Dark Caress (The Fallen)
Page 13
“I didn’t expect to see you so soon,” said Kane.
“I get around. So you did it. You learned how to love. I guess you won this time.”
“Yep.”
Their drinks were put in front of them at the same time. Fate pounded the shot glass and leaned on the bar.
“You think of names yet?”
“Names?”
Fate gave him that deadpan of his that was more comical than serious. “Baby names, my man. You know? Dick. Jane. Tabitha. Cody.”
“Are you trying to tell me something?”
“Me? No way. I wouldn’t tell you anything I’m not supposed to. I’d make a great godfather. I could be a good example of what a real man is supposed to be like.”
“You’re not human.” Kane clapped him on the shoulder. “And you’re a bad influence, Fate. Do you realize that? I wouldn’t let you near my offspring if the world depended on it.”
“Some day it will. Good seeing you, Kane. Take care of that little woman of yours. She’s a keeper.”
Kane whirled around as Fate headed for the dance floor. Fate was in the mix of it and wasn’t about to go away anytime soon. What was that crazy ass up to now? Honestly, Kane didn’t want to know. It was probably time for them to go. After this drink, they would. He didn’t want to play witness to the drama that Fate was about to rain down.
Kane brought Amber another fruity non-alcoholic beverage. He liked the way her eyes lit up when he placed it in front of her. They weren’t pregnant yet, but Kane had plans for her. She just didn’t know all of them. Kane’s gaze cut back out to the dance floor. He didn’t want to spoil the mood by announcing Fate’s presence to his crew.
Glass shattered on the dance floor. Another bottle was smashed. Cheers erupted. It wasn’t long before a chorus of glass was ringing out with more cheers following. This party was getting rowdy. They should leave. Kane knew it, but they had just arrived an hour ago. They were stuck for another few, at least. The music changed over.
Fate’s voice rocked through the speaker system. This was so not going to end well. Kane couldn’t focus on what Vice was saying to Amber. They were getting along, and that was all that mattered.
“Did you hear that, Kane?” Amber asked.
He was distracted. “What’s that?”
“I was thinking about redecorating the Armory.”
“Oh?” Kane asked.
“He’s not listening,” Amber said.
“Just take his credit card and go shopping,” Vice said. “He’ll start paying attention when the money starts disappearing.”
“Will you go shopping with me?” Amber asked.
Vice grinned. “I’d love to.”
No, Kane wasn’t listening. His gaze was focused on the dance floor. Fate had jumped on the catwalk. His voice rose above the music. Suddenly Victim was turning into karaoke night. Fate could actually sing.
“We’re all gonna get in a big old fight!” He jumped into the crowd, disappearing again.
A woman screamed. With Kane’s acute hearing he heard her words as though they were right next to him.
“He grabbed my ass, Johnny!”
The fight broke out in less than three seconds. Johnny punched whoever did the ass-grabbing. Kane was mentally hoping it wasn’t Fate stirring the proverbial pot again, but something told him it was the bastard. He lost him in the crowd. A barstool was thrown. The music came to a piercing end.
Tonight would’ve been a good night to bring the Fallen guard. There was a lot of fist pumping going on in the middle of the dance floor. Kane’s men were ready to run out there, but he shook his head “no” once. That was all they needed to stand down. Kane grabbed Dryden’s arm as he stood before the table, protecting everyone.
“Don’t do it. Trust me on this. Let this one go,” Kane said.
“Then we should go,” Dryden said.
They should. Kane knew it, but he kept his feet firmly planted. “Fate is out there. You do not want to get on his bad side.”
Dryden’s face went dark. “Motherfucker.”
The peroxide blonde was right behind Johnny cheering him on as he wailed on someone. The crowd scattered, giving the fight a wide circle. Johnny drew a gun.
Vice flipped the steel table over, protecting all of them. This was a fight no one wanted, not when things were going so well for the Fallen. Kane grabbed Amber, covering her with his body. The gun was pointed at the man Johnny had been wailing on. Shots rang out, and the Fallen were dematerializing. Bouncers flooded the floor. The go-go dancers were jumping for cover.
When the firing stopped, Kane jumped up. Fate stood in the middle of the dance floor with his arms spread wide. Bullet holes were riddled through his baggy shirt and his pants. Not one red stain flowed through that white polo. Blood dripped down his swollen face. He’d been beaten within inches of needing cosmetic reconstruction.
“Come on!” Fate whined.
“What the hell is Fate doing here?” Vice asked.
“Damn the luck! All freaking bad!” Fate cursed. “I can’t ever get this shit right.”
Kane dematerialized in front of him. He got up in his face and pointed his finger at the entity. “What the hell are you doing trying to kill yourself?”
“It’s my only waaaaaaaaay out.”
Fate’s words were drawn out in a long, beaten slur. Fate grinned. He was drunk. He staggered to the side, nearly falling over. Kane wanted to punch the smirk right off his face, but couldn’t. He liked the sonofabitch too damn much. Amber rushed to the dance floor where she put her arm out under Fate’s. He sagged onto her shoulder with a look of smug satisfaction crossing his face.
“Don’t look at me like that. He’s the one with the death wish,” Kane said.
She pushed napkins onto his face where blood dripped down. She gave Kane an accusatory look for being so harsh. Fate let his hand drop to Amber’s ass and gave it a nice squeeze. Amber yelped, dropping Fate into a chair. On second thought, Kane changed his mind. He was going to kill the bastard for touching Amber like that. Kane cleared his throat.
“I’d think twice about that,” Fate said.
“Can’t you boys just get along?” Amber asked.
“He started it,” Kane said.
Fate flipped him off. “Piss off.”
Amber threw up her hands, walking away. Kane chased after her. “Amber, wait!”
“You can’t dematerialize with a pregnant woman!” Fate shouted. “It’s not good for the peanut!”
Amber froze, turning. Slowly, she lifted her eyes up to Kane’s. Tears shimmered in her eyes. She looked around nervously at all the attention they were getting.
“Is it true?” Kane asked.
She nodded, and he swooped her up into his arms, kissing her passionately. “I love you. I love you.”
Love wasn’t something Kane had ever expected to find, but he had it with Amber. Fate had to kick his ass a few times to get him there, but he made it. That was all that mattered. He knew as long as he had Amber and her love, life would be absolutely perfect.
The End
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