AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Does this mean you forgive me?” I ask.
She chuckles and snuggles against my chest. “I don’t know. You’ve got an awful lot of making up to do.” I know she’s teasing me by the tone of her voice and the fact that her tongue is tracing circles around my nipple. Even if she wasn’t, I’m going to spend the rest of my goddamn life making it up to her.
“It would be my pleasure, angel.”
“Why do you always call me angel?”
I’m quite a moment, choosing my words carefully before answering.
“Because you look like one.” I run my fingers through the golden strands of her hair once again and bend down to gently kiss her forehead. “But it’s more than that. You’re my own personal angel. You’re as close to heaven as a bastard like me will ever get. Every moment we spend together makes me believe that you were created for me. You saved me, angel.”
She burrows deeper into my arms, hiding her head in the crook of my neck.
“You saved me too.”
∞
I must have done something right in a past life because, for some unknown reason, my angel has forgiven me. I wasn’t sure she would, and that anxiety had been eating away at me throughout the entire trip to the hospital in Milford.
As it turned out, I should have hired a driver. Once I started making my calls to the hospital and arranging the rehab for Hollie’s mom, the number of calls started snowballing, and I was making call after call. Eventually, I had to pull over to a rest stop so that I could finish making arrangements. Even with hands free calling, I was worried I’d careen off the road with how frayed my nerves were. It had delayed me a few hours, but it had all been worth it when I finally got here and Regina was already in her new room and seen by the doctor. It took a bit of doing, finding a first class doctor in this area with privileges at the small hospital, but it had finally come together. Freda Duma is one of the best doctors within 100 miles.
I overheard the things that Hollie’s mother was saying to her and wanted to set the woman straight, but first I had to concentrate on making sure Hollie knew I loved her and needed her. I don’t regret any of the arrangements I’ve made for this woman, but only because she’s Hollie’s mother. Whether she deserves another chance to be in her daughter’s life remains to be seen, and I’m going to make sure she knows that. The choice is ultimately Hollie’s, of course, but she’s mine now and I protect what’s mine even if it’s from her own family.
She’s mine.
I’m hers.
The thought brings a smile to my face. If anyone was looking at me right now, they would think I’d completely lost my mind. I’m grinning like a fool.
Entering Regina’s room, I take a seat next to her bed. She’s looking at me with eyes that are the same green and gold as Hollie’s, but lack her warmth or spark of joy. By her dour expression, I’d say she’s lost all of her love for life. I wish her daughters were enough for her to get her life together, but they obviously aren’t. Because of that, my Hollie has had an incredible burden sitting on her shoulders for years.
“Listen Regina, we need to talk,” I jump in, wanting to have this conversation before Hollie gets back from the cafeteria.
“The fancy billionaire wants to talk to little old me. I’m honored.”
I sigh and rub my eyes that are bone tired from lack of sleep. Add to that the incredible orgasm I had twenty minutes ago, and I just want to drag Hollie back to the closest bed, wrap her in my arms, and sleep for the next ten hours. I decide the best course of action is to ignore her tone and soldier on with what I have to say.
“This stops now, Regina. No more depending on Hollie for everything. She’s been taking care of you for far too long. You’re the parent and you need to step up and be there for her.”
“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. I’ve always been there for my daughter. It’s her piece of shit father that’s never been there. I raised that girl. You don’t get to speak to me like that.” There’s a fire in her eyes that reminds me of Hollie when she gets worked up, but on Regina it looks slightly unhinged.
I’m not sure if it’s the alcohol or the drugs, but her body is craving something. Her hands are shaking and she tries to hold them steady in her lap and her right foot won’t stop jiggling. It looks like she’s about ready to crawl out of her skin. Too bad for her, it’s just started.
“She doesn’t need you and she doesn’t need her father. She has me now. I’m going to be her family, and I won’t allow you to take advantage of her anymore. I’ll handle all your expenses, including the hospital stay. The only thing you have to do is go to rehab. Stay there for the entire program, get clean, come home and you can be a part of your daughters’ lives.”
“Who the fuck do you think you are? Hollie won’t listen to this shit. She won’t abandon me just because you’ve told her to. I’ve been with her for her entire life. I’m her mother. She needs me.”
“I do need you, Mom.” I look over to where Hollie is standing. The light from the hallway is spilling in behind her, outlining her silhouette, and giving her a golden shine. My chest seizes up with emotion. She truly is an angel, and she’s all mine. I can’t believe I came so close to losing her. “But Archer is right. I’m tired of this, not just for me, but for Paige too. You leave her alone for days at a time, you have drugs in the apartment. What if the police showed up and thought they were hers? Or one of your druggie friends came to steal your stash? Both Paige and I work to payyourbills. Things have to change.”
“What are you saying, Hollie?” Her mom asks, her voice now sounding small. I don’t think she’s used to Hollie standing up for herself. It’s like the wind has been taken out of her sails and all the fight in her is gone. It seems like she used up her last bit of defiance on me and she can’t bear to face her daughter.
Hollie moves farther into the room and sidles up to me, resting her ass on the arm of the chair.
Close, but not close enough.
I pull her down into my lap where she belongs. She acts like she’s going to pull away, but I grasp her hips and give them a squeeze, silently telling her to stay put. She better get used to sitting on my lap because I need to have her close. She rests against me and my quickly hardening length settles between her ass cheeks. I almost let out a groan, but I need to focus and present a united front to her mother, showing that we both mean business. I hadn’t meant for Hollie to overhear this conversation, but the fact that she’s on board makes it that much easier.
“Go to the rehab, Mom.” She looks back at me nervously before settling her eyes back on her mother, who is now a few shades lighter than she was before. “I wouldn’t normally take a handout—”
