Running From Mercy Read Online Free PDF Page A

challenged. “She was here. And after Nikki was born you had her too.”
    â€œI never abandoned them. They always knew where I was and how to reach me. I didn’t have to be here to have a meaningful relationship with them, and I saw them as often as I could.”
    â€œYou had me.”
    She dropped her head and turned away from him. “See, I knew this would happen if I came here. This is part of the reason I stayed away. When you and Paris got married I thought things had worked out the way they were supposed to. You had Nikki, and Paris was settled. I knew you’d be good to her and treat her the way she deserved to be treated. I couldn’t put myself in the middle of that.”
    â€œYou could’ve if you really wanted to. You could’ve been a part of our family, if you cared enough to try.”
    She looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “And play what role? Come to visit and do what? Watch you be a husband to my sister and pretend that seeing you with her was normal? Bounce Nikki on my knee and be content with it? I don’t think so.”
    â€œI needed to be a father to my child. Was that such a bad thing, Pam? Can you blame me for wanting to see Nikki grow up?” He heard his own voice and struggled with lowering it for fear of waking the very person they were discussing. “Besides that, you didn’t leave me much choice, did you? You had to know I would go to Paris after you left.”
    â€œDon’t talk about her like she was second best.” She wiped away unexpected tears and pointed a stiff finger at him. “She was a better person than I’ll ever be, so don’t you dare stand here and talk about her like she wasn’t good enough.”
    â€œYou’re right. She was a better person than you are. I won’t argue with you on that one. She had spirit and guts and she never backed down from a challenge.” He let her stew on that in the seconds it took him to turn on the tap and fill a glass with water. He drank half of it, set the glass down with a soft thump, and gave her his eyes. “While you were flitting across the country making records and living the high-life, she was here raising a child and making a home.”
    She slapped the shit out of him before she could think about it. One second stretched into the next with them staring each other down. Chad licked his lips and watched her mouth search for words with little success.
    â€œChad, I . . .”
    He reached out, wrapped his hand around her neck, and dragged her closer to him, breathing down into her face like he was winded from running a race. “The truth hurts, doesn’t it, Pam? You can’t hop on a plane and run from it anymore, can you? Where are those dark glasses you love to wear like a fucking tragic martyr when you need them, huh?”
    â€œI didn’t come here for this.”
    â€œThen what did you come here for?”
    â€œI came to check on Nikki.” She slapped his hand away and replaced it with her own, absently rubbing the spot where his palm had burned into her skin. “I thought she might want to talk.”
    â€œAt eleven o’clock at night, you thought she might want to talk.” It wasn’t a question. “It’s nice to know that at least one thing hasn’t changed, Pam. You’re still as full of shit as you ever were.” He saw the intention in her eyes and quickly put up a hand. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. The way I feel right now, you might get slapped back. Then we’d both be cowards.”
    â€œWhy are you doing this?” Pam was exasperated. “Did you hear what I said? The only reason I came here was to see Nikki. Can’t you just go and get her for me?”
    â€œShe’s asleep.”
    â€œWell, wake her up!”
    Chad forced himself to look away from her. “She’s not a toy, Pam. You can’t just pick her up and put her down when the