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.
“Mommy…” Arabella is watching us confused.
Placing a finger over my mouth, I let her know to be quiet. She runs off to go play. “Are you okay, honey?” I lean back slightly so I can see his face.
“You’re not going to hurt me?” he barely manages to get out through the snubs.
“I would never ever hurt you. All I want is for you to be happy.” I wipe my fingers under his eyes and dry his tears.
He starts sobbing again and my heart is breaking for this little boy. He cries onto my shoulder for a long time. He is still crying by the time Kane comes home. Kane watches us with clenched fists. Nodding my head toward the little boy, Kane nods and walks over to us.
He takes him from my arms and holds him close. Carter stiffens up and then wraps his arms around Kane’s neck. “Carter, nobody will ever hurt you again, and I’ll do everything in my power to make sure of that.”
Carter nods his little head. He stops crying after few minutes. Kane just sways back and forth holding him.
“I’m going to get Arabella bathed. Can you help him?”
He nods and gives me a smile.
Walking into Arabella's room, I watch her play on the floor with her dolls.
“Come on, sweetheart. Bath time.” I grab her pajamas out of the dresser.
~*~
As I’m combing her hair, Kane and Carter come in the room. I barely recognize him. Before he was covered in dirt, and now I can see that this little boy is absolutely gorgeous. He has dark blond hair that Kane must have cut. Arabella and he have the same colored eyes and he is really tall for his age.
I smile at him, and he looks down at the ground blushing. Kane gives me a wink.
“Tarter! You wook gweat!” Arabella jumps up and down, excited.
Laughing at her antics, Carter walks over and musses up her hair. Kane wraps his arms around me. We just watch them together. She has a brother. Kane’s hand slowly slides down my back and to my ass, then he pinches it which causes me to yelp.
Smacking his chest, he laughs at me. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I look deep into his eyes. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, sweetheart.” Placing his lips on mine, he lifts me off the ground. My hands go to his hair. I almost forgot we had an audience. Hearing giggling, I lean back to see Arabella looking at us. Carter is staring at us shocked.
“Hop in bed, Arabella. I’ll tell you a story. You want to stay too, Carter?”
He shakes his head no. “You want me to show you your room?” He nods. “Kane, tell Arabella a story, and I’ll go get him settled.”
Walking out of the room, I go down the hall a few feet to the guest room. Soon-to-be Carter’s new bedroom. “I will take you out tomorrow and you can pick out some things.”