I Run to You Read Online Free PDF Page B

the
family—Brook’s grown a lot in seven years. Despite what she
experienced here, or in the world out there on her own, she’s
always been as caring as Madeline.”
    Coy nodded, although he carried an image in
his mind of that devastating night. He recognized deep down what
the betrayal of himself and Karla had done to her. Even now, his
freaking heart was beating too hard.
    He had seen Brook’s pictures over the years
at Madeline’s, Ruby’s, and Max’s. He had heard her band’s CDs, saw
the concert pictures —some up on the wall at the Diamond Back
Tavern— knew about her other jobs, as waitress, and the classes. He
had seen pictures of her taken all over Europe with friends who
were in clubs, partying, or standing by some landmark. He had seen
her transformation from a beautiful and classy girl, into an even
more attractive and chic young woman. She had always had a certain
class and style, a certain grace. Even when she was in the band,
she didn’t lose that attention catching uniqueness.
    Yeah—He’d seen pictures that Max had taken,
and he’d sat at Mitch’s when the gang was all there, and some news
of her was shared—Because even away, the Coburns claimed her and
wrote her, and made sure she remembered it. They celebrated her
achievements, ordered her CD, s, got autographed posters and post
cards, and wore T-shirts with the band Logo. Just as his own career
had been supported and celebrated by them, so had Brook’s life—so
it was not as if he could just forget her.
    Shit. He never could. That had less to do
with family, than it did how drastically his life had
changed—because they were not together. Being a father certainly
made him skip all the collage partying and wildness—even if he’d
had any left in him after that night. But, his relationships,
everything— was different. Because of what he and Brook had—and how
it had ended.
    Those first years he had seen the video of
Brook with all sorts of friends, many of them male, handsome, some
wilder looking than others. He would always feel gut sick. Lucky
for him, there were distractions, responsibilities, and
commitments, in his life—so that he could actually have a life at
all.
    Coy told Max finally, “Everyone changes over
time, — seven years—all of us have—from the kids we were in school,
to adulthood. But I don’t doubt Brook’s basic character.”
    Max eyed him again. “Whatever she feels about
you, she’ll make no secret of it, like adults do. But she won’t
bring Levi into that.”
    Coy nodded, feeling that hollowness in his
stomach expand.
    Max looked around to make sure Levi was
outside and asked, “Did you hear about Karla moving back?”
    “About the marriage, all of it, yeah.” Coy
grunted in disgust. “That old man has no idea what he’s in for.
She’ll gather her usual crowd and take over his house, drain his
bank accounts, and manipulate him into believing he loves her for
it.”
    “I thought there was some sort of restraining
order—”
    “There is. She cannot come near Levi, because
of the felonies she racked up in Georgia. And because she didn’t
exactly hide the fact, she would have sold him to anyone, if I
hadn’t claimed him when we had those hearings. She was damn cold,
smug as hell, through the whole thing. A couple years back—when she
sent those fake ransom notes, and had the family crazy worried, I
gave them to Sunny, and he had her picked up. I believe the bitch
would have taken him and terrorized him for a few thousand
dollars.”
    “Probably—to support her drug habit.” Max
shook his head. “She’s going to be trouble.”
    “Doubtless. But not for Levi. I have met with
Sunny and the DA. Bill won’t hear a thing against her—says she was
young and confused and swears she has cleaned up, and walks on
water. The poor sonofabitch is in for a shock. Between the law, and
the family, she won’t get near Levi.”
    “That’s only smart. If not her, then some of
her questionable