One Hour to Midnight Read Online Free PDF Page A

Julia had no hesitation in exploiting."
    One huge fist clenched so tightly his knuckled showed white.   "We did not exploit you. I ensured you had extensive counselling."
    Anger and sorrow swirled in her belly. In the dark garden, a morepork's plaintive cry found its echo in her heart.
    "And that achieved exactly what you wanted, Leon," she said in an unforgiving, stricken whisper, "my baby."
    He lifted a hand and raked it through his hair. "All this is irrelevant."
    "Irrelevant?" The word exploded from her like a bullet ejected from a gun. Veronica wanted nothing more than to rip the eyes from his head.
    "It's the past. No one can change the past." He pulled an envelope from a coat pocket. "Here are plane tickets and your appointment at Mercy Clinic."
    His arrogance almost left her breathless. Didn't this man never listen? "I pay my own way, or I don't come."
    "You'll come. And use these tickets."
    It was past time Leon Karvasis realised she was a grown woman capable of making her own decisions. She opened the packet, extracted the appointment card, and handed the rest back. "Thanks, but no thanks."
    She watched him struggled with anger, then with an eloquent shrug, slip the packet back into his pocket. "Have it your way."
    "I intend to." Her mouth compressed to a taut line.
    "You'll come?"  
    " I never renege on an agreement." A mocking smile curved her lips.
    He hissed out a breath. Between them lay his broken promise. You're free to visit Jordan and Claremont, whenever you choose. I will never intrude on your life.
    With great restraint, she escorted him to the door.
    "I'll see you in Melbourne." He caught her hand, lifted it, kissed the upturned palm, curled her fingers over it and disappeared into the night.
    Her palm ached and her mind spun. Why such an intimate little gesture?
    Closing the door, she snapped off lights, walked to her bedroom, mind spinning. She sank onto the edge of the bed and confronted the nightmare of Leon's return into her life . It was the one thing she'd vowed she'd never let happen.
    For one thing hadn't changed.
    Leon was a married man.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
    L eon's hand shook as he laid down the phone, Jordan's quiet, restrained sobs echoed in his ear. He scrubbed a hand across his face. He hated that he was away from his son's side, hated this awful sensation of powerlessness, but most of all he hated the way Jordan tried to hold in his distress so he didn't upset his father.  
    "Here mate."
    Leon half turned and took the glass of whisky Milas Yeager handed him and downed it in one swallow, welcoming the bite and the warmth in his belly.
    "Another one?" Milas lifted the decanter.
    "Please." Leon slumped back in the chair, eyes closed.
    "How is your boy?" Milas asked as he handed him the refilled glass.
    Leon took the drink and this time he sipped it. "Upset and missing me, but his nurse assured me there's been no change in his condition."
    "That's good? What time's your flight?"
    "Yeah, it's good." Leon glanced at the antique brass and glass carriage clock on the side board. "I'm taking the red eye and have to be at the airport in an hour."
    "How did your meeting go with Veronica?" Milas looked at him over the rim of his whisky glass.
    "She's promised to come." Leon winced, recalling her expression. "But she's so angry and bitter I'm worried she may change her mind."
    "I doubt it, she's a straight arrow." Milas looked at him shaking his head. "Last night is the first time I've ever seen her angry, she's normally so quiet, so reserved."
    "Reserved?" A harsh laugh escaped Leon. He   shook his head in disbelief. "You could've fooled me. She's one feisty woman, and outspoken."  
    He stared at his whisky. No way could he reconcile the woman he'd just left with the woman Milas was describing.
    When Milas remained silent, Leon glanced up and caught his whimsical smile. "Give you grief did she?"
    "Veronica's got one vicious tongue. A far cry from the timid mouse