Baller: A Bad Boy Romance (47 page)

The sharp buckle came down on his back, and Kane ground his fingers into the floor as the assault continued. The slap of the leather bruised him; the cut of the buckle tore into his skin. Kane fought to lift his body away from the blows, but each slap weakened his resolve. Kane could feel the blood dripping from his skin, and he feared that he would not live to see tomorrow. He couldn’t get back to Angeline; Lillian Palmer was a lost cause. However, maybe Gina could get out even if he…

“No! Stop!”

Now, Kane had to scream as Noel fell to his knees and lowered his pants. This had to be a joke. There was no way that he really would—

“So, I’ll treat you like a bitch!” Noel said. “Maybe you miss this from the joint.”

In the showers, Kane had been spared at the last second. He never knew what it was to feel a cock invading him.

Until now.

Noel tore into his ass. Kane could feel the blood leaving his body when Noel thrust deeper. No. He wasn’t doing this. He couldn’t…

“Let’s see how tight you are, kid!”

Noel’s cock throbbed inside him, and Kane’s hands stretched into the air. But there was no escape, and every pulse brought Noel closer.  Even as Kane screamed and tried to scratch at his face and arms in a futile effort to push him off, his thoughts turned to Angeline. This was how she must have felt when Noel forced her—terrified, weak, and wanting nothing more than for him to be dead. Kane wanted that too—to see Noel with his body bloated and his eyes glazed as Kane dumped him off a hot rock and cut out his tongue so that he’d have no hope of screaming for help.

“Angel was better,” Noel said as he pumped into him. “But then we both know that. Right, kid?”

And then the thought of killing him ceased. Because if Noel ever had the chance, he would do this to her again, and he couldn’t bear that. Falling like the bitch that Noel believed he was, Kane submitted to the rape, and when Noel released his wickedness into his ass, he panted against Kane’s back.

“Now be a good boy,” Noel said, “or next time I’ll piss in your pussy mouth!”

Kane walked on sore legs through the waves of Noel’s laughter. He made like he was too stunned to speak or think, but his mind was working overtime. Noel would be gone on Saturday night, and Kane was more than ready to be left behind. No need for a guard when his ass was so recently wrecked, and Kane clung to that as the bikes roared off and he was abandoned with a skeleton crew. This was the night that he would take his chance and get back to Angeline. It took some doing, but Jeremy handed over the address when Kane swore the he only wanted to write her and make sure that she was alright. And all Kane had to do was wait until it was quiet and start back to her side.

When the moment felt right, Kane stepped out the back and started to mount his bike.

“Where you think you’re going, fool?”

Ben was back, and Kane started to absorb the lost cause when Ben pointed a gun in his direction.

“Boss said that we had to keep an eye on you,” Ben said. “Was he right?”

Kane thought of revving up his motor and taking his chances with speed, but then Ben would have to pay the price, and Kane didn’t want that for him.

He dismounted and lifted his hands into the air.

“So you gonna kill me now?” Kane asked. “Of does Noel get to have his way with me again?”

Ben blanched and seemed ready to shoot before concealing his gun. Reaching into his other pocket, he revealed a wad of bills and pressed them into Kane’s hand.

“What’s this?” Kane asked.

“It’s reparations,” Ben said. “Think you’ve earned that and then some.”

Kane hesitated, thinking that it was a trick, but Ben forced the money into his hand as he spoke.

“You need to go,” Ben said. “Find the girl and her kid if you can.”

Kane’s fingers curled around the bills. He could snatch them and speed off on a wave of hope. But why was Ben doing this? He was fast becoming Noel’s new right hand and letting Kane go would place him right in the line of fire.

“Why the change of heart, Ben?” Kane had to ask.

“Gina’s a good kid,” Ben said. “Only wish that I had the stones to stop it.”

Ben took hold of his arms and hung his head.

“Find your girl,” Ben said. “I’ll put him off the scent for as long as I can.”

Not needing to hear anything else, Kane hopped on his bike. The motor purred, and Ben offered a final piece of advice before Kane sped away. “Don’t look back, Kane.”

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

“Come on.”

Kane smiled as she held his hand tightly and brought him into the house. He heard snoring from one of the other rooms—had to be her father. A part of Kane was glad that he was there when Kane couldn’t be. He started to open the door, wanting only to shake the man’s hand when Angeline tugged him away from the sound and nuzzled his neck.

“This way,” Angeline said. “He’s been waiting for you.”

Angeline opened another door to a small room with yellow drapes and an army of stuffed animals. At the center of it all, there was a crib. Kane hesitated at the threshold, but Angeline clutched his hand and kissed his cheek.

“Come on,” Angeline said. “You’ve come this far.”

Kane let her lead him towards the crib, and as they hovered above the railing, Kane peered down.

There he was, bathed in blankets, his tiny, chubby hand clinging to a stuffed cow, a small smile peeking through his sleep. So much bigger than Kane had remembered, Theo already had Angeline’s soft curls, and for that Kane was grateful.

“Soon, he’ll need a big boy bed,” Angeline whispered. “But I’m glad you’re here in time to see him like this.”

“Can he talk?” Kane asked.

“A few words,” she said with a sigh. “Like
milk
.
Mommy
.
Dad
—”

She stopped herself, but Kane quickly put two and two together. Brent was there when he wasn’t, and Kane knew that he had to love the heck out of the little guy. He probably heard Angeline refer to Brent as her father and followed suit. At least he wasn’t using the word to address Noel. If Kane never did any other thing with his life, he would fight and die to keep Theo out of that bastard’s clutches.

Kane gingerly touched Theo’s cheek. It was still soft, and the boy smiled under his fingers. He stretched and yawned. If the kid woke up, would he have any memory of Kane? Would he smile and reach for him, or would he simply look at him with confusion or even fear? He didn’t want that and started to pull his hand away.

“Maybe we should leave him be,” Kane said. “I don’t want to bother—”

“You’re not.”

Taking his hand, Angeline helped his hand find its way back to Theo’s face, and their fingers rested together around the boy’s sleeping cheeks. Theo murmured happily, and when his eyes fluttered open, Kane trembled slightly. Holding his breath, he saw the boy’s eyes grow wide.

Theo first looked at his mother, Angeline glowing under the warm aura of the night-light. Kane watched as Angeline gave his cheek a tender pinch, and then both sets of green eyes gazed up at Kane. Theo scrunched his face, but then he clapped his hands together. His words came out like garbled nonsense, but he spoke with a smile and pointed at Kane.

“See?” she said as she nudged his ribs. “He already likes you all over again.”

Kane couldn’t argue with her, and when he tickled Theo’s belly, the boy erupted into a series of giggles.

“Do you want to hold him?” she asked in a low whisper.

It had been so long, and Kane’s yearning for his family was on the point of bubbling over. Nodding slowly, Angeline parted the blankets and brought the boy into Kane’s waiting arms. Holding him close to his chest, Kane was surprised for a second, half expecting to still feel the nearly weightless infant. But Theo was sturdy and strong. No son of Angeline’s could be anything but.

“He’s…he’s…” Kane was suddenly at a loss for words, and Theo also fell silent. His tiny brow furrowed as if in deep thought, and his pudgy fingers caught hold of Kane’s nose. Parting his lips to draw in a deep breath, Theo finally laughed again, and Kane relaxed against him. “Bring it in, little man,” Kane said.

Easing Theo into a hug, the boy rested happily against Kane’s shoulder, and as he glanced over at Angeline, he saw her smiling as her eyes glistened with tears.

“Remember when I used to walk him around the room to put him to sleep?” Kane asked.

“Of course,” she said with a light laugh.

On cue, Kane’s hold intensified, and he started to pace, gently bouncing Theo with each step. Kane was careful to navigate around the toys and the rocking chair. He pictured Angeline sitting there for hours on end, the picture of perfect motherhood. Hours, days, and years—time that he would never be able to get back—were lost. However, fleeing the club was all about moving forward, and even if he couldn’t reclaim the past, he could grab the future with both hands, hang on tight, and never let go.

“What do you say?” Kane asked Theo, nearly believing that the kid could read his thoughts. However, Theo had settled back into sleep, his warm breath surrounding Kane’s neck. Kane stood at the window, the moonlight washing over him. When Angeline slipped to his side and touched his back, Kane knew that he was finally home.

“It’s easier now that he’s older,” she said.

“Yeah,” he said. “Everything’s going to be.”

Angeline held her tongue and gently took Theo from Kane’s arms. “I’ll put him back down,” she said.

Kane offered no objection as Angeline placed him back in the crib, rearranged the blankets, and pressed the stuffed cow to his tiny side. Theo hugged the toy as Kane hovered over the crib.

“What are you thinking?” Angeline whispered.

Kane smiled happily. Part of him wanted to lift her into his arms and twirl her around, screaming in joy at the top of his lungs. But now that he final had the chance to be a father again, the last thing that Kane wanted was to make a move that might startle the kid. Instead, he opted to take Angeline’s hands, his voice coming out easy and contented.

“He looks like you,” Kane said. “Only like you.”

Angeline blushed and turned her eyes away. Her hands held his tighter, and even though he knew that she was glad, surprised but happy to have him back, something in her gaze told him that she was still worried that Noel would ruin this like he had ruined everything else and smash the dream that was only just coming back together.

“Let’s talk,” she said.

Closing the door behind them, Angeline led Kane to her bedroom. Sparse and clean, Kane instantly took note of the fact that one side of the bed was rumpled, the blankets turned over. The other side was untouched.

“You never were a cover hog,” he said, trying for a joke.

Angeline moved away from him and smoothed the crisp side of the bed with a tender hand.

“I kept it waiting for you,” she said. “Hoping that…”

Her shoulders started to shake, and Kane hurried to her side and gathered her in his arms. “You don’t have to hope anymore, Angel,” he said. “I’m right here.”

Her voice was muffled as she spoke into his broad chest, his hands running through her hair and his lips kissing the curls before he cupped her face in his palms. Angeline had no choice but to meet his eyes. “He’s so like you, Kane,” she said.

Wondering how that was possible, Kane urged her to fill in the blanks. Angeline held his stare as she spoke.

“He’s stubborn,” she started. “Wants ketchup on everything. Maybe it makes me a bad mom or something; but, nine times out of ten, I give in.”

Kane shook his head, his heart pounding furiously at the reality of having her so close after so long, and he kissed her brow.

“Shouldering all this alone?” he said. “So far from home? That doesn’t make you a bad mom.”

“Then, what does it make me?” she asked.

Answering her question with a deep kiss, their tongues swirling together, Kane dragged his hands down her back and wrapped his arms around her waist.

“Makes you the best,” Kane said. “But I didn’t need to see Theo again to figure that one out.”

Angeline wiped her eyes and laughed into his shoulder, hugging him closer. “But he’s also got a heart of gold,” she said. “Sometimes…I mean…I try not to…”

She started to turn away from him, but Kane kept her in his arms as his warm whisper hit her ear. “Try not to what, Angel?” he asked.

“Not…not to cry,” she said. “Theo keeps me on my toes most days; but, there are days when I can’t help it. Not having you is like a nightmare.”

Kane groaned at the thought of her sad, and he started to tell her that she’d never be lonely again.

Then, she dared to look at him again, pride replacing the sorrow in her stare. “But then Theo holds my hand,” Angeline said. “For such a little man, he’s super strong. And I thank god that…that somehow he got that from you.”

Overwhelmed by her presence and her words, Kane kissed her again and lifted her in his arms. Carrying her back to the bed, he eased her down to the place where she had dwelled in loneliness for far too long. Then, he flipped the rest of the blankets aside and sat on the side that she had kept waiting for him. “Don’t sell yourself short, Angel,” he said. “It’s all you.”

Angeline shot up and clung to him. Kissing his stubbled face, Kane could feel himself growing hard. Needing her again, now, he tore at her buttons, and Angeline stripped his t-shirt away. As soon as her hands hit his back, Kane couldn’t help but wince. Angeline suddenly pulled back and looked at him with her wide green eyes, her face a mask of worry. “Kane?” she asked in a quivering voice. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

It was the past. This was now.

“Nothing,” he said, trying to assure her as he moved to kiss her again. However, Angeline would not be swayed by her need to see the secret. So, he reluctantly turned his body to show her Noel’s damage.

As soon as she saw the marks on his back, scabbing over but still throbbing with the pain and the memory that he only wanted to suppress, Angeline gasped and grabbed his arm.

“It’s no big deal,” he said. “I’m really okay.”

“No you’re not, Kane!” she said. Her fingers were tentative as they explored his wounds, and when he found her eyes again, Angeline was most definitely all business and no pleasure.

“I want you tell me what happened, Kane,” she said. “All of it.”

He tried to shake his head, wanting her, needing her to believe that they could leave it all behind and make a fresh start with Theo, but Angeline’s eyes were insistent. Instead, he lowered his chin to his muscled chest, sighed, and said, “If anyone deserves the truth, Angel, it’s you.”