Free Independence: #2 Angel by Karen Nichols Page B

Angel?”
    “Thomas,” she said quietly, looking up to meet his eyes and turning to fix his coffee. She felt the cold metal against her skin; a constant reminder that felt it as if it burned despite the chill sweeping through her. “If you find an empty table, I’ll bring your coffee out to you.”
    “Thank you,” Colin stopped her only long enough to lean closer to kiss her in full view of everyone and anyone who chose to watch. He saw most people smile as he staked his claim. But the expression that filled the tall, dark blond haired man was far from happy.
    Colin kept his gaze on Thomas Morehouse when he took a step back and just watched his half-sister. When he looked over at Colin, Colin tipped his head and held eye contact as he crossed the room and came to stand in front of him.
    Everything pure dom shot through his system. Independence and arrogance from a past on the streets took up the remaining space.
    He’d given brief consideration to extending his palm until he saw the obvious look of disapproval and open disgust on her step-brother’s face when he looked at Angelica.
    Thomas Morehouse gave the man approaching him a passing look and moved to step aside only to find his move was matched, his path blocked. His scowl deepened.
    “Excuse me,” he said without actually looking at Colin.
    “I think you should go and leave Angelica to her business,” Colin responded, the silk in his voice holding all the strength the erotic fabric held and more.
    “And you are?” Thomas stopped trying to move around the man, taking in the too long hair, tee shirt and casual jeans beneath the long leather coat.
    “The one not allowing you to disrupt Angelica’s day,” Colin answered with a deceptive grin. The man was something out of a male high end clothing magazine, he noted. The wool coat alone would cost over twenty-five hundred dollars. Then there was the suit beneath the coat and the perfectly cut short hairstyle. Definitely money somewhere in his life. “I believe she’s asked you and your family to leave her alone.”
    “I believe none of this is your business,” Thomas returned, taking in the stance with one arched eyebrow.
    “There you’re very mistaken,” Colin shrugged lightly, looking deliberately at Angel as she came toward him with his coffee and pastry. It was impossible to miss the fear on her face or the stubborn mixture of emotions in her eyes. Her color was off and he knew she was pale because of this man’s presence. “Thanks, Angel,” he took the coffee in his left hand and tipped her chin up with his right. Before she could do more than tell him with her eyes that this was a really bad idea, he touched his mouth to hers, grazing gently from one end to the other and taking his time doing it.
    “Your father expects you at service tomorrow by eight,” Thomas said between clenched teeth, the red tinting his face darkening when she shook her head. “It was not a request, sister.”
    “No. I’m not part of that church or those people,” Angel started to turn away when he grabbed for her upper arm and squeezed tightly. She cried out, stumbling the next second when Colin did something to Thomas’ wrist.
    His hand fell away with a curse that made several people look in their direction.
    “Touch her again and I’ll not only break it, but you’ll have a lawsuit on your hands that will tie up you and your church until you’re old and grey,” Colin stepped between them, challenge in every part of his body language.
    “You really believe you can keep this whore from us? We are her family. We are her salvation,” he announced righteously.
    Colin clenched his free hand and handed the coffee to Angel. She took it without a question, her mouth opening to comment and snapping shut when Colin stepped forward and took her step-brother’s arm, twisting it behind him and shoving him forward, out the door and onto the concrete.
    “Management reserves the right to refuse service,” Colin said