Ride the Tiger by Lindsay McKenna Read Free Book Online

all of us.”
    Dany tilted her head. “Was? Is she dead?”
    Gib’s mouth quirked, and he glanced down at her. He saw in her eyes the sudden compassion for him, for his loss. It triggered a deluge of old, poignant memories. “You get me going here, and I’ll rag your ear off with stories about my life and my family. I don’t think you want to hear that,” he jested weakly.
    â€œNo...I’d like to hear about your mother, your family—that is, if you don’t mind sharing it with me?”
    A sudden lump formed in Gib’s throat. He cleared it once. His mother had died unexpectedly, too, in his arms, of a heart attack two days after he’d returned home from getting his wings. To this day, the memory brought up unparalleled grief. Gruffly, he muttered, “I’m concerned how you’re going to take your mama’s death.”
    â€œWith a lot of guilt and remorse,” Dany admitted rawly. “I always loved her, but she—” Dany couldn’t say it. It took every shred of strength left in her to not say more. How badly she wanted to let down her guard and talk to Gib, to tell him the awful truth that haunted her.
    How terribly alone Dany really was, Gib realized. He ached to share the warmth of real family with her. But under the circumstances, as IO in this matter, it was impossible. He knew he’d better bring things back to a more professional level. “Well,” Gib said hoarsely, “I think I’ve got enough information from you today to start the investigation.”
    â€œWill you have to come back?”
    The terror in her voice was real. Gib stared down at her. “I don’t like this any better than you do, but I’ve got a general waiting for this report. I’ll talk to the constable tomorrow.”
    Wearily, Dany backed away from him.
    Gib felt like a heel. He could see the grief and despair in her ravaged eyes. “You know, you might think of selling the plantation and leaving the country. This place is too much for one young woman to run by herself.”
    Dany managed a strained smile at his gentle tone. Sweet God in heaven, but she was fractions of a moment from stepping into the cradle of his arms again. “I’d never sell this place, Major. It’s been my whole life for the last six years.”
    â€œOh?”
    â€œYes. I was finishing up my degree in economics from the Sorbonne in Paris when my father became very ill with liver cancer. I graduated days before his death.”
    Hungry to know more about Dany, Gib couldn’t help himself. “Did you know he was dying?”
    Dany shook her head. “Father had ordered my mother not to tell me. He felt it was more important that I study, get good grades and receive a diploma. He thought if I knew, I’d want to come home and not continue to study in Paris full-time.” She looked away, fighting tears. “He was right.”
    Inwardly, Gib seethed with anger. How callous and unfeeling her parents seemed to have been toward Dany’s obvious needs. “So you arrived home to find him dying?” he growled, unable to disguise all his anger.
    â€œWhen my father said they couldn’t come to Paris for my graduation, I knew something was very wrong. My parents had always pushed me to get a degree. Neither of them had one, and they wanted me to better myself.” Dany walked slowly to the sofa and sat down. “He told me over the phone how proud he was of me that I had graduated with honors, but that he couldn’t make the trip. When I asked why, he just told me I’d know more when I came home.”
    â€œGood God,” Gib breathed savagely, but stopped himself from saying more.
    Dany saw the accusation in his eyes. “They loved me the best they knew how, Major.”
    â€œIt sure as hell wasn’t enough,” he rasped. “Not nearly enough.”
    Again, Dany felt the overwhelming protectiveness