Protecting His Forever (18 page)

They both get up and walk into the dining room. Kane gets his plate and grabs mine.

“Mommy, can I take Ieks?”

Nodding my head, I hand her his plate loaded with pancakes. I follow behind with syrup and butter. She sets the food on the table. Isaac looks down at her with a soft expression that causes her to blush. Grinning at her actions, I watch as she runs back into the kitchen and comes back with a glass. She hands it to Isaac.

“Thanks, sweetheart.” She gives him a huge smile and then runs over to Kane. Grabbing Arabella's plate, I set it in front of her and she digs in.

We have a ritual: I cook, Kane cleans up. He grumbles about it, but does it without me asking. Arabella went upstairs to her room and Isaac went out to get his bag. Kane asked him if wanted to stay with us for a while until he buys a new house. His house burned down two days ago. Kane and Isaac are best friends. They met each other on the streets and joined the marines together. That’s where they met my brother and Chase.

So lost in thought, I don’t notice Kane coming up behind me until he lifts me off the ground and up onto the island. “Baby, seeing you bent over the counter like that has me so fucking hard.” He takes my hand and presses it against his dick. “This is what you do to me all the fucking time. I want to bend you over this counter and fuck you so hard.”

I gulp and try to control my breathing.
Holy shit, that was fucking hot.
Biting my lip, I moan under my breath. He growls and slams his mouth on mine. Dragging my fingernails up his abs, side, and then his back, his hand sinks in my hair and controls the kiss. Taking his hips, I pull him harder against me. Biting his lip hard and pulling. That causes him to smack my ass, and I moan.

Someone is walking around in the living room and that causes me to pull away. If I don’t stop now, we won’t be stopping. He rests his forehead on my shoulder while we both try to catch our breath.

He grabs my hips and lifts me down to the ground. Taking his hand in mine, I pull him to the living room so we can go and check on Arabella. Walking around the corner the sight before us has us stopping in our tracks. Arabella is sitting on the floor and Isaac is sitting in front of her. He has a tiara on his head and is cradling a doll in one arm.

He hears us walk into the room and his head whips around. “Don’t say a fucking word.”

That causes me to giggle and Kane has a knowing smirk on his face.

“Those big eyes and smile got me. Shit. I couldn’t tell her no.” He looks at Arabella who knows he’s talking about her. She can’t help it; she lays on the charm thick. She gives him her dimpled smile which causes Kane to laugh. She wraps anyone and everyone around her little finger.

“I’m going to lay out some steaks for dinner and go call the gang over to join us.” Walking back to the kitchen, I know Kane is staring at my ass because he always does. He’s an ass man.

~*~

The rest of the day is uneventful. Isaac plays with Arabella all day long. Kane is getting pissy because his baby girl is focused on someone else. The doorbell rings, and I walk to open it. Like always, Kane beats me there.

Brae walks in wearing a sundress and gives me a quick hug while packing the dish she brought. Jessica walks in holding her stomach which my hands gravitates to.

Chase and Ethan walk in next. Their gaze goes straight to Isaac’s. They look shocked and then they both smile.

“Well, well, well. Nice to see you again, man,” Chase says.

They do that hand smacking one arm thing. Ethan goes next.

“Kane, grill the steaks and burgers,” I tell him.

He nods and lays a kiss on my forehead as he walks by. That causes me to blush because everyone is watching us. SMACK! Kane smacks my ass as he leaves. I jerk and let out a deep breath that causes my bangs to fly off my face. Everyone laughs.

The door opens again and in walks Mom and Dave. “Grandma!” Arabella yells and tackles her legs. She lets go and raises her arms up for the Sergeant to pick her up. He does and gives her a big grin. She pats his cheek and looks around.

Grabbing plates from the kitchen, I take them out on the patio. Kane is turning steaks over on the grill. Coming up from behind him, I spin a towel around and whip it at his butt hard. It makes a very satisfying smacking noise. The kind of noise where you know it hurts like a bitch. Snorting, I back up. Kane stiffens and turns around with a murderous glare. My eyes widen, and I take off running into the back yard.

Thinking I got away I look behind me, but I’m wrong. He is walking and is catching up to me it seems like.
What the hell? Is he freaking Jason?
Grabbing my tits, I run faster. I hate when my boobs move when I run.

Hands grabs my hips and lay me down on the ground. He tickles my sides. Squirming, I try to get him away from me. He starts laughing and that makes it worse.

“Okay, okay! I give up. If you don’t quit, I’ll pee on myself.”

His eyes widen and then he lifts me off the ground. Dusting the grass off my butt, Kane attempts to help. What I mean by help is he just rubs my ass. Copping a feel.

“You better check the steaks.” I smirk at him.

“Shit!” He takes off running to the grill.

Giggling to myself, I join the others who are watching us in amusement. Kane is eyeballing me, waiting to see if I get him again. Giving him a wink, I wag my fingers at him.

Before I know what’s happening I’m thrown over a shoulder, and I look up at Kane in shock. His eyes widen and then turns pissed.

“Set her the fuck down! She’s pregnant!” He charges over to Chase to beat his ass.

Hearing gasps all around us, I process Kane’s words. Groaning, I cover my eyes while hanging upside down.

“Shit, man, I didn’t know.”

“Well don’t do shit like that. Set her down if you want to see tomorrow.”

He sets me gently on the ground, and Kane wraps his arms around me. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I swear.” I smile at him.

He nods and then I look over at the others who are staring at us in shock. My mom has tears in her eyes. Brae and Jessica just smirk.

“You’re pregnant?”

Nodding my head, I place my hand on my belly. A sob escapes her and she runs over to me. Opening my arms, she hugs me softly.

“How far along are you?”

“I just found out yesterday. I’m having twins.”

She gasps again and starts laughing. She turns to the rest of the crowd and yells at them, “They’re having twins!”

“Kane, you have super swimmers,” Chase tells him on a laugh.

Kane gives him a cocky smile while pulling me closer to him.

“Congrats, man.” Ethan comes over and slaps him on the shoulder. “If you hurt my sister I’ll kill you.”

“Oh, one more thing! He asked me to marry him.” I laugh out loud and their shocked expressions.

“Mommy!”

Looking around my mother, I see Arabella running toward me. When she steps in front of me, I ask, “What is it, sweetheart?”

“Der is a boy at the date. He wants to pway.” Her little eyes are hopeful.

Looking over at Kane, I can’t hide my confused expression.
What?

“Let’s go, sweetheart.” Kane takes her hand.

She nods quickly and jumps up and down. Isaac and the rest of the men follow behind them which causes the rest of us to follow.

Walking through the house, I take a short cut. Walking up the winding driveway I see a little boy outside the gate that could be Arabella’s twin.

“What the fuck?” Kane says shocked his expression mirroring mine.

The little boy flinches, but stares defiantly through the gate. He is older than Arabella. He looks around seven Kane opens the gate and the little boy steps through.

Kane bends down in front of him. “Who are you?”

“Her brother.”

“Her brother? Where are your parents? Your mom?” Kane asks him, softly.

“Dead. We have the same mom.” He stares at the ground as he answers Kane.

Holy shit. How is this happening? What? When? How?
Shaking my head in confusion, I walk forward so I am standing right beside Kane.

“Where's your dad?” I ask him softly.

His clothes are completely torn and dirty. His little cheeks are dirty. His hair overgrown. His eyes are like Arabella’s when we got her—haunted and dull. Closing my eyes, I try to control my anger. Arabella is young and she will forget most things. He won’t. He is old enough to remember a lot. His blue eyes stare directly in mine.

“My dad was in jail, but got killed there. The people that were watching me dropped me off here as soon as they got a phone call this morning.” He looks straight ahead showing no emotion. His little fists are clenched at his sides.

“Uhh, Kane, I was planning on telling you something. Can you come over here for a second? You too, Syd.” Standing back up, I look at Ethan in confusion. Kane takes my hand and leads me over to Ethan. Just as we get closer to him I hear him mutter, “Is it possible that it can be linked?”

“Last night the man that tried to kidnap Syd was murdered by an inmate. From the rumors that were circulating, the gang he was in wanted him killed so he wouldn’t rat.” He looks over at the little boy in sympathy.

We are all that little boy has left. Kane walks off pissed. I follow after him knowing that we have to talk. He goes to the patio and sits down. He sees me and pats his lap. I sit down and snuggle close. Shocked, basically. My head can’t wrap around this. The man, me, Arabella, that little boy?

“Sydney…” he starts. His eyes show nothing turmoil.

“I know, Kane,” I whisper and look out at the field.

“We are all he has left. Arabella is his sister.”

“I know. He has had such a hard life, Kane. You can see it in his eyes. Arabella had it bad, but she is young. He is older and will remember a whole lot more. Those big blue eyes will haunt me just like Arabella’s did. They are filled with so much sadness and pain.” My voice cracks at the last part.

“I know, sweetheart. I can’t put him in foster care. What kind of fucked up people would we be if we turned that little boy away?” he tells me sadly.

I nod my head in agreement. He takes a hold of my face and turns me around to look at him.

“Can you handle this, sweetheart?”

“I can handle anything with you by my side, Kane. Arabella is my daughter, and I love her so much. That little boy… I want to give him a good life too. He deserves it. He has no one. His mom overdosed. His dad was a mean and horrible person.”

“He looks just like her.” Her meaning Arabella.

“He really does.”

I stand up and he takes my hand. Everyone is still standing there looking at each other. Arabella is standing beside the little boy holding his hand. Kane squeezes my hand tighter at the sight.

Kane pulls Ethan to the side to get everything sorted.

“Come on, everyone, let’s go eat!” Clapping my hands, Arabella takes off running. The little boy stares at me in shock.

“What’s the matter?” I ask softly not wanting to frighten him.

“You guys eat together?”

“Yes, we do.” Smiling at him. “You hungry?”

He looks down at the ground ashamed. The growl I hear is proof enough. “Come on, let’s get you fed.”

I place my hand out for him to take. He looks at it warily then slowly places it in mine. Pulling his gently, we walk to the patio. Pulling out a chair for him, I grab a plate and load it with a steak and the works. Cutting up the steaks in little pieces for him, I set it in front of him and he just stares at it like Arabella did when she first came here. He then takes the fork and stuffs huge bites in his mouth. He eats and eats. Grabbing some water, I set it in front of him. He takes it and chugs it down. Hearing a sob, I look back to see Jessica and Brae crying.

Kane us a plate. Everyone is already eating. Arabella is sitting in Isaac’s lap which makes me feel like a horrible mom—I forgot to get her a plate. “Don’t worry I got her.” Isaac nods his head at me. I give him a thankful smile.

The police show up a little while later with a social worker. He is to stay with us. He does have distant family, but they have many priors of drug abuse and the other is child neglect and endangerment. Carter is seven years old.

The man that attacked me when leaving the mall was his dad. Arabella and Carter have the same mom. Carter’s dad was in the gang with my father. My mind is reeling at how connected it is. It’s hard to believe. I didn’t even know this town had a gang. Police records indicate that multiple cities in Texas have these gang members with the tattoo covering half of their face.

~*~

Standing in the living room once everyone is gone, I’m not sure what to do next.

“Kane,” I call out.

“Yeah?” He peeks his head around the corner.

“He needs some night clothes and a spare outfit for tomorrow. Then I will take him shopping to let him pick out what he wants.” He nods and smiles at me. He takes the keys from the hook and kisses me on the cheek before he leaves.

The couch is calling my name. This day has been exhausting and the police should just move in with us. They have been called so many times the past few months.

A giggling Arabella comes into the room pulling Carter who is looking around at the house in wonderment. His eyes connect with mine before falling back down to the ground. His body stiffens like he’s afraid I’m about to scold him.

“Carter,” I call him softly.

His head snaps to mine and slowly walks over. From his tense body you can tell he is scared. His movements are jerky as he moves toward me. His little hands are shaking. He sits on the corner of the seat and looks at the floor.

“I’m not going to hurt you, sweetheart.” I slowly touch his shoulder. I want nothing more than to pull him into a hug.

“Promise?” His bottom lip is trembling as his tear-filled eyes meet mine.

“I swear. You’ll never have to worry about that again.” I move closer to him.

Tears run down his face. I raise my arms out in front of me knowing if I just hug him out right it will freak him out. He looks at my arms for a second and then throws himself into them. His little body is shaking from him crying so hard. Pulling him into my lap, he tucks his face in my neck.