Kane and sat her across from his captive frame. Shrugging her off, Noel assumed her abandoned position at Kane’s side and gripped his collar. “It goes like this,” he said. “Bet your little bitch told you all kind of tricks of the trade.”

He winked at Angeline before he continued.

“Now you can do it, or she can. But I’m betting that you’ll stand up. Finally be a man.” Noel was back on his feet and punched Kane’s arm. Putting the point on it, Noel twisted back to Angeline, and she flinched when he touched her hair. “Or maybe he really is a dud. If that’s the case…”

He touched Theo, and the baby screamed again. Angeline forced her eyes to Noel’s and glared at him. “Then what?” she challenged.

“Then, you’re gonna get real sore real quick, Angel.”

“No! Okay! Okay I’ll…”

Noel rose with a clap and tousled Kane’s battered head. Pinching his cheek, Noel smiled. “That’s a good kid,” he said. “We’ll make a lot of money. And… Kane? Hey?”

Pulling him from the chair, he brought him to Angeline’s side. She moaned at the feel of his body so near and longed to hold him, to kiss him again. However, Noel placed his face between their desire and said smoothly, “And you’ll stay in line, or your girl and
my
kid will be mine to do with as I please.”