Page 34 of Daisy Chain
He takes the bags out of my hands and holds them in one hand like they weigh nothing. His arm brushes lightly against my side. I shoot him a glance, wondering if he did that on purpose. His expression hasn’t changed, and he doesn’t seem to know the mere touch scorched through to my skin.
He punches the code and swings open the door. “After you.” He gestures in a gentlemanly fashion, but I know he is not.
He takes the groceries into the kitchen and places them on the counter. I start to pack them away.
“What do I owe you for all that?”
“Nothing,” I say as I put the milk in the fridge.
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a wallet. “Will five hundred cover it?”
I pause with a loaf of bread in my hands. “Where do you buy your groceries from that cost that much?”
“I don’t. I have a housekeeper who takes care of it for me.” He hands me a bag of pasta.
I take it and put it in the pantry. “Of course you do.” From what I’ve learned from Natasha, he owns the club, this building and a car that’s worth the price of a small tropical island. “I don’t want your money. I did it to help Natasha out.”
“Why? You don’t even know her.”
When the last of the groceries are put away, he sits on a stool at the counter.
“It’s the Christian thing to do.”
Kade scoffs. “No one does anything and not want compensation or something in return.”
“Really? I see you’ve done a lot for Natasha. What doyouwant from her? Money, blood, her first-born child?”
“All of the above.” His lips twitch with an almost smile. I laugh. Wow. Mr. Serious made a joke. Does he have a sense of humour underneath the hard as steel exterior?
“Try taking that baby away from her. She’ll tear your arm off and beat you with it.”
“Yeah, I have no doubt.”
“She’s lucky to have you. Not many people would’ve set her up like you have.”
Kade pushes himself off the stool like the compliment makes him uncomfortable. “What was I supposed to do? Throw her out on the street?” His face hardens, and I feel like I’ve hit a nerve. “Linc and Ash take care of her too.”
“Well, it’s a wonderful thing to do. You’re all very kind.”
All expression is wiped from his face. “I do what needs to be done. That’s all.” With that, he exits the room.
***
After Kade leaves, I go to Natasha’s room. Even though he won’t admit it, he obviously cares for the girl. Why else would he have her set up in an apartment with all the baby equipment she needs? I pause at Natasha’s door when a thought hits me. Could he be the baby’s father? She’s seventeen. He has to be at least mid to late thirties. No, they said she was already pregnant when she started working at the club. And she said the father wasn’t around. So he can’t be… can he? Nausea rolls around my stomach. If that’s the case, I need to get her out of here. Fast.
I knock on the door, then enter. Natasha is sitting on the rocking chair, breastfeeding Remi. Her face is scrubbed clean of the thick makeup and heavy eyeliner she wore yesterday. With a clean face, she looks so young. “Is the baby Kade’s?” I blurt. I didn’t mean to spit it out like that, but with the thought in my head, I need to know right away.
Natasha blinks at me with a look of surprise. “Do you mean Chains?”
Does no one call him by his real name? “Yes. Are you here because Remi is Chains’ daughter?” Natasha screws up her face and makes a gagging sound. “Ewww. Chains isold. Like old enough to be my father old. That’s so gross.”
My shoulders sag with relief. I walk further into the room and sit on the edge of the bed. “Just thought I’d better check. How did you end up here then?”
Natasha removes Remi from her breast, props her on her shoulder, and lightly taps her back like she’s been doing this for years.
Rocking in the chair, her expression saddens. “I’m sorry, you don’t need to answer that. It’s none of my business. Just tell me if you’re happy here.”
Natasha smiles. “Yes, I’m happy. Chains, Linc and Ash are all so kind. I don’t know what I would’ve done without them. And I don’t mind talking about why I’m here. I’m very grateful I am.” The tapping on Remi’s back produces a burp too loud to belong to such a small, sweet thing. We both giggle, and it slightly lightens the mood. “I’ve been tossed around foster homes since I was five. All were pretty crappy. The last one was the worst. My foster dad liked to get a little handsy.”
