Page 8 of His to Claim

I’d been in town for three months, risking everything I’d worked for in order to find the truth about my heritage. I was at the point of questioning not just my rationality but my sanity.

My nights weren’t any better. Paperwork, cheap red wine, and frozen meals. Distractions of any kind could derail all that I’d worked to achieve including securing information from the very secured computer systems where I worked.

Every bit of what I was doing, including my beautiful but cold surroundings had been all about a well-planned lie, pretending to be someone I wasn’t.

On top of everything, I had two hundred thousand dollars in student loans hanging over my head for a profession I loved and one I wasn’t currently working in.

At least not directly.

Until recently, I’d been considered a tenacious and unforgiving prosecutor, the majority of criminals calling me an absolute bitch. I’d had the ugly word spray painted on my apartment door, scratched into my car. Threats had never bothered me, but I’d also always had the backing of a prominent DA’s office as well as members of law enforcement who had my back.

Now I was all alone, facing my own demons in an effort to put together the pieces of the past. A return to my hometown. Putting my previous life on hold. Risking everything I’d worked for, possibly my life.

Against my former boss’s judgment, I’d become an amateur sleuth, digging into the only clues I had regarding my father’s existence. Sadly, I was in way over my head. That much was certain. I would never forget his words the day I’d asked for a leave of absence.

“Be careful about opening up Pandora’s Box. You have no idea what monsters might be dragged into the light.”

I was beginning to think I should have listened to him.

When the job with the Montenegro Corporation had opened up, I’d thought I was doing the right thing in going for it. Now I wasn’t so certain. My boss was a treacherous man, capable of violence. While I’d never experienced anything directly indicating I should fear him, I’d read enough of the old newspaper articles and snippets online to realize I was playing with fire.

And there was a full can of gasoline ready to sweep me straight into hell.

What I didn’t need was to run into the one man who’d sparked every ounce of electricity coursing through my veins, igniting not only my body but my mind. I couldn’t let my guard down.

Yet here he was, larger than life.

All six foot four inches of him.

And I craved everything he had to offer.

I’d never forgiven myself for the last words I’d said to him, although for years I’d allowed myself to believe he’d deserved them.

You’re never going to give a shit about anyone but yourself.

All because my mother had convinced me Stone Keeler was bad news. There’d been no reason for it other than there would never be a suitor good enough for me. I’d been far too young and naïve to push back, even buying into her bullshit. My ruthless cold fish of a mother cared little about what I’d heard her call spawn more than once. While I’d understood early on that my mother had an ax to grind with my father, she’d taken out her sadness and vicious anger on her only child.

Self-pity wasn’t going to get me anywhere, but the truth would.

What was I supposed to say to Stone now?

I’d seen the look on his face just a few hours before, the way his mouth had pursed as he’d lifted his sunglasses immediately after the accident. He hadn’t been thrilled to see me. In fact, his level of anger had surprised me. Then he’d softened, making certain I hadn’t been injured. One thing had led to another and he’d convinced me to catch up on old times.

Maybe I shouldn’t have consumed the first glass of wine.

Or the second.

Ugh, or the third.

And I definitely shouldn’t have suggested that he come up to my condo. I had to be out of my mind.

For some crazy reason, I’d thought he’d moved away from Denver, securing a high dollar job in one of the finest hospitals in the country. He’d been brilliantly talented, excited to begin his life as a doctor. Why he’d left the industry was the story behind his darkness. The shock of running into him, smashing his most prized possession had been surreal.

Now I was paying the price for ignoring the road.

Ignoring life.

Hell, attempting to find some level of safety.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com