Page 41 of Unbreakable Bonds (The Boston Romance #2)

"No! I want my mom back," she says in an unstable voice. Her body shakes from emotions rushing through her system. "She was a much better parent than you. I hate being in Boston; I wish that they never found you."

Frozen at the spot, I stare at my daughter, who rushes out of the kitchen while sobbing. I start pacing through the kitchen, but when it feels like I can't breathe, I charge to the balcony.

She hates it in Boston, and she wishes I wasn't in her life. God... those words torpedoed straight into my heart.

A soft hand touches my white knuckles and fingers that are clinging on to the baluster.

"Cole. Talk to me."

"She hates it here," I mumble.

She touches my cheek. "You know she didn't mean what she said. She's blowing off steam."

I let go of the baluster and face Alisha, whose eyes radiate compassion.

"Hey. You are a great parent. Don't start beating yourself up.

You handled it right. Leo is too old. If she had been eighteen or nineteen, things would have been different.

But she isn't. If anyone should feel guilty, it's me.

I'm sorry. I should have picked up the signs weeks ago when she told me she was hanging out with someone. "

I bend and brush my lips against hers. "Don't be sorry. I guess we both have a lot to learn about raising a teenager," I say.

"I guess so," she whispers.

My phone rings in my pocket, and I sigh at the intrusive sound. "Guess it's a let's interrupt Cole day." I pull out my phone. "Nick!"

"Hey. I just got a call from Marc Feral. He has questions about the deal and the contract. Can you come over so we can discuss this?"

"I'm having a situation at home, so I don't think I can leave."

Alisha puts her hand on my chest and whispers. "Go! I'll stay here with Samantha. You deal with business."

"Are you sure?" I ask.

She nods.

"Okay, Nick. I'll be there in half an hour." Without breaking eye contact, I end the call. "You don't mind?"

"No. Since Samantha's mad and emotional, I don't think she will come out of her room soon. It's unnecessary to both sit here and wait. So I'll stay here, and when she comes out, I'll try to talk to her."

I nod. "Okay. I'll be back as soon as possible."

We exchange a deep, passionate kiss, and I enjoy how her sweet teasing tongue stops my troubled brain from overthinking.

Every time we kiss, it's like the normally unavailable pause button in my brain is pressed, which creates a vacuum wherein there is no worry but only an overload of pleasurable feelings.

She tugs on my bottom lip, and my pants get painfully tight.

With one hand I clutch a chunk of her golden hair, and when I yank it back with a bit of force, she lets out a longing moan and shivers as I whisper in her ear, "When the opportunity arises, I will fuck you on every surface of my penthouse.

" After planting a rough, quick kiss on her soft lips, I step away and leave.

* * *

The city spreads out before me through Nick's floor-to-ceiling windows, but I can't focus on the view. My phone sits on his desk, screen dark, mocking my need to check it every few minutes. What's happening at home? Is Samantha still in her room? Is Alisha okay?

"Go home," Nick says, watching me check my phone again. "If fifteen-year-old Charlotte was seeing a twenty-year-old, I'd lose it too."

"Good to know I'm not alone in this."

"Trust me," he mutters, "when Charlotte's that age, she'll have a tracker and bodyguard. No boy's getting near my girl."

I grin despite myself. "Exactly. And I plan on having a chat with this Leo."

Three and a half hours have passed. Too long. "Give Emma and Charlotte a hug for me."

"Keep me updated," Nick calls as I leave.

* * *

Stepping out and locking my car, I notice Alisha's parking spot is empty. Weird. My phone beeps with a message that makes the hair on my neck rise.

Stay away. She's mine.

Unknown number. Fuck. How did he get my number?

I sprint to the elevator, my heart pounding. The penthouse is silent when I burst in.

"Alisha!" Nothing. "Samantha?"

Both their phones go straight to voicemail. I tear through the rooms, finding Samantha's bedroom empty. They could be on a walk, I tell myself. Or... My mind fills with darker possibilities.

My phone rings. Alisha.

"Where are you? Are you okay?"

"Cole!" Her voice trembles slightly. "I'm with Samantha, but I need you to come."

My hand clenches around the phone as millions of thoughts run through my brain. "Okay, where are you?"

She gives me an address, which's about ten minutes from here. I want to bombard her with tons of questions, but I don't. The only thing I ask is: "Are you two okay?"

When she confirms they are, I exhale and start walking. "Okay, be there soon." And as I hang up, I exit the apartment.

* * *

My breath gets irregular when I enter the shop that's on the address Alisha gave me.

I ball my hands into fists when the muscles in my fingers twitch at the sound of classical piano music coming through the speakers.

I collect myself as I make my way over the hardwood floor towards the girls who are sitting on a white velvet couch, talking to an older man.

Not able to contain myself, I bark questions as I make my way over. "What the hell is going on here? What are you two doing in a piano shop?"

Samantha almost falls off the couch hearing my rumbling voice while the older man simply turns and walks away. Alisha lifts her head. The razor-sharp intensity in her eyes tells me whatever is going on is serious.

"Is anyone going to answer?" I ask.

"Cole, please, sit down." I raise a brow but take a seat next to Samantha, who fumbles with the end of her ponytail.

"I'm sitting... Talk."

Alisha takes a deep breath in and out. "Two hours ago, while I was in your apartment drinking tea, I received a text message, three photos, and a video from an unknown number." She lets out a sigh. "It… was from him."

My knuckles turn white, and I'm convinced you can hear my teeth grinding from my effort to remain silent.

Alisha continues by grabbing her phone, and after opening something on it, she holds it out for me.

I take the device and realize that what I'm about to see won't ease my already overstrung mind.