House of Paine - (A Romantic Suspense - Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

breaths got so short that she was beginning to become dizzy. When she stopped running she dropped down on a bench that was situated underneath one of the large shade trees. While she was sitting there her phone rang, it was security at the front gate.
    “Yes?”
    “Miss Acosta, this is Jim at the front gates.”
    “Yes.”
    “There’s a Crystal Acosta here to see you.”
    “My mother is here?”
    “Her name is Crystal Acosta, I checked her I.D.”
    “Wow, weird. Can I talk to her?”
    “Yes Miss, one moment.” A few seconds later Paige heard her mother’s voice.
    “Paige!”
    “Mom? What’s wrong? How did you know where to find me?”
    “I need to see you Paige. Tell them to let me in.”
    Paige had a bad feeling about this but there was no way she could turn her mother away. She sounded like she was in trouble. What if Jackson was threatening her? “Okay Mom, give the phone back to the security officer.”
    “Yes Miss?”
    “Go ahead and send her in.”
    “Do you want us to search her vehicle?”
    “No. She’s my mother. It’s okay.”
    Paige ran back to the house. When she got there, Crystal was already parked and banging on the front door. Paige pulled the door open and gasped. Her mother had a black eye and a swollen lip. “Mom! Come in here. What happened to you?” Crystal suddenly broke down into tears and fell into her daughter. Confused and scared, Paige put her arms around her mother’s thin shoulders and pat her back. She looked and felt like she’d lost a lot of weight since Paige left. “Mom, please tell me who did this to you.”
    Crystal pulled her head up and looked around the room. “Are we alone?” she asked.
    “Yes, we’re alone. You’re scaring me mom. What happened?”
    “Is there another door?”
    “What?”
    “Can we go out the back door and get to security?”
    “Mom...” The front door opened behind Crystal and a slightly disheveled looking Kelsey walked in. “What the fuck?”
    Kelsey raised the gun she had in her hands and pointed it at Paige’s face. Then she smiled. Her eyes looked crazy. “Hi Paige. Surprised to see me?”

Chapter 7
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    A t ten after ten, Jackson and his entourage walked in. Brad was with him, and Alex and two of his “bodyguards.” Damien suppressed a smirk as he sat alone at the table in the club. He stood up as his father approached. Jackson smiled at him and gave him a hug and a pat on the side of the head. Damien wasn’t surprised by that...it was classic Jackson and he would do that right before he stuck the knife in his son’s heart too. “Damien.”
    “Dad, Alex.” Brad and the two bodyguards took a seat at another table. Damien’s father and brother sat down at his. Alex was giving him a look that said he had plenty to say to his brother the first chance he got. Right now, Jackson had the floor.
    “Did you bring it?”
    “No.”
    Something dark and frightening flashed through Jackson’s eyes. Alex looked like he wanted to smack his brother upside the head. “Damien, I’m not in the mood for childish games. Lucas Kramer wants Paige. I want what you and that ridiculously misguided girl have. If you give it to me, I’ll make sure that Lucas leaves her alone.”
    “I have a proposition for you,” Damien said. Jackson actually looked amused.
    “You have a proposition for me?”
    “Yes. Lucas Kramer is intent on bringing you down. Paige and I will use what we have to bring him down...and leave you and our family untouched in the process, if you agree to let me walk away and live my own life as I see fit.”
    Jackson smiled. It was the same smile he had on his face the night he stabbed Damien and shot five men in the face. “That must be some fantastic pussy...” Damien saw red, literally. He didn’t give a thought to the consequences of his actions. His fist made contact with his father’s face seconds before Alex could even react. Jackson and his chair were knocked backwards almost