"Daddy," Autumn said. Kane lifted his eyes to see both Robert and Autumn standing in front of him. His children were growing so big. Autumn wrapped an arm around him, Robert followed her lead and Kane smiled at each of them.
"Is that the kids?" Avery asked.
"They just came in the kitchen. They're worried about me," Kane said. Talking to Avery, having Autumn and Robert with him, he was starting to feel better.
"Is my mom in there, too?" Avery asked.
"Yes, she's hovering close by," Kane said, looking up to see Kennedy taking the seat across from where he stood at the table.
"Good. Let them give you love until I can get home. We'll finish this conversation then," Avery said.
"No, stay there. I'll be fine. I promise," Kane said, his voice strong now.
"Then let's get you guys moved here, now. We shouldn't be apart when these things hit," Avery said.
"We need to stick to the plan. We'll be there when school's out," Kane said firmly.
"Dad's coming home for my first game, remember?" Robert added excitedly, referring to Avery's promise to attend his son's home game three weeks from then.
"Avery, they're waiting for you downstairs," Kane heard Janice saying in the background.
"Babe, I need to go. Tell Robert I'll be there. Are you sure you don't want me home tonight? Everything I have can be rearranged," Avery asked.
"I'm certain, Avery! Go to work. Thank you for calling. You made things better." Kane looked up at his anxious children. He needed to pull his thoughts together, focus on them, and move them all past this moment. This was just another extension of the day his father kicked him out of the house. Just like then, he had to pull himself up and focus on the future. All his dad had were words and those should have stopped hurting a long time ago.
"I love you, Kane. I wouldn't be here without you," Avery said, his voice husky with emotion.
"I love you too," Kane whispered quietly.
"I love you, Dad," Autumn called out, breaking their moment.
"Me too," Robert yelled. Kane took the moment, handing Autumn the phone.
"I'll take care of Daddy, I promise. I love you," Autumn said, and handed the phone to Robert as she wrapped an arm around Kane again.
Kane could hear Avery on the phone. Every word helped heal his heart like nothing else ever before. He could hear Avery's words to Robert. "Son, call me if anything happens, okay? And keep an eye on your sister and father for me. I love you."
"Yes, sir. I love you, too," Robert said a little sedately. Robert's eyes were trained on his as he handed Kane the phone. Kane hid the small smile forming, easing his heart even more. Robert was their serious one, and he could see that his son just gave his oath. Nothing would stand in his way. His children were absolutely precious.
"Honey, I'm going to arrange to have security on the kids as a precaution. I want someone on you too, but I know you won't let me," Avery stated. "I'll have them start right away."
"Avery, I already know you have people on us. They don't have to hide anymore," Kane said.
"Dad, we know. They aren't very good at hiding. They wait right out front of the restaurant every day," Autumn called out. "Granddaddy Paulie thought they were reporters and yelled at them real good."
There was silence for several moments before Avery responded. "I knew you were against bodyguards, Kane. I wasn't keeping secrets. You're just too important to me to take chances with, and this world's too hard a place. Besides, it'll just be easier if they don't have to hide."
"Stay safe. I love you," Kane responded, and he could hear Avery's sigh of relief on the other end.
"Kane-baby, I'll always love you. Thank you," Avery said, and the husky tone was back.
"It's all right. We know we're good, that's all that matters," Kane said. Avery made a kissing noise on the other end of the phone—it was his standard goodbye to Kane—and Kane ended the call.
"What's for dinner? I'm starving!" Robert asked, clearly over everything. Kane laughed as audible sounds were heard coming from his growing boy's stomach.
Avery sat, fuming in his office. He fought hard to keep the intense hatred he felt toward the Dalton family from blistering through his veins and manifesting in some outward display of contemptible retribution, but his resolve was only so strong.
Janice came through his office door, her mouth opened to speak as their gazes met. Her eyebrows shot up, she closed her mouth, and backed quickly out of the room, the door closing with a tenuous click in her hasty departure.
A heartbeat later, his will broke and the contents of his desk went violently flying across his office. Anger rolled off him in repugnant waves as he gripped the sides of the brand new mahogany desk and dug his fingers into thick wood. Nothing pissed him off more than having Kane fucked with, and he was damn tired of that detestable family getting the best of his husband.
Reason! He needed reason. A reason to take their vile fucking asses down! No! He couldn't lower himself to their level…or could he? Fuck! He needed sound reasoning ability to filter through this intolerable and nauseating disdain robbing him of his capacity to think rationally.
The constant sound of the annoying dial tone in an otherwise silent room brought Avery's focus back to his surroundings. He glanced around the office, his papers and files lay jumbled in scattered heaps, along with the loudly buzzing phone on the floor. Avery reached for the cord and pulled the receiver back to his now empty desk. He shouldn't let that family get to him, but damn, Kane was too good a person to be treated like that. He methodically placed the phone in its cradle, hanging it up, only to have it immediately begin to ring.
"Avery, it's Sophia. Thomas is right here with me. We've been trying to reach Kane, but the phone's busy. Have you talked to him? Are they okay? Thomas was just about to head over there," she said, her voice just as frantic as everyone else he'd spoken with since the newscast aired. Avery scrubbed a hand down his face and took his seat, trying to gather his composure.
"Yes, they're fine. A little shaken up, but they're all together. My mom's there too. Autumn saw the whole thing," Avery said. Thinking about Autumn watching that awful man spew his hate and bigotry had his gut twisting again.
"I can go there, Avery," Sophia suggested.
"No, stay home. I'm sure Paulie's on his way. Can I talk to Thomas?" he asked. A second passed before Thomas was there.
"I can stop him if you'd let me," Thomas stated emphatically. He sounded just as pissed off as Avery felt.
"No, handling this through the courts would cause too much press. I've got something I'm thinking, I just need time to pull it together. Listen, I'm increasing security on you, Sophia, and your girls. I'll also call you in the morning. I want full, current background reports on every member of that family. Use anything available to find out everything on them. I want it all. And if you and Sophia could help keep Kane and the kids occupied, that might help, too. He's adamant I'm not to come home," Avery said.
"No problem, Avery. For what it's worth, I'm really sorry. You guys didn't deserve that," Thomas said, and he could hear Sophia agreeing in the background.
"Kane's been too good to them. He certainly didn't deserve it. I'll call you in the morning." Avery disconnected the call and dialed his security company. They needed to double their watch. He wanted his family protected until he could figure this out.
"That man hasn't shown his face for thirty years. You've supported that entire family for years, and he disgraces you like that? But your money's good enough to take?" Paulie came through the back door without knocking, straight into the kitchen where they were having dinner. "It's not right! Did anyone tell that reporter that your dad put you out of the house at eighteen years old with nothing more than the clothes you were wearing? What kind of father does that to his son?"
"Paulie, it's all right. We're past it. Grab a plate, sit down, and eat." Kane tapped his fork on the table in front of the empty chair Paulie usually sat in.
"Your father d
id that?" Robert asked. Kane had never shared that story with his children. They were too young, and the story he felt was far too harsh. He only wanted them to know that parents stood by their children, not tore them down.
"Kane Adams! You've sent him thousands of dollars, and that man sure didn't look like he was hurtin' like all those letters said he was." Paulie was on a roll, not even taking his seat at the table, letting everything out to Avery's mom and the kids.
"We send him money?" Autumn asked. Her face visibly changed. She put her fork down and stared at Kane.
"Honey, keep eating. It's the right thing to do to send money to your family when they are down on their luck," Kane said, now tapping the side of her plate.
"I don't think it's right, not if he talks about you like that," Robert said.
"The boy knows what he's talking about," Paulie piped in, still on his roll.
"I don't want us to send him any more money," Autumn said.
"He's a bad man, Daddy!"
"I don't want us to either," Robert agreed.
"Me either!" Paulie sat down in a thump in Avery's empty chair right next to Kennedy.
"For the record, and since we seem to do everything on a family vote, I'd prefer we don't send them any more money either," Kennedy added, dabbing her mouth with a napkin. Kane just stared at Paulie. The rant had been substantial, but already fading. Paulie looked older in that minute than he'd ever looked before, and Kane reached out a hand, clasping his. Haggard, worn eyes met his. This had been an argument they'd had many times over the years. Tonight, Paulie won.
"I'm sorry, I should've considered they didn't know," Paulie said and clasped Kane's hand tighter. "It's just wrong, Son. Tonight they crossed too many lines."
"We don't turn our back on those in need. We walk in love, and live the life of a good Christian regardless of what anyone else does. That doesn't change, but I agree. They didn't seem in need to me either." Kane wiped his mouth and began picking up plates to take to the sink. They all spoke the truth, and Paulie hadn't said anything more than Avery had, but this wasn't a conversation to have in front of Robert and Autumn.
"Did you see the report?" Autumn asked.
"Yes, honey, I did. That man needs to rot in hell. Your Daddy hadn't eaten in days—" Kane held up his hand and cut Paulie off.
"Did you know Daddy's father before?" Robert asked. Kane flipped on the water, running the dishes under the faucet, realizing this conversation was taking place whether he wanted it to or not. Honestly, he was in too bad an emotional place to judge whether this discussion was a good or bad idea for his kids.
"No, Son, I met your dad a few days after he was put out of the house. It was one of the best days of my life," Paulie said, adding a little force to the word by slapping the table with his hand. Paulie looked up at Kane, when he glanced over his shoulder to the table again. Loving eyes met his and warmed his heart. If he were honest, it was Paulie who taught him what love meant—gave him the tools to become a caring, supportive father—not the family who had raised him.
"How could anyone put Daddy out of the house? He's a good man," Autumn exclaimed, and now they were all looking at Kane. Thankfully Avery's mom was pensively quiet, one less person to dissuade from the conversation.
"That's enough. No more talk of the past. That time's done and over and we can't change anything. Autumn, did you finish your science project? Robert, you have a math quiz on Friday. You won't have time to study tomorrow night. You have a scrimmage," Kane stated firmly, finally feeling on even ground, and trying to switch gears, get them back to normal.
"Okay, I'll be quiet, but I still think it's wrong," Robert mumbled, digging back into his second plate of spaghetti. He was the only one left eating at the table and back to shoveling the food.
"I think Dad will handle it," Autumn whispered to Paulie, who gave her smile and patted her head.
"Someone needs to handle this," Kennedy said as she cleared the plates from the table.
Chapter 23
February 1990
Lost in thought, Avery added up the air miles he'd traveled as he sat on his mother's private jet. He didn't usually pull strings, opting instead to fly commercial most of the time, but not today. Today, he was taking the long way home from DC, by way of Alabama. His briefcase sat close by. He'd traveled light—only one file filled the case.
He had gathered a lot of information on Kane's family for years, and he'd never told anyone, never brought it up. The data he'd pulled over the last few weeks since that horrific news report featuring Kane's father told him far more than he'd expected. His steely gaze narrowed. He knew all their names, ages, and marital statuses. He'd found out where they worked, how they lived, and all Kane's nephews' and nieces' names. He knew about every letter they'd sent to Kane, knew all the coercion they used to manipulate his husband, and it had worked every single time. He also knew Kane didn't send them small amounts of money occasionally, he sent large amounts every month.
Kane had kept this from Avery, and he didn't like it, but let the process happen, knowing his mister was too good a man to abandon his so-called family no matter what they'd done to him. He also wondered if Kane paid them not to hate him. His kind, loving husband was paying his family not to hate him…that broke his heart the most.
How could a family turn their back on their own blood, but take the money he worked so hard for? Avery had also wrongly assumed the money would keep Kane's family quiet if they were approached. That turned out to be a huge underestimation of both their intelligence and their level of hatred.
Over the years, Avery estimated hundreds of thousands of dollars had been sent to this hateful, lying, backwoods blood connection that had just shoved his husband through a weeks-long public ringer. They hadn't shut their fucking mouths for the last three weeks. Every overeager news reporter across the world now played clips of the venom spewed by Pastor Dalton.
No matter what brave face Kane put on, Avery knew he was deeply hurt and couldn't take any more. He shouldn't have to. Those people needed to pay for what they had done.
Avery prepared for his arrival in Alabama, with intimidation as his goal. He hoped the two large bodyguards he'd hired, who sat directly behind him on the private plane, might give the visual he wanted, but regardless, he needed to shut that damn family's mouth and move them out of the picture. He'd use the full force of the law, as well as his large bank accounts to silence them, forever.
Kane would be angry at him for getting involved. And this wasn't for him, because Avery couldn't give a shit one way or another about what they had to say, but it bothered Kane too much. He could hear the stress in Kane's voice every time they spoke. Kane sounded more and more down, withdrawing into his carefully constructed shell. The very one that had taken Avery years to pull him out of, and that just wouldn't do at all.
For whatever reason, Kane cared what those awful people thought about him. So they needed to shut the fuck up as soon as possible.
Avery and his crew landed as close to Ashland, Alabama as they could. He drove first to Pastor Dalton's residence. The house was far nicer than it appeared on television, but regretfully, no one answered. Prepared for that eventuality, Avery drove to the local church, one he'd learned the man had pastored for the last forty years.
The church was simple and quaint. The congregation couldn't be too large, given the size of the building, but by the looks of things, the ambiance was that of a true Southern Baptist church.
The massive hellfire and brimstone scripture on the billboard out front and the dramatic crucifix on the front doors all showed a church clear in its interpretation of the bible. Hellfire and damnation all the way. Avery never paused as he walked straight up to the small church. He grabbed the handle and jerked. Denied. The building was locked up tight.
"I noticed a Cadillac parked out back as we drove by," Tyrone, one of the bodyguards, said from behind him.
"I can get in there," Marcus, the other, much quieter bodyguard, said from
behind him as he pointed to the locked church door. Avery turned to give Marcus room, and the man pulled a small black bag from the inside of his jacket pocket. Within a minute, maybe less, the front doors popped open.
The church was dark and surprisingly smaller than it looked from the outside, with the altar as the chapel's largest feature. The pews were outdated and solid wood. They looked uncomfortable as hell. And deep red carpet and equally as red velvet drapes closed the whole place in. No light filtered into the small room, making it feel oppressive. As they made their way closer to the altar, Avery could hear talking from somewhere in the rear of the building. They headed toward a door at the back of the altar, and he could make out both a woman's and man's voice.
The conversation seemed intense, maybe a little frantic. Avery followed the sounds. Tyrone and Marcus were on his heels. Evidently the offices of the church sat in the back of the building. They entered the well-lit hallway, where they could see a single back door, barred shut. An office door sat directly to the right, completely closed but clearly the location of the voices they'd all heard.
"Let me touch you again, Helena," a deeply Southern, husky voice said. Avery recognized the voice and knew instinctively what was happening. Catching Pastor Dalton in a compromising situation would just be the icing on the stay-out-of-our-lives-forever cake. Avery quickened his steps while looking over his shoulder, putting his finger to his lips. He wanted to catch him off guard.
"But I don't like it, Pastor Dalton. You said I would, but I don't. You're scaring me." Shit! That wasn't a woman's voice after all. The door was locked and Tyrone didn't miss a beat, not waiting for Marcus to work his magic. He reared back, and in one swift kick, the door caved in. The light from the hallway streamed inside the dimly lit office. Everything inside Avery hardened as he caught sight of Pastor Dalton on a small sofa with a young woman underneath him. She couldn't have been much older than seventeen or eighteen. She wasn't completely undressed, but close, and looked scared. She actively fought off his hands. Tears streamed down her face.
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