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

to
talk about moving to the mountains and living in a rustic log cabin? You even
picked a name for the dog we’d get. Rover. Remember? Those things can happen
now. We have the money to do it.”
    For a moment, her little boy who used to dream
about owning a dog flashed across her son’s face. “That’s great, Mom. You know
I’m going to college in a couple of years.”
    Not ready to think about her son leaving her, she
said, “Now you can go to any school you choose. I’ll have enough left over for
tuition.”
    “Really? We can afford for me to go to school?”
    “Yep.”
    A glimmer of hope shone in his eyes, making her
heart melt. She wanted to give him everything, and now she could. Well, except
a father figure and someone he could look up to.
    “What did Dad do?”
    “He wants the inheritance money. That’s why he
followed us to Hawaii.”
    Jason’s face reddened. “He said that?”
    Damn her ex. She’d give anything not to have to do
this. “Yes.”
    “How did he hurt you?”
    She shook her head. “He didn’t because Brendan was
there to stop him.”
    “I would never let anyone hurt your mother,”
Brendan said.
    She glanced at Brendan, then back to Jason. “That’s
why he’s here. He’s going to help me find a way to put an end to this.”
    “You don’t even know him.” Jason’s voice rose.
“You’re fine with letting a complete stranger in the house, but not my own
father.”
    How could she explain to him that she trusted
Brendan more than she trusted her ex? She couldn’t explain it to herself.
Somehow, she just knew Brendan was a good guy.
    “Sweetie, it’s not like that. You know who your
father is. I never hid that from you.” But, she hadn’t told him all of Ray’s
dark secrets. Jason didn’t need to know her ex had gone to prison for more than
robbing a few houses.
    “All I know is my dad just got out of prison and
now he’s here. You say he threatened you. The man I met doesn’t fit that
profile.”
    They had met? Good God, how many secrets did her
son have from her? She began to speak, but Brendan spoke first.
    “See this bruise on my jaw?” He tilted his head.
“Your dad attacked me when I left today. Warned me to stay out of this. I broke
his nose for it.”
    Shock showed on Jason’s face. “ You broke his
nose?”
    Mia stared at her son. “You’ve met with him
recently?”
    “Yeah, that’s where I went on my bike,” he
answered, distracted, his gaze pinned on Brendan. “He said you attacked him.
That you wanted him out of the way so you could get to Mom.”
    She had learned long ago not to let Ray’s lies get
to her. It took a while to see through them, but eventually she did.
    “Believe what you will,” Brendan said. “Just know
that I’m not here to get your mom. I’m here to protect her. And you.”
    Jason bolted out of his chair, sending it skidding
across the floor. “I’m the man in this family. We don’t need you.”
    Mia stood. “Jason—”
    He stepped out of her reach. “No. Just leave me
alone. You guys are making my dad out to be a monster and I won’t stand for it.
God, Mom, why can’t you just let me be happy?” Sending her a wounded look that
broke her heart, he ran out of the room. His bedroom door slammed a few seconds
later.
    Exhausted, emotionally and physically, Mia dropped
down into her chair and propped her head in her hands. Jason’s words hurt more
than she cared to admit. Happiness was the only thing she’d ever wanted for her
child. To give him the best life she could. On a teacher’s salary it hadn’t
been easy, but they’d done all right. Could have been worse.
    A pair of hands landed on her shoulders, startling
her. Definitely not used to having a man around. Brendan must think her a jumpy
flake.
    His fingers dug gently into the tight muscles. She
let out a low moan.
    “Are teenagers always this difficult and
unreasonable?” Brendan asked.
    The feel of his hands on her skin made talking
impossible. Felt so