Raging Heart On_ Friends to Lovers Romance(89)

CHAPTER 62


WHITE





“What the hell is that?”

“It’s a fake belly,” Black answers, and I jerk my head up.

“A fake what?”

“The bitch isn’t even pregnant,” I growl, anger burning bright inside of me.

“Why?” Kayla cries, getting off my lap. I let her go grudgingly. Having her in my arms was making me feel almost alive again. These past few days have been some of the worst I’ve had in my life. I need her and I don’t even care if that makes me sound like a dumbass. It’s true. “Why would she do that? I don’t understand,” she adds. I stand up to pull her back against me, wrapping her in my arms.

“Because she’s twisted and completely crazy,” Black says. “Some people you can’t figure out, Kayla. I’ve learned that, if nothing else, in this line of work.” I hear a little whimper of pain leave Kayla, and I squeeze her tighter in reaction, wishing I could comfort her more.

“Why is she doing this? What could she hope to gain?” Kayla asks, and I run my fingers through her hair. Even as pissed as I am, I have to smile. She doesn’t see things like most people would.

“Buttercup, don’t you remember when the press announced how much money I got with the new contract I was offered?”

“What?”

“Right before I got hurt, remember? The press went wild with how much money I was being offered.”

“I never pay attention to that crap, White. You know that.”

“Yeah, sweetheart, I do.” I laugh, reaching around enough to kiss her temple. “But most people do, especially people who are desperate for money.”

“Desperate?” she asks, confused and studying my face. I see the moment it hits her and I see outrage fill her face. “Rachel? She would do this for money? But why? She has to know you’d find out she’s not really pregnant! Plus, White, she doesn’t need that. I mean, she has money!”

“Correction: she had money,” says Black.

“What are you saying?” Kayla and I ask in unison.

“It seems sister dearest and dear old stepdad have run up quite a debt.”

“How?”

“Seems they both have picked up a bad habit of betting.”

“Betting?”

“Yeah. Sports, ponies… about anything you can bet on, they do it.”

“You found all this out in the short time you’ve been gone?”

“Well, I admit I had my suspicions before. So I’ve been looking into it. I just got confirmation when Luka called.”

“Well, I’ll be damned…” I say, amazed at all the shit that’s going on and what it boils down to.

“White, I’m so sorry,” Kayla whispers, turning around to look at me with tears in her eyes.

“Why are you sorry, Buttercup?”

“It’s my family doing this to you. I’m so—”

I put my finger to her mouth and cut her off. “Don’t even think it, Buttercup. You are not responsible for your sister and douchebag stepfather. What they’ve done is on them. That’s it, honey. It’s all on them.”

“But…”

“No buts. You cannot take this on.”

“Damn straight she can’t. The assholes have taken enough from you, Kay. Don’t let them have any more pieces of you,” Black grunts.

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.