For the Love of Gina: The President's Girlfriend by Mallory Monroe Read Free Book Online Page B

thing,” Dutch agreed.   “But for now, it’s not going to happen.   You’re going to stay here.”
    Jade’s
heart dropped.   “Stay here?” she asked,
astounded.  
    Sam
wasn’t surprised, but she wasn’t about to take Dutch’s side against her
daughter.   “What do you mean, Dutch?” she
asked him.
    “I
mean she’s not coming to my home.   She’s
not ready yet.   Not yet.”
    Jade
frowned.   “But I am ready, Daddy.   What have I done?”
    “You
haven’t done anything.   You’re doing
well, if your psychiatrist is to be believed.”
    “Why
wouldn’t you believe him?” Sam asked.   “He’s her psychiatrist!”
    “I
understand that.   But I have to be certain,
and I’m not there yet.”
    “Certain
of what?” Jade wanted to know.   “Certain
that I’m not crazy anymore?”
    “Of
course not, Jade,” Dutch said in an admonished tone.
    “No,
Jade,” Sam said, now understanding.   “It’s not about you being crazy.   It’s about you not being good enough to be around his family.”
    “But
I’m his family!” Jade blared.
    Sam
corrected her.   “You’re his
daughter.   Gina and Little Walt are his
family.   And he doesn’t want the likes of
you around those precious two.”
    Dutch
was surprised by Sam’s sarcasm.   “That’s
not the case,” he said.
    “Then
what is it?” Jade asked.   “Why can’t I go
home with you?   With my father?   You promised!”
    “I
have to be certain that whatever it was that caused you to hate my wife so
bitterly, is no longer a part of who you are.”
    “It’s
not a part of who I am!”
    “Perhaps
that’s true,” Dutch said.   “But until I’m
satisfied, I’m not going to take the risk.”
    Jade
stared at her father.   “You think I’ll
harm them.   Don’t you?”
    “Jade,”
Dutch started saying.
    “Don’t
you?” Jade asked again, cutting him off.
    “You
didn’t warn her,” Dutch said.
    “Oh,
not again, Dutch!” Sam blared.  
    “You
said she deserved what happened to her,” Dutch continued, staring at his
daughter.   “You said you hated her to her
face.   I know you’ve improved.   I’m certain you have.   But that doctor didn’t convince me that
you’re completely there yet.   And I have
to be convinced that you’re completely there.   After what my wife has been through, I can’t settle for anything less.”
    “But
why all of a sudden, Dutch?   Dr. Golan
gave her an excellent report.”
    “Too
excellent,” Dutch admitted.   “His lack of
objectivity disturbs me.   He was speaking
as if he was Jade’s fan, not her doctor.   That disturbs me mightily.   And if
my instincts are telling me no, to wait, then that’s exactly what I’m going to
do.”
    Jade
looked at her father with tears in her eyes.   Then she ran out of the room.
    Sam
was about to run after her.   She knew
Jade still had issues.   But Dutch had
gone too far.   She turned back toward him
before she left.   “It’s not fair, Dutch,”
she said.   “Jade is your daughter.   She deserves better than this.”   Then Sam took off after her daughter.
    Dutch
understood completely how Sam felt.   He
understood completely how disappointed and angry Jade had to feel.   But ever since he first laid eyes on Jade
today, something was telling him not to do it.   He didn’t listen the last time, when everything within him was telling
him to not let Gina go to that house that day, and Gina nearly died.   He didn’t care if everybody was angry and if
everybody was disappointed.   He was
listening this time.

 
    Jade
was crying hysterically by the time Sam was allowed in her room.   Sam closed the door, hurried to her
daughter’s bedside, and slung her over so that they were face to face.
    “What
do you think you’re doing?” she asked her daughter.
    “He
wants me to die in here,” Jade said, her eyes filled with tears.   “He’ll never allow me to get out of
here.   I’ll die here!”
    “And
what is