The Enemy's Son by Kristen James Read Free Book Online

steps and knew that her mother was going to die.
    Nick held her tighter. “He’s smart. He’s been in there this long, he knows a little something about handling these kind of men. But what can I do to prove to you I’m on your side?”
    The timing of his question threw her for a loop.
    “Come on, you can’t be a reporter without being curious. What do you want to know about me?” he asked, giving her direction.
    She wanted to ask why he looked at her like he wanted to know her, like just seeing her made him smile. Her thoughts ran a circle around the track and pulled up a safe question. Here was her chance to find out something about this man . . . if he told her the truth.
    “What kind of career did you study for at college?”
    Something came and went in his expression before he said, “Law.”
    “Law?” His simple answer brought Cora to her feet. “You’re an attorney?”
    Nick jumped up as well. “I’m one of the good guys. I help people when a big corporation takes advantage of them.”
    “You’re a lawyer and you’re helping your father with something like this?”
    “They follow a different set of laws.”
    “You’re saying they’re exempt from the same laws the rest of us live by?” Cora demanded, her hands on her hips as she faced him. “You’re committing a crime for them. You must realize that.”
    Wow, he looked good with the green brush behind him. He fit into this wild, forest world. The sight made her pause but she quickly remembered why she was angry.
    “I meant to walk away from them all, except my cousin Adam. I wasn’t going to move back to Eugene, either.”
    “Then why did you?”
    “For you.”
    “How can you say that? You never met me. I didn’t even know you existed!”
    He looked up at her. Sunlight came through the trees and landed on his face. “Adam told me what he knew about the situation, and I couldn’t let an innocent person be used like that. You’re right, I didn’t know you, but I knew what Keith had in mind. I can’t stand injustice.”
    While standing, she assessed him slowly and mercilessly, but he didn’t hide from her investigative eyes.
    “You can help my father, then.”
    Nick stood again. “The police aren’t involved in this.”
    “But they should be.”
    “Let’s stick with reality here. We have no way of knowing a crime actually occurred. I can’t view the evidence or question witnesses. I have only my father’s version of events.”
    “Are you saying my father has no way out of this?”
    “Only if he plays by their rules. Maybe something can be done later, but right now I’m concerned for your safety. That’s the one thing I can control at this point in the game.”
    Some game. “I can’t feel sorry for you because you’re stuck in the middle.”
    Nick shook his head and said, “I don’t expect or want you to.”
    “You can’t stay there long.”
    “I have to.” His pleading face and focused eyes pulled at her heart. “I can’t help you unless I’m on Keith’s team. If I hadn’t gotten involved, you’d be out here with Alexander.”
    She twisted a strand of her hair and gazed out into the tall timbers surrounding them. “My father always kept to himself and worked hard. He doesn’t deserve this. He only stayed there, working for Keith, because he wanted to see me get ahead.”
    “You’re sure your father is innocent?”
    She jerked around to face him. “Of course.”
    He gave a nod and began pacing. Cora watched him while he mused on his own thoughts. His long body had just enough muscle to keep him from looking too skinny. He looked like a limber athlete and carried himself like one, a quarterback in high school maybe. He had a tan, perfect neck. What an odd thing to notice, she thought, but couldn’t pull her eyes away. 
     Her eyes slid up his body and then hit Nick’s eyes looking right back. Fire swept over her and consumed her, like an angry brush fire eating up dry twigs. The look in Nick’s eyes, and