All For An Angel (6 page)

“
I’m not here to eat. I’m here to talk
to you.” He glared straight ahead, never looking at her. Fury
steamed from his essence. At least he wasn’t cold today, anger she
could deal with, but that arctic blast he’d given her the last time
still had her bones chilled.

“
The seating’s for paying customers.
And since you aren’t buying anything, I suggest you keep
moving.”

He grabbed her arm before she could leave
then peered her in the eyes. “I’ll have a cup of coffee.”

“
Fine.” She stalked off, snatched a
clean mug and the stale coffee pot then stomped back to his
table.

“
I’m coming over to your place tonight
and help you pack. You and Angel are moving in with me.” His tone
was calm, but determined.

She stopped pouring and scowled at him. “Oh,
no we’re not.” Was he crazy? Lou would never back off if she lived
with Gabe. She had almost persuaded him to when Dirty Harry busted
through the door.

“
You need a nicer place to stay. It’s
a three bedroom. You and Angel can each have a room. I’ll respect
your privacy, and I’ll refrain from coming on to you.”

Her blood boiled at his nerve. “Real
flattering coming from a man who called me a slut. Now, I said no,
and that’s final.” She used her best because-I-said-so voice and
left him to do whatever it was he did all day long. Chase bad guys
or eat donuts, she didn’t know which, and right now, she didn’t
care. She had a job to do and money to earn.

Watching him out of the corner of her eye,
she waited on other customers. His face grew redder each time
someone slapped her butt or she bent down to refill a coffee mug.
Just to get under his skin, she giggled and shook her boobs way too
friendly for her other regulars. Finally, he dropped something on
the table and left. She walked back to the table to clean up his
untouched coffee and picked up an envelope.

She pulled out the contents. Three thousand
dollars and a note.

Shortcake,

Button up your shirt and change your
pants.

Gabe

She stuffed the money back in the envelope
and hurried outside before he drove away. “Gabe, wait.”

He got out of his car and met her half
way.

“
I can’t take this.” She held out the
envelope, but he refused to take it.

“
You can’t, or you won’t? Isn’t that
why you changed your uniform? To make more money?” He glanced from
head to toe and came back to her breasts.

“
Yes. Okay, I need some extra cash.
And I’m doing a fine job of earning it.”

“
Earning? By letting perverts touch
your ass?” He rubbed his eyes then changed his angry tone to a more
compassionate one. “I know you can’t enjoy it, so let me help you.
Take the money and move in with me. Come on, shortcake, what do you
have to lose?”

Tears welled up inside. Angel. She had Angel
to lose. “I can’t. Please, take your money and leave me alone.” If
he didn’t go away soon, she wouldn’t be able to control her
emotions. She wanted to move in with him and stay forever. Fill the
house with his children. Serve him three eggs over easy, bacon and
raisin toast every morning before work. Wait on him to come home at
night. Have his arms around her while she slept. Why wouldn’t he
leave?

“
Just get the fuck out of here! I hate
you.” Tears ran down her face and dropped to the ground. Her lie
rung in her ears. Her heart beat fast, and she grew weak in the
knees. Still, he remained motionless. “Did you hear me?”

“
I heard you, but I don’t believe
you.” His eyes lit up, and his mouth dropped open. “This isn’t
about Angel at all. Lou could care less about her. This is about
me.”

“
You’re wrong. I want you to go away.”
She had to turn from his glare, before he read her like she could
read him.

“
He threatened you, didn’t he?” He
grabbed her arms and turned her to face him, but she refused to
look him in the eyes. “I asked you a question.” His voice grew
louder, and his grip tightened. “What did he threaten to do if you
didn’t stay away from me? Answer me, damn it.”

“
Angel.” She barely heard her own
voice.

He let go of her arms. “He’s suing for
custody of Angel, because of me? I’ll kill that bastard.” He turned
and headed towards his patrol car.

“
No!” She rushed in front of the door.
“I can’t lose you too.” His words were not idle. He would do
anything for her. Even hurt his brother. God help him then, Lou
would strike back with everything he had. And he had plenty of
friends with power.

“
Lose me? Is this why you’ve been
pushing me away all these years?”

She focused on the ground and nodded her
head. All these years she’d tried to protect him and Angel, but
she’d failed. Gabe could see right through her, deduce her very
soul.

“
You still love me, don’t you? It
wasn’t just sex the other night. That’s why you were jealous and
asked who I’d slept with.” He cupped her chin and tilted it up.
“Amy, do you love me?”

Confused whether she should be scared of Lou
or relieved Gabe knew the truth, she blurted it out anyway. “Yes, I
do love you. I’m sorry, but I love Angel more.”

He let out a soft chuckle and caressed her
cheek. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.” He leaned one hand
against the car and kissed her lips. “God, you’re hot in these
clothes. Do you know what I want to do to you?”

“
I can guess from what I feel against
my stomach.” She wanted him right then and there. Her nipples grew
rigid, and her panties dampened. Maybe they’d use his handcuffs in
the back of his car. What was she thinking? They couldn’t, not ever
again.

“
So believe me when I tell you, every
guy you rub up against wants to do the same thing to you. And
you're making me as jealous as hell. The next guy I see slap your
ass is going to get slapped by me. It’s my ass to touch.” He
pointed to his chest.

She liked him being a bit possessive of her.
Knowing he loved her, but it didn’t change anything.

His voice softened. “Amy, there’s something
I have to know.”

“
What?”

“
Have you been sleeping with my
brother?” She felt his chest muscles tighten against
her.

This time she couldn’t lie, no matter what
his response was. She swallowed and braced herself for his
reaction. “Yes.”

His body slumped. Pain flash on his face and
his eyes glazed over. “Why? I have to know why?”

It was now or never. She’d already told him
she loved him and about Lou’s threats. However, she feared what he
would do if he knew Lou had blackmailed her into it.

“
Amy. Please tell me you don’t care
for him. Tell me that you don’t want him.”

She could hear the tears behind his words.
Handling things on her own hadn’t worked so far, and she hadn’t
spared him any pain. “He told me…if I didn’t, he’d…take Angel
and…hurt you.”

“
Oh, Christ!” He grabbed her around
the waist and drew her into his embrace. “Oh, shortcake, I’m so
sorry I wasn’t there for you. I’ve been a jackass. I called you
names and did things to hurt you on purpose.”

“
I’m sorry for hurting you,
too.”

“
Amy.” He tipped her head and kissed
her lips, slow and tender. “You got to come to me with these
things, trust me to be there and help you. I’d do anything for
you.”

“
I know, however, nothing has changed.
Lou is still taking me to court.”

“
Let me worry about him. I’ll take
care of it. All you need to worry about is packing.”

What did he have up his sleeve? Whatever it
was, she hoped it would work, because she wasn’t prepared to tell
Angel good-bye.

Chapter 12

“
Can’t you make her sit down?” Lou
whined for the millionth time as Angel ran circles around the kids
table at the DNA testing center.

“
She’s a very active child, and she’s
going to be yours to handle in a few weeks. Are you sure you still
want to?” Amy wanted him to call this off. Maybe Angel would scare
him away. So far it hadn’t happened. If she had thought about it
this morning, she would have fed Angel sugar coated cereal or
doughnuts for breakfast to see how he dealt with her at
hyper-speed.

“
Yes, I’m sure. You’re too lax on her.
She needs a firm hand.” He turned to Angel. “Angel! Sit down,
now.”

Angel laughed and threw a crayon at his
head. Unfortunately, he dodged it.

“
Did you see what she did?”

Amy tried not to laugh. She didn’t condone
Angel’s behavior, but Lou had it coming to him, and he needed to
know parenting took hard work. “What do you expect? You only come
around after dark. How is she supposed to know who you are?”

Lou crossed his arms and pouted like a
four-year-old. While it seemed funny right now, she knew it wasn’t.
In the not so distant future, he would be responsible for the
welfare of that little girl. How would he raise her? Nanny after
nanny, when she should be with her mother. One thing was for sure,
she would not be an absentee mother.

The bell on the entrance dinged, and Gabe
walked in wearing street clothes.

“
Uncle Gabe.” Angel took off running
to him, and he scooped her up and kissed her tummy. She laughed and
giggled. “Read me a story.”

“
Not now. Be an angel and sit down and
look at the book.” Angel dutifully did as he asked.

Lou’s mouth dropped, and he came to his
feet. “What the fuck are you doing here? This has nothing to do
with you.”

“
Yes it does, and you need to watch
your mouth in front of little ears.”

“
Don’t tell me what I need to do.” Lou
yelled and poked his finger at Gabe.

Gabe shoved Lou’s hand away. “Someone needs
to tell you what to do and where you can go.”

Lou snorted. “And you think you’re man
enough to do it?”

“
I sure as hell know I am,” Gabe
growled.

They both continued yelling over each other,
Angel started crying, and Amy picked her up. She rocked her to calm
her down until a nurse came out.

“
Gentlemen! This is a place of
business. If you can’t control yourselves, you’ll have to step
outside.” The nurse placed her hands on her hips and tapped her
foot. They both quieted down. “Good, now if you don’t have any
reason to be here, I’m asking you to leave.”

“
I’ve got a paternity test scheduled
for today.” Lou flashed a smug look at Gabe.

“
And you sir?” the nurse asked
Gabe.

“
I’m scheduled for a test too.” He
sneered back at Lou.

“
Fine. Both of you sit down and be
quiet. If you can’t, I will have you thrown out of here. Is that
clear?”

“
Yes, ma’am.” They both replied in
harmony.

Gabe sat down by Amy and Lou sat across from
them.

“
You don’t have a test today.” Lou
threw a crayon at Gabe.

Gabe picked up the crayon and started to
throw it back, but then he looked at Angel and dropped it on a side
table. “It just so happens, I went to the same judge you went to,
and I told him Angel was mine. So we both have a test today. You’re
not the only one with friends.”

“
So what? You two never even slept
together. She was a virgin until I…” His gaze dropped to Angel.
“Well, there’s no possible way she’s your kid.”

Gabe smiled. “Maybe so, but we, my brother,
are identical twins. Therefore, we have the same DNA. There’s no
way possible to tell which one of us is the true father.” He raised
his eyebrows and chuckled.

“
Are you serious?” Could it be true?
Amy wished with everything it was. If Lou couldn’t prove he was the
father, then he couldn’t take Angel from her. She wouldn’t have to
be scared of him taking her away, and she could be with
Gabe.

“
I’m serious, shortcake.” He leaned
down and kissed her.

Opening for his tongue, she deepened the
kiss. She didn’t care Lou sat across from them staring in shock.
Nor did she care about Angel sitting on her lap. Gabe treated her
child better than Lou ever had. Finally, her dreams were coming
true.

* * * *

Amy trembled as she read the court order
again.

“
It’s a minor setback. Like I said,
it’s just a temporary order until the tests come back.” Ms. Cox
tried to reassure her.

Tears trickled down her cheek. “This can’t
be happening. How can the judge order temporary custody to Lou when
he can’t prove he’s her father?”

“
Look Amy, I know this is hard for
you, but if she doesn’t stay with Lou for the time being, she’ll be
put in foster care until the judge can make a final decision.” Ms.
Cox sat down in the chair beside her.

“
Why does he have to take her
away?”

“
The judge granted temporary custody
because he felt that she would be safer not living in the apartment
you’re in now. And frankly, even though we know why he granted it,
I can’t make a good argument against his reasoning. The two of you
could have been killed. When do you think you’ll be able to move
into the new apartment?”

She sniffed and wiped her nose with a
tissue. “The new place isn’t going to happen. It seems that the
landlord has rented it to someone else.” Or it could be that it
turns out the owner is a new client of Lou’s.