Against All Odds - Angel's Story: Against All Odds (Destiny Series Book 4) (33 page)

“I’m not going to go into details, but when your mother confronted him, things got ugly. She feared for her safety. She moved to Sydney the next day. I ran into her about eight months later. It was about the same time your mum started getting bricks thrown through her window, and threatening messages on her phone.”

“From Jake?” I ask.

“Well, at the time we weren’t too sure who they were from, but yes, it turned out to be him. As time went on the messages and threats got worse. I feared for your mum’s life.” My eyes move back to Chase. The shattered look I see on his face as he listens to my dad’s words has me reaching for his hand under the table.

We both sit in silence as my dad continues. This can’t be happening. What else is life going to throw at us? How could it be possible my soulmate is also the son of my mother’s ex-husband? This is so fucked up. My head is spinning.

My dad continues, “A few months later, my worst fears were realised. He snatched her off the street, drugged her with chloroform, and threw her in the back of his van.”

“I think I’ve heard enough,” Chase says, standing abruptly. His chair topples over, crashing to the floor with a thud. It makes me jump. “I’ll catch you later,” he states flatly, his eyes briefly meeting mine.

“Don’t go,” I plead as he turns, walking towards the front door. “Chase,” I call as I get up to follow him.

“Let him go,” my dad says reaching for my arm.

“No,” I snap, pulling out of his grip. I run towards the door. “Chase, please,” I shout as he walks briskly across my front lawn.

“Leave me alone,” is all he says. He continues to walk away from me. Like hell I’m gonna leave him alone. I can only imagine how he’s feeling right now. He must be gutted. I’m gutted for him.

I reach him, just as he straddles his bike. “Please don’t leave like this. Please,” I beg.

“I need to be alone for a while,” he answers, strapping on his helmet. He won’t even look me in the eyes.

“What my dad said changes nothing, Chase. I love you. I don’t care what history our parents had. It’s irrelevant.”

“It’s not irrelevant,” he exhales. “And you’re wrong, it changes everything.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Chase

As I back out of her driveway, I allow myself one last look. When I see tears streaming down her beautiful face, it’s almost my undoing. I notice her father walk up behind her, encircling her in his arms. As much as I hate him right now, I’m glad I don’t have to ride off leaving Angel to deal with this on her own.

It feels like the walls are closing in on me. My chest aches, my head hurts. I’m fucking numb. As if my life couldn’t get any more fucked up. Every glimmer of hope, that at least one of my genetic parents was normal, has just been dashed. I couldn’t ask for a worse outcome than what I’ve just been told.

And Brooke. Poor Brooke. She’s so sweet and loving. I can’t believe my fucked up parents would do something like that to her. I could see the hate and judgement in Angel’s father’s eyes. It’s only a matter of time before Angel feels the same way.

I’m fucking crushed.

I have nowhere to go, nobody to turn to. Home is not an option for me right now. Pops isn’t there, and I can’t go to the hospital and burden him with my problems. It’s the last thing he needs.

So, I ride. I’m not heading anywhere in particular, but it’s funny how your mind works. Even though I had no plans of coming here, subconsciously I end up in my old neighbourhood. Where I lived with my mum, until Pops took me away.

I’m not even sure if she still lives in the area. It’s been over ten years since we’ve seen each other. As much as seeing her again sickens me, it’s something I need to do. She’s the only one who can confirm what Angel’s father said. I hope to God it’s all a misunderstanding, but it definitely sounds like something my mum would be mixed up in.

Pulling up out the front, I notice it still looks the same. Maybe slightly more run down than I remember. I stay seated on my bike, staring at the house for the longest time. I have a few good memories from living here, but mostly they were all bad.

Eventually, I will myself to get off the bike and walk towards the house. My hand is slightly trembling as I raise it to knock on the door. If she confirms this story is true, I don’t know what I’ll do.

“Well the prodigal son returns,” she says sarcastically when she opens the door. “I’ve got no money if that’s what you’re after.” Her comment disappoints me, but also makes my blood boil. There was a tiny piece of me that foolishly believed she’d be happy to see me again, after all this time. Big mistake.

Why the fuck did I even come here?

“I don’t want or need your money,” I reply. “I want answers, that’s why I came.” Her evil eyes narrow. Honestly, I’m shocked how much she’s aged. The past ten years haven’t been kind to her.

“Answers about what?” she asks suspiciously.

“Answers about my father.”

“Not this shit again. He’s fucking dead, get the fuck over it already.” I ignore her comment, because it’s something I’ve heard many times over the years. Cold hearted bitch.

“Was my father’s name Jake Johnston?” When her eyes widen, I know it was. My heart sinks.

“How did you find out his name?” she eventually says when the shock wears off.

“Logan Cavanagh told me.”

“You spoke with Logan Cavanagh? He’s an arsehole.”

“Why?”

“Because he fired me. Ruined everything.”

“He probably fired you because you were fucking your boss. Your married boss I might add. How could you?”

“She was a bitch anyway. What’s the big deal?”

“That’s where you’re wrong. She’s far from a bitch. She is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. You ruined her life, her marriage. Don’t you feel any regret for what you did?”

“No. Why should I? What about me? It ruined my life too. I lost my job, lost Jake, and I got stuck with you,” she spits as she flicks her head towards me.

I’ve never had the slightest inclination to hit a woman, but I swear I could knock my fucking mother out right now. She’s such a self-centred bitch. I shouldn’t be surprised that she’d turn this around making herself out to be the victim. I grew up with this shit. Everything’s always been about her.

“Fuck you,” I say through gritted teeth, as I turn and walk towards my bike. I’ve heard enough. There’s nothing more I need from her. She’s finished in my eyes. If I don’t see her ever again, it will be too soon.

“That’s a real nice way to talk to your mother,” she screams to my retreating back.

“You’re a pathetic excuse for a mother,” I say as I walk away from her for good.

••••

I ride around for a few hours, ending up at the hospital. I want to go and talk to my dad, talk to anyone, but I can’t put this on him. I shut off my bike, sending him a text instead. He’ll know something’s up if I go up there. He can read me like a book.

Something’s come up. I’m not going to make it to the hospital tonight. I’ll catch you in the morning.

He replies a few minutes later.

Ok.

I sit there for twenty minutes or so, staring up at his window. I feel so alone. Advice is what I need, someone to talk too. Someone who’s going to tell me things are going to be okay. Someone to tell me how I’m nothing like my parents. That two fucked up people don’t necessarily make a fucked up kid. I’m desperate to hear that. All my common sense telling me I’m nothing like them, has flown out the fucking window.

Fucking doubts.
Huge motherfucking doubts. I’m doubting everything. Myself, my life, my relationship with Angel, every-
fucking
-thing.

A few hours later I pull into my street. I’m surprised to find Angel’s car in my driveway. I wonder if she’s come to break up with me, or abuse me for what my parents did to her mother.

When I pull up behind her car, I see her sitting on the front steps of the porch, waiting for me. It’s dark and it’s late, so this infuriates me. What the fuck is she thinking? She could’ve at least stayed in her car with the doors locked.

She jumps up and runs towards me as I remove my helmet. “Thank God you’re okay,” she cries, throwing her arms around me. She almost knocks me off my bike. “I’ve been going out of my mind.”

She squeezes me tight, softly crying into my chest. “I’m okay, sweet-cheeks,” I whisper into her hair, my arms sliding round her waist. I feel bad that I’ve upset her, made her worry. I’m sorry for what my parents put her mother through. I’m sorry for a lot of things.

I pull her in closer to me. I love that she came for me. I fucking love her. She has
no
idea how much I need her body close to mine. I feel a lump rise in my throat as I hold her.

Please don’t let this destroy us!

••••

We eventually make our way inside. As soon as we walk through the doorway, she pushes me against the wall, fisting her hands in my shirt. Her lips crash into mine.

“Wait,” I say, pulling back. “Shouldn’t we talk about everything that’s happened, first?”

“No. Not now. I need you, Chase. When you rode out of my driveway earlier, I thought I’d lost you. I need that connection with you. I need to know you’re still mine.” Fuck. How can I argue with that? I fucking need that too. Who knows what that talk will bring? This may possibly be the last time I ever get to have her.

Fuck, I hope not.

Grabbing hold of the hem of her shirt, I tear it over her head. “Ouch,” she says when the neckline of her top gets caught on the back of her diamond stud earrings, tugging on her ear.

“I’m sorry,” I say once she untangles it from her earring. Leaning forward, I plant a soft kiss on her lobe.

“I’m okay,” she smiles causing us both to laugh. Smooth fucking move Daniels.

She reaches for my shirt next, pulling it up while I fumble with her bra strap. We’re practically tearing each other’s clothes off. That’s how desperate we are.

I love how she craves me, just as much as I crave her. I need to lose myself in her…breathe her…fucking drown in her.
Only her.
No matter what happens after tonight, it will only ever be her.

I swing her around, pinning her to the wall. Grabbing her behind the legs, I lift her. She wraps her legs around me just as I impale her with my cock. “Fuck,” I groan, throwing my head back. “I’m so sorry for everything,” I say as my eyes meet hers.

“Don’t,” she replies, tears pooling in her beautiful brown ones. Her hands come up to cup my face. She pulls me towards her, joining our lips. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”

Enough talking for now, I don’t want to think about what’s to come. I just want to lose myself in the here and now.

My tongue delves into her mouth. I pull back, slamming into her again. “Mmmm,” she moans against my lips. It’s a cry of pleasure, not pain. I’ve never been this rough with her. This is way beyond anything we’ve experienced together. It’s primal and animalistic, each movement taking us higher and higher.

Her head hits the wall every time I slam into her heaven. The sounds coming from her tell me she doesn’t mind, but I do. Pulling out, I let go. Her legs slide down mine until her feet find the floor.

“Turn around and place your hands on the wall,” I demand. She extends them out in front of her. “Higher. Above you head.”

When she’s in position, I slide my hand around her waist, pulling her sweet arse towards me. Using my knee, I spread her legs wider apart. One hand runs up her toned stomach to her tits, as I roll one of her hard nipples between my finger and thumb.

“Ohhhh,” she moans, tilting her head back. I lick a path up her neck as I guide my cock into her from behind. “Yes,” she cries as she pushes her sweet pussy against me.

“Push on the wall,” I whisper in her ear. “Take the weight in your arms.” When she does what I ask, I pull out, right to the tip, before slamming into her again. I repeat this over and over.

“God yes,” she breathes as she pushes further into me. I’m balls fucking deep in ecstasy. She turns her head to the side. “I need your lips.” She doesn’t need to ask me twice. I love her lips, her kisses.

I knead her tits with one hand, while my other hand moves between her legs. Using two fingers, I circle her clit as I continue to fuck her hard. She lets out a high-pitched moan into my mouth, before pulling out of the kiss and resting the back of her head on my shoulder.

“Yesssss,” she cries as her pussy constricts around my cock. My fingers continue to circle her clit as I pump into her a few more times. My own head tilts back as I feel my eyes roll back in my head, groaning loudly, as my own release comes. I explode inside her.

My lips find her neck again as we both catch our breath. I stay buried inside her. I’m not ready to lose that closeness with her yet. As my lips kiss up her jawline, I’m surprised to find tears streaming down her face.

“Sweet-cheeks,” I whisper, as I gently pull out of her and turn her in my arms. “What’s wrong?” She lets out a sob as her hands move around my waist. Panic sets in when I think maybe I’ve hurt her.

“I don’t want to lose you. Please don’t let this pull us apart.”

“Angel,” I breathe as my hands move up to cup her face. Tears burn my own eyes. “Losing you is the last thing I want,” I state as my thumbs move to her cheeks, wiping away her tears.

“I love you, Chase, with all my heart.” How she can still love me after everything my family has done to her parents?

Pulling her face towards me, I run my tongue along her lips. When she parts them, I slide it inside, locking my mouth with hers. “I love you, Angel. My life would be nothing without you in it.”

I bend at the knees slightly, as my hand runs down the back of her legs. Lifting her into my arms, I carry her towards my room. Never once breaking the kiss.

Laying her on my bed, I move over the top of her. No words are spoken as I gently slide back inside her. Unlike the wild frenzied sex we just had against the wall, my moves are slower, more precise. This time I want to show her without words, just how much I need her, how much I love her.

She’s my air, my fucking world.