Page 14 of Blade

“Yes, then Mom got pregnant with us at eighteen, but that’s a story for another day.” I sit back stunned. His parents’ house is beautiful. I never would have thought they came from a neighborhood like mine. The rest of the drive is quiet, and the girls are sleeping when we pull up. Just as I’m about to open the door and get out, gunshots are fired down the street.

“Get down, Bianca!” Cameron looks murderous, trying to figure what’s going on. After a few minutes, he pulls out his cell and makes a call. “I’m sending you an address. Get over here. Now!” He hangs up and sends a text.

“What’s going on, Cam?”

“Baby, there’s no way I’m leaving you and my girls here after that. You can stay at my house until we find something better for you. This neighborhood ain’t it.”

“Cam, I can’t ju?—”

“Baby, let me handle this, please? I’ll never sleep knowing you and my girls are sleeping in this neighborhood.” He’s pleading with his eyes, and I relent.

“Cam, you should know my mom lives with me. She didn’t come tonight because she has a heart condition. She wasn’t feeling up for being out.”

“That’s fine, baby. Mom can come too and later I want you to tell me about her condition. Okay?” I nod and he pulls me to him and kisses my forehead. Fifteen minutes later, I see all his siblings and a few men I didn’t meet tonight. Cameron introduces them as Thor, Capone, and Smoke.

Cara and Sara sit in the truck with the girls while I take the guys inside and get the essentials. Knocking on my mom’s door, I open it. She looks up from the television. “How was the dinner, baby girl?” She looks so frail. She’s supposed to have another three months, but I don’t think she’s going to make it that long.

“It was good, Mom. I want you to meet someone. Mom, this is the girls’ father, Cameron. Cam, this is my mother, Victoria.”

Cam walks over and shakes my mom’s hand. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

“Oh, none of that ma’am crap. Victoria will do just fine.” She laughs. Mom cried when I told her the full truth. The only thing she knew was Cam didn’t want the girls. When I told her about Jennifer and all of it being a lie, she was furious.

“Mama, we’re going to be moving into Cameron’s house until we can find something better. Is that okay?”

“Is it okay if we move out of this hellhole with leaky ceilings and a creepy maintenance man? Yes, it’s completely okay.”

A few of the men chuckle from the hall. Mom tries to get out the bed but falls back on shaky legs. The man named Smoke steps forward. “I’ll take her down.” He goes over and scoops my mom up bridal style. “Hold on tight, babe.” Mom looks at me and I swear she blushes. Cameron eyes Smoke with a smirk and moves out of the way.

Once they’re gone, I look at Cam. “What the hell was that?” I sass with my hands on my hips.

Cam chuckles and pulls my body against his. “Careful, Coco. You don’t want to get sassy because then I’ll be tempted to fuck the sass right out of you.”

Inside, I’m screaming,Yes, please. That sounds like a wonderful idea to me. Cameron chuckles, smacks my ass, and tells me to get what I need. Twenty minutes later, I’m leaving with five duffle bags. The rest I can get later. I just want to get my girls in bed.

When we pull up to Cameron’s house, Torch and Viper help carry them inside. Smoke carries my mom inside and takes her to her room upstairs. Cam shows me my room. It’s next to the girls’ room and that puts me at ease. I know if they end up waking up in the middle of the night, they’re going to be scared.

Cam turns to leave, and I grab his hand. “Thank you,” I tell him.

Cam pulls me to him, shaking his head. “Never thank me for taking care of you and my girls. That’s my job as their father and eventually your man. Night, Coco.” He plants a kiss on my forehead and leaves.

Did he say he was going to be my man? He really is looking for more than just sex. I would be lying if I said the thought didn’t send a thrill through me. I’ve been alone for a long time. I want to at least try and give it shot with Cameron. By the time I get into bed, I’m beat. I’m asleep before my head hits the pillow.

ChapterNine

BLADE

Ibarely slept at all last night. All I could think about was Bianca’s apartment. Knowing she and my girls have been living in that neighborhood all these years, surviving in that tiny apartment, has so much anger coursing through me. They shouldn’t have had to live like that. I know I told Bianca she would stay with me until we find something better, but I have no intentions of letting her move out.

Bianca wants me just as much as I want her. I deserve a fuckin’ medal for the self-control I showed last night. Watching her eyes dilate and her heavy breathing, I knew she was on edge and wanted me inside her again. I have to take this slow. I don’t want her thinking this is just sex, because it’s so much more than that.

A knock on my bedroom door breaks my thoughts and I walk over and open it. There’s my Coco, in the tiniest pajama shorts, wearing a tank top and no fuckin’ bra. Is she trying to test my restraint? I can see her hard nipples and every inch of her curvy body. I don’t think Bianca realizes how undressed she is until I start eating her up with my eyes.

“Sorry, I was just wondering if it would be okay if I cooked some breakfast in the kitchen,” she whispers.

I can’t help but pull her body against mine. Whenever I’m around her, I have an urgency to have her close to me. Her breath hitches and her lips part. “Coco, you can do whatever you please here. My family will be over in a few so I’m pretty sure my sisters will be helping you cook breakfast.”

She gives a small nod and nibbles on her bottom lip. Fuck. Reaching up, I pull her lip from her teeth. “Fuck, don’t do that, baby. I want to be the one biting on that lip.” Bianca lets out a whimper and my control slowly breaks.

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