The Fall (ATCOM Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Let’s go sit down and
talk about this.”
    Jason sent Mia a wounded look. “Dad’s back and you’re
moving this guy in? Whatever.” With that he darted out of the doorway.
    Mia ran after him, Brendan following. But Jason had
already slammed through the front door and taken off on his bike.
    “Want me to go get him?”
    Mia shook her head. “No. Give him time to cool off.
He’ll come back. He always does.” She let the screen door close. “How does he
know Ray is here?”
    “Two options: Either he saw him today in the street
or Ray has been in contact with him.”
    Mia’s face paled. “I never gave Ray our
information. I don’t even know how found out we were here.”
    “Not hard to find someone in this day and age.”
    “That doesn’t make me feel any safer.”
    Forgetting she didn’t live in his world, he put his
hands on her shoulders. “Your safety is something I can guarantee. Your son’s
response to my being here, not so much.”
    “No kids of your own, huh?”
    He choked out a laugh. “No. Definitely not. Not in
the cards for me.”
    Her smile didn’t quite meet her eyes. “That’s too
bad. Nothing in the world compares to the love of your own child.”
    “Until they become teenagers, right?”
    This time her laugh was genuine. Music to his ears.
 
    “I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
    He believed her. She was one of those moms. The
kind that put her kid first and loved him unconditionally, no matter what he
did. His mom had been like that. She never stopped loving him, even with all
the trouble he gave her.
    Being around Mia made him miss his parents.
Although they’d passed a long time ago, they were always in his thoughts. More
so lately after what happened to his sister. He’d always been there to protect
her. Until Carlos Santiago decided to make Brendan a pawn in his revenge
against Attie. 
    “If you’re having second thoughts I won’t make you
stay. I can handle my ex.”
    Mia’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She
had mistaken his remorse for hesitation, which couldn’t be further from the
truth.
    “I’m all in,” he said, pushing the thoughts to the
back of his mind.
    Relief shone briefly in her eyes before she stepped
back. Not fast enough to hide it from him.
    “Are you hungry? I have leftovers in the fridge. Or
we could grill some steaks. I haven’t packed the kitchen yet.”
    “Leftovers are fine.” He wouldn’t burden her with
having to cook. Certainly not for him.
    “All right. I’ll go heat them up while you get
settled.” With a small smile she left the room.
    Brendan watched her go, unable to keep his eyes off
her. She was a beautiful woman. Soft curves made for a man’s hands. 
    Tearing his eyes away, he silently cursed himself.
Normally, he’d be sleeping in the master bedroom. Getting his fill of this
woman and leaving when he finished. Mia wasn’t the type of woman you had casual
sex with. She was the kind of woman you kept.
    Alarm trickled down his spine. He didn’t keep
women. That would be like having a noose around his neck.
    Since he didn’t plan on staying longer than
necessary, he kept his things packed. The day he unpacked at a woman’s house
would be the day he surrendered his lifestyle. So, never.
    He did a quick inspection of the house before
finding Mia in the kitchen. The table had been set with three place settings.
His steps faltered only for a second. Uncle Jed, the man who had raised him and
Attie after their parents passed, always insisted they eat as a family. Didn’t
happen often with his and Attie’s career with ATCOM, but when they were home,
they sat down to dinner. Uncle Jed was a terrible cook, but they ate every last
bite because they owed him so much.
    For the first time since his offer, he had
reservations. Mia and Jason were a family. And him? A stranger who didn’t
belong at their dinner table.
    Uncertainty rushed through him. Made him want to
grab his gear and go do something dangerous.
    Mia glanced