Accepting Fate - (Slums to Riches, Book one)

Chapter 18

Though they reached the west in two hours, it took far too long to get to Michael. He needed her the second they left Terra da Lua e do Sol. Angelique could not waste another second waiting for Logan to turn off the truck.

Years of training kicked in as soon as she opened the door. She landed in a crouch, steadying herself with spread fingers, pushed herself up, and then sped through the open doors of the diner. Even if the loose grit cut her feet, she would not have noticed.

Her stomach rumbled as the aroma of searing meat enveloped her, but she forgot all about her hunger when a mixture of emotions and pain overwhelmed her. It brought her to her knees beside the first table.

First thoughts, then pain, and now emotions. Angelique dreaded to ask what next, but the thought crossed her mind.

She looked up at her family seated at the back tables. Fear dominated their eyes, but also relief. Neither Andrew nor Ty ever dealt with such a situation, and rarely paid much attention to anything other than their work and music.

"Annie!"

Her eyes darted to Jenny, whose feet slapped against the tiles as she ran towards her. She flung herself into Angelique's waiting arms.

"Annie's here," she cooed softly. "Annie's got you and I'll never let you go again."

Wood splintered and snapped beside her. Logan dusted his hands and set the swing door to the side before apologizing to Mama bear.

"Did Robert do that to her face?" he asked through clenched teeth.

Jenny touched the blood on her cheek and whimpered. "Freda hit Jenny. Bob hurt Mickey. Bad Bob. Bad Freda."

Logan reached out, but Angelique grabbed his arm before he could touch Jenny. "She doesn't know you yet and I've already lost my eyesight today. I don't want to lose my hearing."

Logan kneeled beside her and held out the stack of clothes. "Why don't you and Mickey go into the bathroom with Annie, so she can clean you up and make you look like a pretty princess again, and then I'll take Ben with me to deal with the naughty rats."

Jenny reached for the dress, but then hid her hands behind her back, biting her bottom lip.

"It's okay," Angelique said, taking the clothes from Logan. "We can wash your hands before we dress you."

Logan kissed Angelique's cheek. "If you need anything else..."

"No. You have your job. I have mine. Make sure they never hurt another child and burn that place to the ground."

Logan's eyes glowed yellow when he glared at Ben. "Shift."

"You don't have to—"

Logan pointed at the table where Michael lay on the floor, paler than she had ever seen him before. That silenced Ben. He knew he made a mistake. Though she could not blame him for wanting to stay with Jamie when she got sick, he made her a promise. She would never have broken a promise if she knew someone's life was in danger. Not that promise.

Jamie collected their clothes as they dumped it on the ground. She folded each item and placed it on the till counter for when they returned, and then set their shoes below it on the floor. However, she kicked their socks towards their shoes, scrunching her nose. Angelique would not have touched it, either. Nor their boxers, though neither wore any.

Her cheeks flamed when Logan crouched right beside her in all his delicious nudity. Jenny hid her face against Angelique's neck.

Ben grunted through the popping of his bones, but Logan's anger pushed him through his shift in seconds.