Angel is a sixteen-year-old girl trying to escape her chaotic life in the foster care system. When she steps into a local bar one fateful night, she's looking for adventure but finds herself drawn into a dangerous world filled with bikers and dark s...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Angel
The cabin we'd been hiding in felt suffocating, the walls closing in with every passing hour. Alexander's gang, as rough around the edges as they were, had gone out of their way to make sure we were safe, even if just for a short time. They'd managed to secure a quiet, hidden safehouse on the outskirts of a small town. It wasn't much-just a tiny, one-story house tucked into a grove of trees-but it was enough to catch our breaths.
Alexander and I barely had a moment to settle in when he got the call. One of his men, Cruz, had tracked down a lead on my siblings. The news hit me like a rush of cold air, my heartbeat quickening with hope and fear. My little brother and sister-they were out there, within reach.
"Angel," Alexander's voice was soft but firm as he grabbed his jacket. "Cruz thinks he's found them. We'll bring them here, I promise."
I reached out, grasping his hand tightly. "Thank you, Alex. I don't even know what to say."
"You don't need to say anything." He squeezed my hand, his gaze intense. "Family means everything."
After Alexander and his men left to make contact, I sat alone, anxiety twisting knots in my stomach. My hand drifted to my belly, a small, hopeful gesture that had become a habit. But when I went to the bathroom, my heart sank. I was spotting again-a dark, foreboding reminder that something wasn't right.
A chill spread through me and panic taking over.
The silence in the cabin was heavy as I paced the small living room, clutching my abdomen. It wasn't just a little spotting anymore. The blood seemed heavier this time, and fear clawed at me with each passing second. I could feel Alexander's worried eyes following me, his face tense and pale. The worry we'd kept bottled up in front of each other was spilling over, and I couldn't hide it anymore.
"We need to go," I murmured, almost to myself.
Alexander was already grabbing his keys, his movements brisk and uncharacteristically tense. "I'll get you there as fast as I can, Angel. We're not risking anything." He wrapped a comforting arm around my shoulders, guiding me out to the car with a gentleness that only made my heart ache more.
The ride to the doctor's office felt eternal. I kept one hand pressed to my abdomen, the other clenched tightly in Alexander's hand as he sped through the quiet streets. I could see his jaw clenched, worry etched across his face as he stole glances at me every few moments, his grip never faltering.
"I want a female doctor, please," I whispered as we neared the clinic, my voice barely above a breath. Alexander squeezed my hand reassuringly.
"Whatever you need, bby," he said softly, his gaze warm and understanding. He reached out, brushing a thumb over my knuckles. "I'm right here."
Inside the clinic, the receptionist quickly picked up on the urgency in Alexander's tone and directed us to a quiet room at the back. Within minutes, a female doctor entered, her presence calm and reassuring. She had a soft but focused energy, introducing herself with a gentle nod before sitting beside me on the exam table.
"Angel, I'll do everything I can to make sure you're comfortable and to find out what's going on," she said softly, her gaze kind as she glanced over at Alexander and back to me. Her calm demeanor soothed my frazzled nerves, and I felt Alexander's hand still resting on my shoulder, grounding me.
The doctor moved through her examination with a quiet professionalism, explaining each step. She dimmed the lights and set up the ultrasound, allowing me to relax as much as possible given the circumstances. Alexander held my hand tightly as the doctor moved the ultrasound wand over my abdomen, and the seconds stretched like hours.
Finally, a faint sound filled the room-a heartbeat, steady and clear. Relief flooded through me, and I saw the tension in Alexander's shoulders ease, his grip on my hand loosening just slightly.
"Your baby is still doing well," the doctor said, her eyes kind as she looked up from the screen. "Spotting is more common than people think, especially with the level of stress you've been under. But everything appears stable at the moment. Just rest as much as possible, and avoid any physical exertion for the next few weeks."
The weight of her words settled over us, bringing a quiet relief. I felt my eyes well up with tears as I glanced at Alexander. He brushed a thumb over my cheek, his gaze filled with a fierce protectiveness that made my heart ache.
"Thank you," I whispered, my voice thick.
On the drive back, we didn't speak much. Alexander kept his hand over mine, and every so often, he'd glance over at me, a quiet comfort in his eyes. There were so many words I wanted to say, fears to express, but for now, just having him beside me was enough
As we pulled back up to the cabin, Alexander parked the car and sat there for a moment, looking over at me. He reached out, gently brushing a stray tear from my cheek.
"I was so afraid I'd lose you both," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. There was a vulnerability in his eyes, one he rarely let show, and it stirred something deep within me.
I squeezed his hand, grounding us both. "We're still here," I whispered back, trying to reassure him, to reassure myself. "We're still here, together."
Inside, Alexander helped me settle onto the couch, insisting I put my feet up and rest. He brought over a blanket and tucked it around me, lingering beside me for a moment before he sank down next to me.
He ran his fingers gently along my hand, tracing circles on my skin. "I won't let anything happen to you, Angel. I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. Both of you," he added, his other hand moving protectively to my belly. The warmth in his touch made me feel grounded, as if he were wrapping both of us in his quiet strength.
"I know," I whispered, leaning into him. I closed my eyes, letting myself surrender to the comfort of his arms.
We sat there in the silence, feeling more connected than we had in a long time. This wasn't just about surviving anymore. It was about creating something together-a life, a family.
