Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 49949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 166(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 166(@300wpm)
22
Kane
Once Renee is dressed, she rushes over to Colt, and I try to grab onto her arm to hold her back. I’m not sure what Colt is capable of right now. I can’t imagine how furious he is. I quickly follow her, feeling a need to protect her, even if it’s from her own father.
“Dad, I’m so sorry you had to see that,” she apologizes, trying to sound as sincere as possible.
Colt looks past Renee, though. He stares at me with a taut jaw and rage in his eyes.
“You fucking disgusting bastard!” he shouts as he shoves me so hard I hit the wall.
“Colt, I’m not going to fight you,” I tell him, holding my hands up in defeat.
“I trusted you with her! She’s your goddaughter, for fuck’s sake!” He shoves me again.
“Colt, can we talk—”
My words are interrupted by a punch to my jaw. Shit, he packs a hard punch. We’d gotten into a few bar fights in college together, but back then, we were always on the same side. I adjust my jaw as a throbbing pain takes over my face. Renee screams and runs over, throwing herself between Colt’s fist and me.
Colt doesn’t drop his fist, though. The rage in his eyes can’t be calmed.
“Renee, get out of the way!” He grits his teeth as he tries to push her aside.
“Rey…” I say, not wanting her to protect me and afraid she’ll get hurt trying.
My interference falls on deaf ears, though. Renee holds firm in her spot between us as she tries to reason with her father, who is not capable of reason at this moment.
“I love him, Daddy!” Renee cries out.
Her proclamation surprises me, but it does nothing to calm down the storm brewing inside of Colt.
“Move, Renee!” He tries to shove her, but she grabs onto his arms.
“I’m pregnant!”
Renee once again surprises me, but I’m afraid this news will push Colt over the edge. Maybe Renee is claiming to be pregnant because she thinks it will get Colt to back away from me. Or maybe it’s true. Either way, I don’t feel safe about Renee standing in front of her furious father.
I know Colt would never really hurt Renee, no matter what she does, but I also know he is pushed too far off the edge right now to have any reason left in his brain.
Immediately, I pull Renee backward into my protective arms.
“Colt, we’ll sort this out later,” I snarl at him as he stands there still ready to pounce. “Just leave it alone for now.”
“Leave it alone?” Colt yells. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”
Renee is sobbing softly into my chest, and all I know is that I need to get her out of the house. We need to talk, and obviously, we won’t be able to do that with Colt around.
“Renee will be at my place. You can talk to her once you calm down,” I say as calmly as possible.
He looks at me like I’ve lost my mind as I walk Renee toward the door.
“I’m sorry, Daddy,” she whispers, looking over her shoulder at him.
“Renee, you leave this house, and you’re never coming back!” Colt yells. “As for you and me, Kane—you’re dead to me!”
I swallow the lump in my throat. Renee is now shaking in my arms.
“I’m sorry, man.” I look back at Colt before opening the door.
Once we’re in the car, Renee curls away from me as she cries. I want to comfort her, but I figure it’s best to let her cry it out. I reach over and squeeze her hand. She holds on to me the rest of the way to my house.
The ride to my place has me still wondering if Renee declared she was pregnant to save me from Colt’s fist or not. Her declaration of love for me had sounded sincere, though. I know she wants to be with me, but I don’t want her to give up her future for me, and I need her to know that.
23
Renee
Kane hands me a cup of herbal tea as I sit on his couch with puffy eyes. He’s being incredibly calm and comforting, which surprises me. How come he’s not freaking out that I’m pregnant? Or that my father has probably disowned me and hates him?
His hand rubs my back as he sits down next to me.
“Better?” he asks after I take a sip of the tea.
I nod, setting the tea down and leaning back against the couch.
“Kane, I know you didn’t want this. Any of it. For my father to find out… for me to…” I stop myself and sigh. “The baby is yours…” I say, hoping he realizes that.
His eyebrows lift up and he chuckles.
“I would hope so! Unless there’s someone else?”
“No! There’s only you,” I giggle. “I know this wasn’t in your plan… having kids. I’m sorry. I should have gone on birth control or something, but…”