Chapter Two

The silence that fell in the room was so thick it could have been cut with a knife, even Gabriel who’d been on the phone looked sick. She was getting a weird vibe from them and wasn’t sure why, she should have known this would be a mistake. She asked cautiously “Should I leave, I’m stirring up things that probably should have been left alone.” It was Justin who cleared his throat and said “No, you’re good. They are just a little bit shocked at, the moment.” Michael rushed to say “Gabriel, I think you have another phone call to make.”

Angel looked at Justin she was curious how one made it out of the neighborhood and asked calmly “How’d you get out?” Justin stared at the girl before him. For someone her age she had old eyes, as if she’d seen the world from so many different angles, she wasn’t sure which was supposed to be right. He replied, “I joined the military, and that helped me tremendously.” Angel nodded absently; Justin could see she was concerned about being here in the first place. So, he said calmly “They’re not going to hurt you kid. Hell, you’re in a better position to hurt them than they are you.” At her arched brow, he continued “They never knew you existed, but had they known, this family would have moved heaven and earth to find you.”

Angel was confused, how was one supposed to feel when people showed immediate care and concern for your well-being based on a blood connection? At her quizzical look, he said “No one knows why Stacia did half the things she did. She was always doing something to get attention. But, had anyone known you existed your life would have been vastly different.” He could tell she didn’t fully believe him, but the next few days for her were going to be a series of shocks.

They all knew who the McDaniel’s were, the shocker had been that he himself was a year younger than Stacia had been at the time. But even given the age, he knew himself Hunter McDaniel’s would have never walked away from his child. He would have walked through the fires of hell for her. He was suddenly glad Stacia was dead; if she hadn’t been he knew Hunter would have killed her. The Denae’s were rich, and powerful in their own right, but the McDaniel’s family were uber rich. The head of the family Hunter’s fathers family, had ties all the way back to Italian royalty. Hunters’ mother’s family were some of the original people to settle into this area and they’d made a fortune doing so. Hunter had two sisters who were older than him and neither had ever married they’d settled for running their father’s business and spoiling their brother. That didn’t mean he didn’t know how to work hard he was a good man.

He couldn’t even begin to imagine the McDaniel’s family’s reaction to all this. When the dust settled, that little girl was going to need a friend. It was the shadows in her eyes that worried him, having grown up in that area and knowing how the people are. He had an idea of the things she’d dealt with growing up. But so, help them God if anyone had touched her, he’d kill them himself.

He could tell a fighter from a mile away, and this kid, she was a scrapper. He had a feeling she’d come out on top every time. No one would hurt her ever again he’d see to that.

Justin excused himself to make a phone call, just stepping from the room really. He called Antonio, Antonio had saved his life when he was a kid and apparently, he’d been a part of saving hers too. When Antonio answered, he said evenly “I need some information old man. You had a girl part of your group I’d guess some years back. She got the cross tattoo on her neck, names Angel he didn’t miss the sharp indrawn breath on the other end of the line Antonio asked. “Why do you need to know about Angel, Justin?” Justin briefly filled in Antonio who was more irate and, angry than Justin had ever seen him be in his life. Antonio said “That girl’s life has been hell, her mother… excuse me the woman who raised her she was no mother.  

She never wanted any kids. She shacks up with any man who smiles at her, she’s brought many of them home. Some took a fancy to little Angel. She used to hide from them when they’d come. But eventually she learned to fight them. Serena is so strung out on dope and drunk all the time she wouldn’t know what, was what. Plus, she’s never cared about Angel. Angel learned to survive and fight on the streets, much like you did Justin. She’s a survivor, but she doesn’t trust easy.” 

Justin had figured most of that for himself, it was the part about the men and her dope head mother that made him want to hurt someone badly. He knew he needed to share this information with the family, and he would when they finally convinced Angel to rest.

When he re-entered the room, Angel was sitting stiffly on the chair in the sitting area. Angel relaxed the moment she saw Justin re-enter the room while she might not know him, she knew she could trust him. He walked across the room and noted her posture became more relaxed. She didn’t like being in the room with two men she didn’t know, but he was someone Antonio trusted so that by default made him the only one she could trust.

It had been nearly an hour since Gabriel had made his phone calls; people should begin to arrive soon. As if on cue the doorbell for the Penthouse buzzed and he went to answer it himself. Seeing Hunter, his father, and the other Denae’s standing there he said in a low voice “I know you’re curious as to why you’re here. But please when you go in here keep calm, you’d do a lot more damage by being angry than you can ever fix.”  

At their quizzical glances, he let them pass, by the time he caught up with them at the sitting room, he knew this would go one of two ways. Either they’d keep their calm as he’d asked, or they’d scare her off. He figured it was too much to ask for calmness when Hunter yelled “Who the hell are you?” Hunter stared at the girl in shocked outrage, she looked so much like his mother there could be no question she was related to him.  

Angel stiffened where she stood squaring her shoulders as if preparing for war. She said, “Not your concern.” It was Michael who said, “Now Angel, you came as a shock he didn’t mean that the way it sounded.” His look was pleading, she narrowed her eyes and said coolly “You promised me answers Michael, and then I’m gone.”

Justin had, had enough! He said evenly “You’re not going anywhere Angel, now sit down.” Angel glared at him defiantly and only did as he asked because she knew somewhere deep down, he’d put her well-being before that of those in this room. Angel didn’t mind backing down when she knew it was in her best interest to know what these people knew.  

Hunter was flabbergasted he asked more calmly “Can someone tell me what is going on?” Michael simply handed him the piece of paper, they watched as all the color drained from Hunter’s face and he stared in stunned disbelief at Angel. When the letter had been passed around to everyone in the room who had just arrived. Michael spoke saying “It appears that Stacia wasn’t off with her friend that summer, she’d gone into hiding to give birth to her daughter. Whom she then gave to someone.”

Angel was the first one to speak saying “Look, I’m not here to get anything from anyone other than answers. I don’t want your money. I don’t need anything from any of you. I just wanted answers.” It was Hunter who responded first saying “Just because you don’t want something doesn’t mean you don’t get it. Get used to it kid! If I’d known I had a child, you can believe there is no way in hell anyone, but I would have been raising you.”

Angel didn’t know whether to be proud that her father had put her in her place or angry at the assumption he had the right too It was kind of amazing to her that she was facing her father the man who would have and for all intents and purposes could and did love her just for being there. She said coolly “You don’t even know if I belong to you. She could have put down the first name she thought of.

From what I gather my bio mom didn’t really have staying power for anything. You’re not on my birth certificate.” Hunter liked the fact his kid didn’t back down from a fight, she came back out swinging, once this hit the public she’d have too.

He said simply “You want proof? I can get you your proof in two days’ time with a DNA test; will you give me that time?” Angel saw Justin nod at her slightly and she reluctantly said, “Okay I’ll stay in town. I’ll let Justin know where to find me.”  

It was Justin who suggested the obvious saying “I think it’d be best if you remained here in the penthouse Angel, you’d be safe and you’d have it to yourself. If you need anything you have only to call down and someone will get it for you.” Angel was hesitant but it was Justin who had suggested it. She said, “I have to get my bag; it’s in the parking garage.” Justin shook his head and said “I’ll have one of my men pick it up for you. Your safe now kid, just relax and take it easy. We will all get out of, your hair for now.” 

Angel watched as they all left, she knew they were going somewhere to discuss her, but she was too tired to care. She wandered around the penthouse checking everything out and falling in love with the coffee pot it was one of those that made single cup of, coffee fresh brewed at a time.

When the man came to bring her bag, she took it then locked the door behind her. She went to the shower and took a hot shower to relieve the tension in her muscles from huddling in the garage for four hours. Afterward she dressed in some sweats and a t-shirt and made herself a bed on the couch. Her head had barely hit the pillow before she was out like a light.