Damen (The Marquette Family Book Two) (12 page)

“Got it,” Leon declared and pulled his hand from his pocket. Heaven’s mouth fell open at the ring with the tiny diamond set in the middle. The piece looked real, and from the pride in Leon’s expression, she guessed it was.

“No,” she whispered.

He didn’t appear to have heard her. Leon grabbed her hand and shoved the ring onto her finger, almost breaking it in the process. Heaven cried out, and the pressure eased, but it didn’t stop him from moving the ring over her knuckle and settling it into place.

“Now, we can get married. We talked about it, remember?”

Hypothetical, she thought, before she had gotten a grip, and before the abuse had gotten too bad to endure. Heaven shook her head. She tried to retrieve her hand so she could snatch the ring off, but Leon wouldn’t let go. “I told you that’s not what I want, Leon. You don’t listen to me.”

“Because you don’t know what you want.”

“I know what I want,” she insisted, “and it’s not you. We broke up.”

“No!” He looked over his shoulder, for the first time concerned about someone overhearing. Then he faced her, laying a hand on her jaw. His big hand engulfed her face, suffocating her without covering her mouth. She couldn’t breathe for fear and the threat of his violence. Leon would never take it that far in public, but he had hurt her often enough in private he was able to use subtle touches to communicate what would happen later. In that way, he maintained control of her when other people were around.

Heaven didn’t move. She imagined to anyone several feet away, she and Leon looked like a happy couple, her man caressing her face and holding her hand. All the old feelings washed over her, and the small ring was a boulder crushing her fingers and her heart.

“Heaven, be realistic. I mean you lived a fantasy for a while, right? Pretending you were going to get with that rich guy, but seriously, why should he be with a black girl like you?”

“There’s nothing wrong with me.”

“No, you’re smart and everything, but a black girl? Maybe to fuck but not to get serious over. So you had his son. Who cares? He probably looks at it like a mistake, and from the way all those people acted at that restaurant, I bet every one of them feels the same way, especially his family.”

Heaven blinked.

“Yeah, that’s right. I looked them up. The Marquettes.” Leon spit on the ground. “What kind of stupid name is that?”

“I love their name.”

“Why because you think it’s going to be yours? Or hell, your son’s?” He laughed. “Wake up. Maybe you’re not as smart as I thought you were. If that guy’s being nice to you it’s because he just wants to fuck you.”

Leon appeared ready to destroy something with the thought alone.

“It’ll wear off,” he growled, “and then you and your son are going to find yourselves on the street. He’ll use some high-powered lawyer to force you to back off, like get you fired and your reputation ruined so you can’t find work until you sign something that says you’ll keep your mouth shut about the kid.”

She started to shake. “Damen wouldn’t do that.”

“What about the other one? What’s his name? That mean guy who was at the restaurant. Fuck, even I got a little nervous when he turned all cold and snobby like rich people do.”

Heaven didn’t say anything. She dropped her chin against her chest, and a tear rolled down her cheek. Leon’s hold on her hand tightened, and she gasped.

“I told you don’t cry out here,” he snapped and squeezed harder. How did he expect her not to cry when he hurt her like this?

“I’m s-sorry.”

Leon leaned closer to her, bringing their faces within inches of each other. “I see I’m going to have to take you home and beat your ass for you to learn.”

“N-no.”

“You didn’t just tell me no, did you?”

Words escaped her.

“Is that what you want, Heaven? You want me to beat your ass? You remember, right? Maybe I need to remind you because you’ve been down here a few weeks, and you got stupid. Your son’s in school, so I’ve got plenty of time.”

Make a scene. You’re not a victim anymore, Heaven. You’re strong. Fight back!

Leon dragged her to her feet, and he shuffled her in the direction of the lot next to French Market. She spotted his car before they reached it. He must have driven down, and even before they reached the vehicle, she caught site of boxes in the backseat. A sense of hopelessness washed over her. He really was planning to move to New Orleans.

At the passenger side of the car, she hung back. “No, I’m not going anywhere with you, Leon, and I don’t want your ring.”

He had released her hand to remove the car keys from his pocket, and when he did, she started to take off the ring. Leon brought a fist down atop hers and slammed left arm against the side of the car. She cried out. He pressed his length along hers. Bile rose in her throat.

“Try to take that ring off and see what I do, right out here, and I don’t care who sees it.”

Heaven clutched her arm and sobbed. She was beyond control and past figuring out how to get away. There were no weapons in her purse, and even as she looked down at it, her arm started to swell. Leon banged the flat of a palm on the roof of the car, giving her an eyeful of the massive, tight muscles of his arm. Flexed, his biceps were as big as her head. Mentally, she curled in on herself, but she knew she couldn’t get in the car.
Never again.

“I hate you,” she whispered. “I never really hated my dad even after he got me to leave Damen, but I hate you, Leon. I might not be the kind of person that will rise up and fight physically, but I do it in my own way. I’m not going. You’re going to have to beat me right here and risk getting caught. I won’t ever be with you again.”

“Oh, that’s how it is?”

She couldn’t answer. The strength it had taken to speak had fizzled. Her arm throbbed, and her mind was a jumble. The southern sun beat down, bringing dizziness and nausea. At some point, Heaven realized Leon could just force her in the car and get her to her apartment whether she agreed to go or not.

He raised a fist in front of her face. “You’ll change your mind.”

She darted to the side. He caught her by her injured arm, and she cried out. The next thing she knew Leon rose off his feet and slammed on the ground. Heaven looked up into Guy’s angry face, and the big man dropped to one knee between parked cars. He drove a fist into Leon’s jaw, and her ex’s head snapped back. Guy dragged him up enough to keep him from cracking the back of his head on the ground and pounded on him a few more times.

Leon’s lip split, both eyes shut, and his nose gushed blood. At first Heaven felt a sense of satisfaction, and then her stomach tumbled. She staggered away to the end of the car. “Guy, stop,
please.”

She didn’t think he’d heard her, but the pounding ended immediately. A thud reached her, and she assumed Guy had dropped Leon, but she had shut her eyes.

“Ms. Heaven, are you okay?” Guy asked, his voice coming from beside her. She was glad he didn’t attempt to touch her.

“No.” She swallowed over and over.

Something beeped. Her knees knocked, and she wobbled.

“I can carry you, Ms. Heaven.”

“Don’t touch me.” Her voice was too sharp. She didn’t mean it. All she felt for him was gratitude. He had saved her, and she wanted to tell him, but confusion and weariness engulfed her. Not to mention the fact that she still couldn’t open her eyes. She imagined she looked like a druggie nodding off after getting high.

After a few moments, Heaven’s stomach settled, and she slitted her eyes. The sun seemed brighter, and it hurt. Her arm throbbed. The ring pinched into her skin. The disgusting thing would have to be cut off. Could she manage a step without Guy’s help, or would she fall on her face and make an even bigger idiot of herself?

Fresh tears fell down her cheeks. She had thought she was making a new life for her and Gideon, but the old ties wanted to keep her bound. After some moments, she realized Guy was saying something. She focused on his words.

“Ms. Heaven, please don’t go anywhere without me anymore. I came to your job to pick you up, but you weren’t there. You left early. Please don’t do that without telling me. If I offend you, then we can get someone else to watch over you. I actually know a guy who’s small, but he gets the job done. I’m sure he won’t make you scared.”

“Watch over me?” She glanced at him. He stood between her and Leon, who lay unconscious on the ground. Guy was close enough to catch her if she fell down, but his hands were pressed firmly to his sides. He stood stiff and still, no doubt trying not to look intimidating. If she didn’t hurt so much, it would be funny.

“Yes, Mr. Damen told me to watch you, but I was at the restaurant until it was almost time to pick you up. I’m sorry I didn’t find you before he hurt you.”

She nodded. “Where’s your car, Guy? Can you go get it? I don’t think I have the energy to move far.”

“I can’t do that.”

“But you don’t have to park. You can drive it up this little road here, and I’ll get in.”

He shook his head. “If you won’t let me carry you, we have to wait. I can’t leave you again.”

She peered at Leon. “He’s not getting up any time soon.”

Guy said nothing. Heaven was about to try convincing him again to go get the damn car when tires screeched to a halt, and she looked around. A black car had slid to a stop in front of her, and the driver side and passenger side doors flew open. Pete appeared from the passenger seat, and Damen leaped from behind the wheel. He circled the car and beat Pete to Heaven.

“Heaven!” Damen’s eyes widened at sight of her arm. His voice dropped to a growl. “Where is he?”

“He’s there, sir.” Guy pointed, and Damen looked like he would go after Leon for himself, but she clutched his shirtfront. He paused to gaze down at her, concern in his eyes.

“Damen, I’m hurting. I need to sit down.”

“You need a doctor.” He scooped her into his arms and headed to the car. Guy zipped forward to yank the back door open for them. Damen set her inside and climbed in after. He glanced out at Guy. “Do something with him. We don’t need him dying on us.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Pete, the hospital.”

“Sir.”

“Damen, I don’t need to go to the hospital.”

“Hush.” He drew her onto his lap, and then he noticed the ring. She tried to hide it, but he gently took her hand in his. “What is this?”

Sickness assailed her all over again. “He forced it on me.”

Damen was quiet. She couldn’t stand wondering what he thought and was about to ask when he spoke. “The only ring that’s going there is mine. We’ll get this cut off at the hospital, and it’s going in the trash where it belongs. Rest, Heaven. Put your head on my shoulder.”

She stiffened. “I have to get Gideon from school.”

“I’ll take care of it.” He patted his chest. “Right here.”

She leaned into him and relaxed in the safety of his embrace.

Chapter Twelve

Heaven laid back in Damen’s bed, her arm in a sling and her wrist wrapped in a bandage. Both her shoulder and her wrist were sprained, and the doctor had prescribed rest and pain meds. Voices reached her from downstairs, and she climbed out of bed to open the door. Damen wouldn’t like it, but she hated lying around. After Gideon had come in to tell her his Uncle Creed of all people had picked him up from school, she had fallen asleep and hadn’t gotten a chance to talk to Damen.

Footsteps on the landing sent her stumbling back to bed. The drugs were powerful stuff. She almost catapulted onto her face and had trouble raising a knee up onto the mattress when the door opened.

“Heaven!”

She looked around. Damen stood in the doorway holding a tray. “This isn’t what it looks like.”

He thumped the tray on the bedside table and raised her into his arms to lie on the bed. “I told you not to move.”

“I was tired of sleeping.”

“You slept two hours, and the only reason why you think you can move is the drugs are strong.”

“How can I ‘think’ I’m moving when I’m actually moving?”

Damen’s expression was dead serious. She had never seen him like that. “Heaven, you could have been hurt much worse today.”

She turned her face from him. “I have been—many times.”

“Then after today it never happens again. You’ll have your own bodyguard with you at all times.”

“Damen, that’s not realistic.”

“Please.”
He stroked her hair from her face and pulled the sheets up closer to her chin. “Don’t argue with me about it.”

“Damen.”

“Heaven, I told Gideon you fell.”

She gasped. “I don’t want him to know the truth. I kept it from him all this time.”

“You didn’t.”

“What?”

He sat on the side of the bed and leaned down to kiss her. “The reason Gideon wants to take self-defense classes is so he can get strong enough to protect you. He talked to me about it, and he asked if I would help him to do it. He said your ex hurt you, and he couldn’t do anything to stop it because he was so small and weak.”

Heaven started to cry, hearing the pain in Damen’s voice and realizing the desperation in her son. “I guess I knew he wasn’t fooled, but I didn’t want to face it. Leon never hit Gideon, not once. If anything, he ignored Gideon’s existence, which was better for him.”

Damen nodded.

“Did you tell him it’s okay and that I don’t need protecting?”

“No, I told him we would both take care of you, and I wouldn’t let anyone who would hurt you near enough to do so again.”

“Damen.”

“I’m serious, Heaven.” He caressed her cheek, and she felt only comfort from him. “You get a bodyguard. Guy suggested someone, and I’ve called him to meet with you. If he doesn’t scare you, he’s the one.”

“Seriously, I’m not some lame woman who can’t look out for herself. Leon was an exception. I can stand on my own two feet.”

She argued that she could, but in reality, she was terrified she couldn’t. Damen ran a fingertip along her ring finger. She knew he hadn’t let go of the notion that they get married, and after all that junk Leon had said, she doubted the idea even more.

“I want you to take a paternity test,” she said.

“No.”

“Why not? It will prove to everyone Gideon’s yours, and your family will at least accept him.”

“But not you? Is that what you’re saying?”

She pressed her lips together.

“I was considering it to get Creed off my back, but no. With time, we’ll prove him wrong.”

She looked into his eyes. “Wait, Damen. Are you scared Gideon’s
not
yours?”

“That’s nonsense.”

“No, it’s not.” She thought about it. “Your ex betrayed you. My dad turned out to not be the man you thought he was, and then there’s me coming out of the woodwork after you become rich, why should you believe me? Plus, I could just be using reverse psychology, pretending to want you to get the test but guilting you into not getting it.”

He raised an eyebrow in doubt.

“It’s possible, Damen.”

“All right.”

He didn’t expound on his agreement, making her think she had called it, and he didn’t believe her. The knowledge hurt even if she had no right to expect anything else.

“How about this?” Damen suggested.

“I’ll get the test if you agree to marry me, and you have to follow through. No putting it off. You keep your word, and we get married.”

She gaped. “That’s playing dirty.”

“Do we have a deal?”

“Damen, you could live to regret it if you marry me. This would be your second marriage, or have you forgotten?”

“I haven’t forgotten, and I’m not going to regret my decision. Do you agree or not?”

She hesitated a minute longer, weighing the options. If she married Damen without getting the test, everyone could go on forever thinking she married him for his money. There would be tension between him and his brothers, maybe forever. Their sour relationship might affect the kids, and all she wanted for Gideon and even Nita was for them to be happy.

If they got the test and of course it was proven that Gideon was Damen’s, then if they married, everyone would come to accept her—hopefully. More importantly, they would accept Gideon into their fold. The Marquettes were already a blended race family from what she had seen, so the fact that Gideon was biracial wouldn’t be an issue.

A new thought struck Heaven. She had been thinking over her options based on her marrying Damen as if it were a done deal. The fact was, she really wanted to be his wife, and something deep inside wanted to show him she could be a good one.

Damn.

She wanted to lecture herself into letting the image go that popped into her head, of her and Damen at the altar, of the two of them with their kids as a family. Leon hadn’t killed the hope in her after all. Her love for Damen and longing to be with him was too strong.

He doesn’t love me,
she tried to remind herself. Then she thought of Damen showing up at the French Market, angry at Leon and holding her on his lap like she was precious to him. She thought of how Damen had promised their son they would both take care of Heaven. Maybe Damen’s feelings stemmed from her being his son’s mother and also from the sexual compatibility they shared.

Heaven groaned and rubbed her forehead. Damen leaned closer and took her hand in his. “I’m sorry. I’m pushing you too hard when you’re hurt. Eat a little of this food and get some more rest. We can talk about us later.”

“No.”

“Heaven, you need to eat.” His voice was stern but gentle.

“That’s not what I mean. We don’t have to talk about it later.” She swallowed. Her stomach did flip-flops, and if she didn’t pass out in the next few seconds, it would be a miracle. “Yes, I’ll marry you,
if
you get the paternity test first. And don’t worry. I won’t go back on my word.”

He grinned. “I’d like to add another stipulation.”

You’re pushing your luck, sir.”

He chuckled. “We don’t tell the others until one month after our wedding about the test.”

“What kind of jimmy john mess is that?”

She smiled at the confusion in his expression at her crazy words. Heaven had heard it a lot from the same crazy friend who she had stolen the “it’s because I’m black” joke from.

“Our secret, Heaven,” he insisted. “No one knows about the test or the results until well after we’re married.”

“But then they might not come to the wedding.”

“They’ll come.”

“I don’t want you to be hurt.”

He grinned. “I won’t be. I’m marrying a sexy and beautiful woman, aren’t I?”

“I’m more than my body, you know?”

“Yes, I know.” He leaned down and pressed his face to her belly and rested one of his hands on her hip. She watched him in awe and confusion as he stayed that way a long while, and then he turned his head to look into her eyes. “I don’t pretend to be a perfect man, Heaven.”

“You’re close to it,” she blurted and then blushed in embarrassment.

He had the nerve to look full of himself. “I’m glad my wife thinks so.”

“I’m not your wife yet.”

“But you will be soon. I’m thinking next week.”

She made a strangled sound. “You’re insane.”

He raised his head to kiss her hipbone through the sheets and then laid it back down on her. The sigh of contentment from him made her wonder. “No, it’s not too soon.”

“T-the paternity test might take a while, maybe a few weeks.”

He frowned. “Do you know that for a fact?”

“No, I never looked into it. I didn’t need to.”

“Neither have I, but I doubt that’s the case. Who knows? It might be a few days turnaround, and we can—”

“Don’t even say it. This is my first wedding, and I want it done right. You can’t take that away from me.”

His eyes widened, and he sat up. “You’re right. Whatever you want, but it goes forward immediately. Hire a planner. I’m sure if money isn’t an object, she can work miracles within a time constraint.”

Heaven groaned. He wouldn’t give up on them doing this fast. Well, she knew she wasn’t marrying him for money, and he had the means to spend whatever it took. She refused to feel bad about it. This was what Damen insisted he wanted. He would get it, and Gideon would be fine.

“One more thing,” Damen said, and she tensed.

“What do you think of me adopting Gideon? Before you say anything, let me explain how it works.”

“I know how it works. I did look into that, and yes, that would make me happy. If he can have your name and be yours even on paper, it’s perfect.”

“Good. Then it’s settled.”

Settled, he said. Heaven felt like they were just getting started.

* * * *

Heaven felt weird being back inside Marquette’s, especially as a bride-to-be with no waitressing duties to perform. She listened to her wedding planner with only half an ear talking about table positions, settings, and other details. Not that Heaven wasn’t interested. She was into her wedding, and with each passing day, she grew more nervous and more excited. There was also tension, and she feared it would screw up the happiness that bubbled inside her every time Damen looked her way.

While Heaven was glad of her decision to marry Damen, and he showed signs of feeling the same way, there was also Creed’s opinion to deal with.

“Don’t you think this is a little sudden?” Creed had demanded of Damen when they broke the news.

Damen had shrugged. “Yeah, it is, but it’s happening.”

Creed had looked at her, his expression dark. Heaven shivered and resisted an urge to hug herself, but Damen had noticed.

“Fix your face, Creed.”

Creed started. “What do you me— Look, I’m just thinking of you, Damen. You’ve dealt with women who weren’t…the right one before. I don’t want to see you make another mistake.”

Heaven forgot her fear. She moved in front of Damen to face Creed, hands on her hips. “You’re saying I’m a mistake?
You’re
the mistake! Damen should have an older brother who supports him no matter what, not insult his fiancée to his face. If you don’t agree with what we’re doing, you can get lost. I told Damen we don’t have to have the wedding here, and we definitely don’t need you!”

Damen’s hands came down on her arms, and he drew her to his chest. “Calm down, baby.”

She wiggled in his hold, but Damen kept her still. She knew he hid how Creed’s attitude affected him, but all the while he hadn’t changed his mind. The only way she had gotten the man to slow down was in asking him to wait for her shoulder and wrist to heal. He’d agreed in a heartbeat and apologized for being insensitive. They took the paternity test in secret, and of course it showed Damen was Gideon’s father. No man had ever flown higher than Damen that day, and she had to curb his crazy behind from spoiling Gideon like he had done with Nita. So nobody knew better than her what he must feel to have Creed still standing against them. Heaven had begged Damen to tell the truth, but he reminded her of their agreement each time.

“See my half-pint defender?” Damen joked to Creed.

Heaven glared over her shoulder at him. “Who’s a half-pint?”

He ignored her, his focus on Creed. “If you don’t want us to have the wedding here, we won’t.”

Creed shrugged, his anger fading to indifference. “Marquette’s is partly yours.”

“Then if you don’t want to come…”

Creed’s gaze flew to Damen, and his eyes widened. “Are you saying you don’t want me here?”

“No, of course not. I want my brothers here with me and Heaven.” Damen shifted against Heaven’s back, and she knew what was coming—more evidence the man was bonkers. “In fact—”

“Damen,” she interrupted, jittery. “You don’t need to—”

“I’d like you to give Heaven away, Creed.”