My hand tightens on Kayla’s hair at my brother’s words. I’m not going to lie; it annoys the shit out of me that he knows what went on between Kayla and her stepfather more than I do. I’ll get her to tell me, though. Sadly, it will probably be after I’ve had her family thrown in jail. Hopefully that doesn’t cause us more problems.
“What are we going to do with them?” she asks, her voice trembling. She looks at me and then Black. I feel nerves flutter in my stomach. Will she be able to accept how I handle this?
CHAPTER 63
KAYLA
“You’re sure about this, Kayla?” Black asks me again for the tenth time.
I wish he would quit asking. Mostly because every time he does, I question myself. White is standing off to the side, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, and I can feel the anger rolling off of him. He doesn’t want me here, and I understand why, but I insisted. I’m done hiding and I hate feeling weak. I’ve been weak. It was weak to lie to White about the birth control. It was weak to not confront Rachel sooner. It was weak to let memories of my past color the way I live now.
I don’t want to be that person anymore. White deserves better, our child deserves better… and I deserve better.
“I’m sure.”
“What time is Rachel coming again?” White asks.
I look up at the clock. “She should be here anytime. Do you really think she’ll bring my stepfather?”
“To get the fifty thousand you promised her? I’m sure of it,” Black says.
“If Kayla gets hurt, I’m going to kill you, Black,” White growls.
“We’ll be here the entire time. I swear, Kayla, I won’t let anything happen to you, but if you’re worried, we can call a halt to this. I’ll get them another way.”
“No. The easiest way to get them and make sure they never bother White again, or any of us, is for me to get them on tape. I can do this,” I reassure him. I look White in the eye so he can see that I mean it. “I can do this.” When he doesn’t respond, I walk over to him. “I’ve got this, sweetheart.”
“Now you give me the sweet words,” he grumbles, but some of the tension leaves his face.
“I’ll give you more tonight.”
“You fell asleep on me last night.”
“It’s not every day a woman finds out her family is even more twisted than she believed.”
“They’re not your family. We are.” This comes from Ida Sue, who walks in from the back door.
“Mom. Now’s not a good time.”
“You mean because you two lame-brains are putting my Buttercup in danger?”
“We’re not putting her in danger. I’m not letting her out of my sight,” White growls, pulling me closer. “How the hell did you find out anyway?”
“I told her,” Black answers surprisingly.
“What on Earth for?”
“Because unlike you, he knows better than to keep secrets from his Momma. I swear, White, I’m starting to wonder where I went wrong with you.”
“I told her because I wanted to make sure she stayed home and didn’t come at a bad time. She blew a gasket last night when she found out you took Kayla back to her home.”
“Damn straight I did. What were you thinking, making my baby travel when she had been so sick?”
“I thought you said the doctor said it was dehydration and you were okay?”
“He did say I was dehydrated. He also said I was perfectly healthy,” I rush to reassure him, feeling myself blush. I want to tell him what else the doctor said, but now is not the time. I need to take care of this first.
“Perfectly healthy,” Ida Sue grumbles, and I shoot her a look to tell her to hush. She rolls her eyes at me, but thankfully keeps her mouth shut.
“I truly am fine. Let’s just get this behind us and then we can concentrate on the two of us.”
“I do like the sound of that,” White says with a sigh. I lean up to kiss him. Just as we’re about to break apart, the doorbell rings.
“I guess that means it’s show time,” I tell him and hope I sound happier than I am.
“Let’s get this over with,” White growls, squeezing my hand. I look back at Black to reassure myself and he winks at me. I can see the stress on his face, though. He’s worried, and Ida Sue’s face mirrors his. It’s time to prove not only to myself, but to everyone I love, that I can handle my stepfather and Rachel. I’m not the scared little girl I used to be and I have my real family here to support me.
I can do this. I know I can.
CHAPTER 64
KAYLA
I walk to the door, trying to calm my nerves. I nervously straighten the turquoise maxi dress I’m wearing. I catch myself trying to adjust my hair, then clench my hands into fists, trying to clear my face of the anger and anxiety I’m feeling. I open the door, hoping I know what I’m doing. It helps knowing White, Ida Sue, and Black are all in the next room. Black has men out in the parking lot too, because apparently Rachel and my stepfather are so deep into gambling that they have warrants out for them in five states for various charges. I feel a little guilty, but then I remember how I was treated and I remember what they’re trying to do to White. Whatever happens to them, they deserve it. It’s not my problem or responsibility.