Angel Academy

Chapter Twenty-nine

Corbin's POV

Lisa showed up around five, and, thankfully, Addaline wasn't there. I had Sidney in my arms standing outside waiting for her when she pulled up. She waved to us, and I smiled and waved back. I waited patiently for Lisa to climb out of her blue mini van and make her way to us. She pulled Sidney into her arms, kissing her cheek with a loud smacking sound, to which Sidney replied by hiding her face in her mother's neck, giggling.

"How was she?"

I shrugged. "She fought me a little bit at nap time, but other than that she was one of my better customers," I replied, smiling at her.

"Thank you so much Corbin."

"No problem." I looked behind her. "I thought Mike was suppose to come get her?"

Lisa scowled, looking at the ground. "Yea, I thought so too," she muttered. A few seconds later she lifted her head and looked up at me, her kind smile back on her face and a shy blush painting her cheeks. "Well, have a good night Corbin."

I kissed her cheek, "You, too."

I waited for her to leave, waving goodbye as she left the parking lot, before turning around and going back to Angel Academy. I walked inside the building and began switching lights off; half of them were already off because I was trying to keep the electricity bill down. It was really difficult to afford a daycare it seemed, and I wish I had known that before I bought this place.

I loved Angel Academy, but it was too much of a strain, so I was going to have to sell it if Addaline and I didn't get custody of Heath and receive child support each month. Even then it might not be enough to keep this place running. Bending over, I picked up the blocks that the children had flung everywhere. I put them away and gathered the rest of the toys, dumping them in a random chest. I really didn't care where they went as long as they were off the floor.

Sighing, I headed outside and began to lock the door. After locking up, I started walking to my car. I was so deep in thought about the case against Niamh, that I almost didn't notice the sound of feet following me. I stopped, and the sound stopped as well. I looked around me, but found no one in the empty parking lot. Unease began to settle its self into my stomach and I walked faster towards my car. The pace of the feet quickened.

Before I could lift my keys to unlock my car, a body connected with mine, sending me flying into the side of the car. I tried to get up, but someone grabbed my arm and twisted it up painfully. Gasping with pain, I struggled until I couldn't anymore.

"Listen up, Corbin," I froze, listening to the voice. It was garbled with some voice changer. "Are you listening? Nod if you're listening." Slowly, I nodded. "Good. Now that I have your attention, there's something I need to tell you." I stayed quiet, waiting for them to go on. "I have a job for you. What I want you to do is give Heath back to Niamh." Frowning, I shook my head, about to argue, but he lifted my arm higher, making me hiss in pain. "Don't argue. Just give Heath back. I'm not saying stop trying for custody, but give him back. When he's with her, it'll be easier to prove she's a terrible mother."

I shook my head, my brows furrowed in confusion. "What? Why do you want me to try and get custody of Heath?"

He dug something into my lower back, and I cried out in pain. "Don't ask questions. Just do what I say. Give Heath back, and I'll make sure you have a good case against her, got it?" I nodded. "Good, now, don't tell anyone about it, or I'll kill your little fiance and your son. Do you understand?" Again, I nodded, and the man let go. Before I could turn around, he hit me in the back of the head, hard, and I slumped to the ground, darkness taking over.

~~~~~

Niamh's POV

I jumped and tried to elbow my captor, but they were expecting it and moved out of the way. I heard laughter and froze. "It's alright, Niamh. It's just me."

Sighing, I relaxed a little, my heart beating dangerously fast in my chest. "Jeremy, you scared the crap out of me. You can't just do that!" I turned around, glaring up at him. He smiled down at me, his gold eyes shining.

"Pardon me, my lady," he laughed as he bowed.

I rolled my eyes. "What are you doing here?"

He shrugged, pulling me into his arms and kissing my shoulder. "I came to spend some time with you."

I pushed on his chest. "Jeremy, I already told you I wanted to go slow." He nipped my neck, and I stiffened.

"It's been almost a month, Niamh," he pouted, running his lips up my neck. A motion that would usually turn me on, but not right now; right now it just sent nervous chills down my back.

Pushing on him, I tried to take a step back, but his arms tightened around me. "Jeremy, let go of me."

His muscles were tight, and I could feel him begin to shake from anger. "So you won't have sex with me, but you'll have sex with that stupid cop?"

I scoffed. "Jeremy, I already told you, I'm not a cheater. I'm not like other girls, remember?"

He let me pull back just enough to look up at him, and what I saw scared the bejesus out of me. Jeremy's golden eyes were a dark, muddy brown, and his face was turning red from the effort of keeping himself under control. His jaw clenched and unclenched, and a sick feeling settled into the pit of my stomach.

"I don't believe you," he spat, spittle flying from his mouth and onto my face. I looked up at him, too scared to move or say anything; something told me that if I said anything at all, it would send him into a fit of rage. "You had sex with him, didn't you? Didn't you?" I shook my head, tears gathering in my eyes. Jeremy held my biceps in a painful grip, and I had to grit my teeth to keep from crying out. He nodded. "Yes, you did. Just admit it. I'm tired of you lying to me and screwing people behind my back."

I opened my mouth, sobbing, "I'm not. I promise. Please, let go. You're hurting me."

Jeremy smirked, and my heart sank at that smirk. It was devilish and evil. "I haven't hurt you yet." He shoved me, and I fell back into a wall.

He advanced on me, and I held my hands up to protect myself. "Jeremy, please."

Jeremy grabbed my hair and yanked my head back, pulling me to my feet painfully. "You better not fight me. If you do, it'll be louder, and it might wake Dean. Don't want the poor think witnessing this, do you?" I shook my head. "Good, I didn't think so." He slammed his fist into my stomach, and I dropped to my knees, tears falling down my cheeks. I bit my bottom lip, trying not to cry out, but stopped when the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. Jeremy knelt down beside me. He grabbed my hair, yanking my head back. "Next time, don't tell me no." He stood up and kicked me in the stomach, making me fall on my side and curl into a fetal position. "Tell anyone and I'll kill Heath and Dean." He kicked me in the ribs again, and black dots danced in my vision.

I'm not sure when he left, or how long I lay there in pain, but soon the sun was coming up. I heard the front door open and close, and footsteps walk into the house. I stayed silent, afraid it was Jeremy again. I looked at the clock. It said seven o'clock.

Caleb usually came to work on the case this early. I tried to call out, but I was too weak, and moving wasn't an option because I was in too much pain. Lucky, I looked to see Caleb walk around the corner. His green eyes widened with surprised when he took me in, laying bleeding on the floor.

"Niamh! Holy shit!" He ran to me, falling to his knees, his hands hovering over my body, unsure. "What happened?" I couldn't talk. He looked down, and his face paled. "Oh my god." He got up. I tried to cry out, and he gave me a worried glance. "Hold on. I'm calling an ambulance." He left me in the office as he raced to get the phone. He returned quickly, and knelt beside me. "It's going to be okay, Niamh. Please, just stay awake." I started to close my eyes. I wanted to stay awake, but the pain in my abdominal area was wearing me out. Black dots danced in my vision, and Caleb's voice sounded far away. "Niamh? Niamh?!"