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

want it now.”  
    He exhaled slowly, searching her face. “Keith gave Jerry one week from last night to come up with the full missing amount.”
    A week? Cora backed up from the door and let him come in. Nick was just too damn tall, and she didn’t like to look up at him while trying to argue. He followed suit when she sat down on one of the wooden chairs, but they both left the door open for light.
    “Is there any chance this is just an error, a mistake in the books? My dad can fix something like that.” Cora knew she was grabbing at straws, but that seemed to be all she had.
    “They tore those books apart . . . your father wouldn’t mess up drunk on a Sunday morning.”
    Then how did he miss a million dollars? She wondered if there was any way her dad was guilty, but her doubt passed as quickly as it came. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
    “I didn’t want to worry you. I’m trying to figure this out.”
    “Worry me?” His judgment worried her. “Is there any possible way Jerry can get that kind of money?”
    Nick gave a doubtful expression as his answer, but she didn’t need one. She asked, “Can you really keep me here?”
    Despair crossed his fine features. Quietly he said, “Let’s not go that far.”
    “We are that far. I’m leaving to find my father and help him. Are you coming with me or not?”
    The light went dark. Nick and Cora both jumped as if a door had slammed. It was Alexander in the door.    
    Completely ignoring Nick, Alexander looked at Cora and asked, “Conspiring with the enemy?”
    Standing in the open doorway with the sunlight behind him, Alexander looked even more evil. Nick jumped to his feet. Cora felt sick, like she’d drank sour milk. She had almost convinced Nick!
    Alexander walked in and threw his bag on the table.  “I had a feeling I couldn’t leave you two alone. So I’m going to join your little party.”
    She rose, slowly and quietly, and took off for the door. Alexander grabbed her arm.
    She screamed as he pulled her back, and suddenly Nick was right on top of them. “Get your hands off her!”
    “Sit down,” Alexander ordered, pushing Cora over to the couch and tossing her down. Dust flew up in the air. “Both of you.”
    He pulled out a gun she hadn’t noticed before waved it at Nick and then her.
    Nick took three steps to the couch and sat on the edge, shielding Cora from Alexander.
    “Keith doesn’t hold much trust for you, Nick, and rightly so. I can’t believe I almost left.”
    He noticed the lamp then and lit it with the matches on the table, and then sat in one of the wooden chairs. She had expected to feel better with the light shining, but now she could see his face. His eyes looked black in the harsh light.
    “Didn’t think to bring any magazines?” He laughed and lit a cigar, sending sickening sweet smoke into the small shack.
    “What are you doing out here?” Nick asked him then.
    Alexander didn’t give a reason, but asked, “What about you? I don’t believe that sorry story for one minute.”
    Nothing could have hid the cold hatred the two men felt for each other. Worse than that, she didn’t think she could hide her fear from Alexander, especially since he seemed to be staring at her. Only a few minutes passed and sweat broke out on her forehead. She couldn’t even breathe.
    “I need to lie down,” she said.
    Nick turned to her and said her name as she rose. Alexander didn’t tell her to sit down so she walked between them, headed to the beds. At least they were behind the partition.  
    She knew both Alexander and Nick watched her retreat, but somehow her wobbly legs didn’t collapse under her. Behind the wall, she slumped to the floor beside the worn out twin bed and waited.
    Though they tried to keep their voices low, their efforts didn’t do much in the tiny shack. Nick didn’t hide his anger at Alexander’s arrival or his treatment of Cora, but Alexander only responded with smug remarks and hints that