Page 50 of Kade

“Ah, here is our boy.” Tomás smiled benevolently at the little boy as he entered. Angel’s heart swelled at the sight of him. He stared at her curiously from her own eyes. He looked as he had the day she met him. A miniature Kade with cat eyes.

Tomas went over to the tray and poured three glasses of tea. “It looks like Miss Anna made your favorite lemon cakes, Mateo.”

His eyes swept the sweets tray, and Angel saw a spark of delight in them. It warmed her heart to see a glimmer of childhood left in him.

“Would you like one?”

“Sí.” He didn’t move from where he stood.

“Then come get as many as you want. You knowTíoTomás always has them for you.”

A grin a mile wide lit up the little boy’s face, and he dived at the tray, his little hands snatching up at least three. Tomás laughed and handed him a delicate china plate. “Maria will tan your hide if you get crumbs on the carpet.”

Angel saw how much her son adored the man in front of her. Tomás must have been good to him, or at least slightly better than the man who was raising him. She hated the cartel leader for taking the love that should have belonged to her and Kade.

Matthew grinned, his mouth full of cake.

“Manners, Mateo, manners. We have a lady present. Don’t open your mouth when it’s full of food.”

He flashed her an apologetic smile. He was so at ease with Tomás. Nothing like he’d been with his caretaker. “Pardon,señora.”

“English, Mateo. Remember we’re working on English this week.”

The little boy nodded and swallowed. “Sorry.”

He was so precious. There was a light in his eyes that hadn’t been there before. Here he was, talking and grinning. Alive and well. And happy, for the moment. Tomás made him happy.

“Mateo, remember I promised a surprise today?”

“Yes,Tío.” He bounced on his heels, his cakes forgotten at the promise of a surprise.

Tomás laughed at the boy’s obvious excitement. “I want you to meet your mother.”

The little boy’s excitement shriveled up and died. His gaze shot to Angel, and he backed away. “No,Tío. Don’t let her hurt me.”

Dear God, what lies did they tell her baby to make him scared to death of her? The need to snatch him to her grew almost unbearable.

“Be easy, little one.” Tomás went to stand beside him, hunkering down until he was on the same level as Matthew. “I would never let anyone harm you. Didn’t I promise you that?”

“Sí.” His eyes were wide as saucers and he inched closer to Tomás. “But Juan, he says she will kill me.”

“No, Mateo. Juan was wrong. Your mother thought you died. She didn’t know you were alive or she never would have left you. I promise you this is the truth.”

He looked from Tomás to Angel, clearly not knowing what to do or say, who to trust.

“Matt…Mateo.” She refrained from calling him Matthew, but just barely. He only knew Mateo. “The hospital told me you had died and wouldn’t let me see you. I died a little that day. It left a hole in my heart knowing you were gone. Please, sweetheart, I wouldn’t have left you here had I known you were alive. I swear it.”

“See?” Tomás swept a thumb across the boy’s cheek. “There was a mistake at the hospital. Your mama doesn’t want to hurt you. She loves you very much. That’s why she’s here. She came for you.”

His little nose scrunched up, trying to sort out what he was being told. He cocked his head the way Kade did whenever he was struggling to understand something. “You no throw me away because I was a bad baby?”

“No.” Angel shook her head and stood, approaching the child slowly, like one would a skittish dog. She sank down on her knees in front of him. “You were a not a bad baby. You were perfect. Your papa and I both loved you the moment we found out you were growing in my belly.” She rubbed her stomach, hoping Tomás wouldn’t pick up on how much she’d been clutching her stomach over the last few hours.

“My papa?” His green gaze burned with curiosity. “He is no dead?”

“Not dead,” Tomás corrected him automatically. “And no, he’s probably looking for you both right now. I expect you’ll get to meet him soon enough.”

“No, baby boy. He’ll come for us both, and then we can go home.”

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