Just Another Hero Read Online Free PDF

understand why, however. The woman was gorgeous. She had skin the color of café latte, and silken, curly hair. She was often mistaken for a white woman, which Arielle knew she secretly liked. Only her lips and her nose made it clear she was African-American.
    â€œI hate this, Mom,” Arielle groaned, sliding off the stool.
    â€œI know it’s a pain, sweetie, but he takes such good care of us,” her mother said in a low voice.
    â€œIt’s so…demeaning. Like he owns us or something.”
    â€œOh, stop, now. We live in a lovely home, we have allthe things we could ever ask for, and—well…Chad loves me—loves us,” Michelle whispered, glancing back at Chad’s door.
    â€œIf you say so.” Arielle shrugged. “And what about you? Do you love him , Mom?”
    Her mother tucked a stack of hundred-dollar bills into her purse, then scrunched up her nose to think. “Yes, I suppose I do. It’s different when you’re an adult. You marry for lots of other reasons than romantic love. But…I’ll never love anyone like I loved your father, of course.”
    â€œWell, I guess Chad is the best stepfather so far,” Arielle conceded. Chadwick Kensington O’Neil—good Lord, what a mouthful. He was a real piece of work. Her mother had met him on an airline flight about three years ago, and they’d gotten married a few months after that. Chad was her third stepfather.
    â€œI’m waiting!” Chad bellowed from his office.
    â€œYou’d better get in there, Arielle. And don’t give him the attitude this time. Just tally up and get your allowance, okay?”
    â€œWhatever!” Arielle wanted to flounce into the room and throw the receipts at him, but instead she placed them neatly onto Chad’s desk. Her only defiant act was to flop onto the sofa. She knew full well that Chad preferred she sit in the straight-back chair in front of him.
    â€œAre there any others?” he asked, glancing through the messy pile in front of him.
    She double-checked her purse. “I have a McDonald’s receipt from two days ago.” She handed that to him. “Oh, and here’s one for a bottle of Tylenol and a pack ofcough drops, and one for some deodorant I bought at the drugstore.” She hated herself for trying to smooth out the wrinkles on the thin pieces of paper. He took each one and stacked it with the others.
    She felt like dirt under his fingernails.
    Then he picked up a small calculator, entered the amounts on the bottom of Arielle’s receipts, and proceeded to do his calculations. His upper lip always seemed to sweat when he figured the accounts for the day.
    â€œYou and your mother are on the ball today,” he said, looking up at Arielle. “Proof of payment down to the penny. I like that.”
    â€œJust tryin’ to keep you happy, Chad,” Arielle told him, though she couldn’t resist adding, “But getting a receipt for a Coke and chips is a pain.”
    â€œSpeaking of Coke…” Chad spoke slowly and evenly.
    Arielle felt herself break out into a sweat. She didn’t know what to say—which road she could travel without running into a landmine. She looked toward the door longingly.
    â€œI noticed the stain on my carpet, of course,” Chad said.
    â€œI, uh, I cleaned it up. I used carpet cleaner and everything,” Arielle told him.
    â€œObviously not well enough,” Chad countered.
    â€œI’m sorry.” Arielle’s voice dropped to a whisper. “I’ll clean it again and make it right. I promise.”
    â€œAre you aware that that carpet is imported Persian wool and worth thousands of dollars?”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œAnd you’ve been told time and again, no drinks in my great room?”
    â€œI was on my way to my bedroom. I just tripped. It was an accident.”
    â€œDon’t you understand the rules of this