Lane shot to his feet as Parker’s cries returned. He had to get to Celine, but he didn’t want to leave the baby alone. Indecision tore him in two, leaving him desperate and rooted to the thick carpet.
Duke ran past the room, stopping when he noticed Lane inside with Parker. “Where’s Celine?”
“Downstairs.”
Duke plucked Parker from his arms. “Go get her. Now.”
Lane sprinted toward the stairs, his chest tightening with each step. He had to get to Celine before the worst happened. He finally had everything he ever wanted. No way he’d let anyone take it away.
19
Celine filled an oversized mug with hot water then found a full bottle in fridge. She plopped the bottle in the cup and waited for it to slowly heat the milk inside. She could pump while Lane fed Parker. That would give Lane more opportunities to be hands on with Parker’s feedings, and her time to actually relax while he enjoyed his parental duties.
A contentment she’d never experienced settled into her bones. Partnership, teamwork, someone who loved her son as much as she did picking up the slack. Those were the things she’d craved for so long and never thought she’d have.
And now?
Fear rattled her insides. Now that she’d had a taste of what life with Lane could be, losing it again would be unbearable. But she had to try, and not just for Parker.
Because she loved Lane.
Dammit, she’d never really stopped. He’d held her heart in his hand since they were teenagers and she’d never gotten it back. At least not fully.
But even if he said all the right things, she had to tread lightly. She’d been burned twice. A third time wouldn’t justdestroy her, it could have repercussions for Parker’s relationship with his father as well.
The doorbell erupted into the silene of the kitchen, setting her on edge. Incessant banging on the front door came next. She froze, unsure what to do.
“Celine! Celine, help! Are you in there?”
Her heart jolted at the sound of Kevin’s muffled voice, and she ran to the front door.
The pounding continued along with Kevin’s frantic pleas. “Lane? Celine? Please! Let me in!”
With shaking hands, Celine threw open the door and the alarm sprang to life.
Kevin stood hunched over on the porch. Blood matted down his disheveled hair and stained his t-shirt. Black and purple rings circled both eyes and his nose was set at an unnatural angle. He stumbled in the house. “Hurry. Close the door before they come back.”
“I need to turn off the alarm,” she screamed above the abrasive screeching. She fumbled for the keypad, trying to recall the code Lane had given her for the security system.
Heavy footsteps pounded down the stairs. She glanced over her shoulder and the twisted expression on Lane’s face tightened her gut. Sheer fear and determination lined his face, his chest and feet bare.
His narrowed gaze darted from Celine—his expression relaxing a fraction—before focusing on Kevin slumped against the foyer wall. When he erased the space between them, he rested a hand on her shoulder to guide her to the side and moved his fingers over the keypad then clicked the deadbolt into place.
The bone-shaking noise shut off, and she squeezed her eyes closed for a beat to absorb the sudden silence before tackling the giant issue standing in front of her.
“You’ve got to help me,” Kevin pleaded. “I’m in over my head and didn’t know where else to go.”
Anger welled inside her to the point of explosion, and she laid her eyes on her sniveling ex-husband. “So you came here? Where I am with my child? Did you bring those mobsters with you? Do they know where I am now? My God, Kevin, what the hell were you thinking?”
“I…I didn’t know what else to do.”
Lane stood tall and strong beside her. “How did you get here?” he asked, voice shaking with rage.
“The goons who kidnapped me stranded me in the middle of nowhere. Kicked me out of a moving car. They said they’d be back, and if I didn’t have the money, they’d kill everyone I loved before they killed me. That’s why they went after you.” He finally lifted his gaze from the tiled floor and stared at Celine with wide, fearful eyes. “It was punishment. A way to show me they could get to anyone in my life. That no one was safe. I’m so sorry. I should have stopped gambling months ago. I have a problem. I need help.”
Lane snorted. “You need a lot more help than we can give you. Looks like you need a doctor and the authorities to clean up this mess.”
Kevin shook his head then winced, lifting his fingers to press against his temples. “No. No police. If they find out I called the authorities, I’m dead.”
