Dark Guardian (Black Hoods MC #3) - Avelyn Paige Page 0,47
works with Kevin on some math problems his school sent over at the kitchen table. How he convinced them that the kids were very ill and would likely be out for a few weeks, I’ll never know. But whatever he did, the teachers sent homework every day to their school email accounts.
Catching me watching them, he pats his big hand on top of the table and winks back at me. My face flushes instantly at his reminder of what we did on that very table just a few nights ago. Seeing this, his smile only gets bigger.
I roll my eyes at his distance flirting and return to helping Natalie with her reading. She sits calmly next to me, reading aloud from a chapter book she had brought home from school. She sounds out each word carefully, but stops every few sentences to ask me for help. She has a lot of catching up to do. Thanks to her uncle, she’s academically stunted, and it isn’t going to be easy to get her where she should be. Until things get settled, though, Eugene and I are doing what we can to help them both.
The crunch of a vehicle pulling up to the front of the house draws my attention. Pushing aside the sheer curtain behind me, I watch as a black sedan with dark windows park directly behind Eugene’s motorcycle.
“Eugene,” I call out. “Someone’s here.”
Pushing away from the table, he takes long strides into the living room. Not quite running, but definitely in a hurry. He peers through the curtain.
“Kevin,” he snaps. “Take your sister and do what I told you to do when we talked.”
My heart sinks to my feet. “What’s going on?”
“Police,” he bites out. “Kevin. Move, son.”
Running into the room, he grabs Natalie by the arm and tugs. “Come on. You need to come with me.”
“I don’t want to leave,” she cries, shoving Kevin away. “I want to stay with you.”
Eugene sighs. “Nat, go. Now. And stay with Kevin. I’ll come get you when it’s safe.” Setting her book down on the table, she follows her brother to the back of the house.
My heart thumps in my ears as I hear heavy footsteps trudging up the front sidewalk, and then a loud pounding rattles the door. Eugene’s hand slips to the back of his jeans, resting on a handgun tucked into the back of them. Shifting off of the couch, I stand behind him.
“Open up! I know she’s in there,” Aaron’s voice booms from the other side of the door.
Oh my God. If I could crawl into a gaping hole in the ground, I would. An angry heat sets me on fire from the inside out as I step around Eugene and put myself between him and the door. Between him, his gun, and Aaron.
My hand trembles as I reach for the knob. Eugene’s hand comes down hard on top of mine, stopping me.
“I can hear you on the other side of the door, motherfucker. I swear to God, if you’re holding her there, I’ll personally haul your ass to jail. Open up!” He pounds so hard, the photo hanging on the wall near the door crashes to the floor, sending shattered glass around my feet.
“He won’t leave if I don’t talk to him,” I whisper. “Please, let me take care of this.”
The stubborn man doesn’t budge, a tiny vein in his forehead visibly throbbing.
“Please, Eugene,” I beg him. “He won’t go away until he sees me. Stay inside, I beg you.”
I brush away his hand, and this time, he allows it. When he steps back, I turn the knob and pull the door open. Aaron’s dark eyes are filled with fiery anger, but flash with relief when he sees me. Stepping out, I quickly yank the door behind me closed, leaving Eugene safely inside.
“What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing.”
I try to keep my cool. If Aaron knew what lies on the other side of the door, he’ll bust in there after him and take the kids out of spite. I have to talk him down. Taking a gigantic step toward me, I back up against the door. I can almost feel the heat radiating off of Eugene from the other side as Aaron’s gaze trails up and down my body, looking for some sign that I’m being held against my will.
“How did you find me?”
Grabbing his phone out of his pocket, he waves it in front of me. I look at, confused.