Vengeance (Oak Grove Suspense Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Davidson was the real estate agent. She mentioned you and you being pregnant. She had no idea the baby was mine, but I marched right over to the Thorns and asked them. They didn’t want to talk to me, but after I saw his picture, there was no denying it.”
    I knew he’d gone to them, but I didn’t know the circumstances. “Why didn’t you tell me when we talked?”
    “I didn’t want you to change your mind about moving here.” He had me there. I definitely would have reconsidered.
    “You want to see my house?”
    “Yeah, but maybe tomorrow. I’m beat and you need to process, remember?”
    “You’re right. Plus, if you came over I wouldn’t let you leave.” He chuckles. 
    “I’m sure that would make our angry son so happy.”
    He frowns, all teasing gone. “I really hate that he thinks that about me.”
    I shake my head. “I don’t think he does. He’s just angry. He has a lot of pent-up feelings. I mean, the only man he’s ever known as a father cut all ties to him. He basically lied to him most of his life. Then he finds out about you. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out the age difference thing.”
    “Right, we’ll talk. Hopefully, he won’t hate me forever.”
    “He doesn’t hate you.”
    “What about you?”
    I smile sadly. “I could never hate you, Ryan. We’ll work something out.”
    He gives my hand a squeeze. “I love you, Shay. Always have and always will.”
    I can tell by the look in his eyes that he’s totally serious.  I believe him, but I can’t tell him I’ve always loved him. It may be true, but I need to guard my heart a little while longer.

Chapter Two
    Shayla
    I wake up early the next morning. It’s still dark out, but I can’t seem to fall back to sleep, so I head to the kitchen for some coffee and a piece of leftover pizza. I feel like death warmed over. Unfortunately, it’s not a feeling I’m unaccustomed to. This is often the feeling I get after pulling double shifts at the hospital. Thankfully, my new position is mostly days with only a few on-call nights.
    I take my very nutritious breakfast to the window seat in the den and stare out to my backyard. It’s hard not to think of my parents when I see my old tree house. My dad spent a month of weekends building the thing. It’s survived well through the years, but Pop recently hired a treehouse expert to make sure it was stable enough for an adult. He also turned it into a mini man-cave for Dylan. He has no clue. I’m actually pretty excited to show him later today.
    I’m not sure how long I sit thinking about all the times my parents, Ryan, and I played in this backyard; even Ryan’s parents and siblings were here all the time. Our house was always full and loud. No one would have guessed I was an only child. I may not have had a ton of friends from school, but I had plenty from my parents’ friends who mostly had kids around my age. I never felt deprived or like I was missing out. I loved my life and my parents. I had everything a kid could ever want or need. It was perfect and I want that for Dylan. I’m startled when I hear a throat clear behind me.
    “Morning,” Dylan says, his voice thick with sleep.
    He looks like he’s had a rough night. I open my arms to him and just like he did as a little boy, he curls up beside me, wrapping his arms around my waist, letting me cuddle him.
    “Don’t tell anyone,” he mutters.
    I giggle. “I won’t ruin your street cred.” I kiss his forehead. “It doesn’t matter how old you are, sometimes you just need your mom. I know I sure do.”
    “I’m glad I still have you. I feel like a jerk for saying that to Ryan. I was just so angry. I mean, I’m not a kid anymore. I know about rape. Sometimes it happens on dates.”
    “I assure you that he did not rape me. We were very much in love. I was sad and lonely, but I loved him, and I chose to give him my virginity.”
    “Gross,” he mumbles, making me laugh.
    “I’m just being straight with you,