Retribution Read Online Free Page A

or your daughter under normal circumstances, and obviously you got the help you needed—”
    “Obviously,” I snapped, folding my arms. “I can’t believe you’re buying into his lies.”
    “He wouldn’t lie to me. He loves me.”
    I almost snorted. “Rick doesn’t love anyone.”
    “He loves me, and he loves Eve. You can’t keep him from her forever. He already lost a year and half in prison.”
    I blinked, struggling to form a reply to such a crazy statement. “He should have been locked away a lot longer for what he did to me.” His expensive attorney had gotten him a lenient plea bargain, otherwise he’d still be in jail, and I’d still be safe from the threat of him. “How long has it been going on?” I asked.
    She studied the purple nail polish on her toes. “Since before you guys split. I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you, Kayla.”
    “You’re going to be the sorry one. Rick is rotten underneath his appeal.” I headed toward the door and opened it. “Tell him if he comes anywhere near Eve, I’ll have him thrown in jail again.”
    Her expression iced over. “It’s not fair to keep him from her. He just wants to be part of her life—we both do.”
    “Over my dead body.” I slammed the door behind me, and Ian called before I reached my car. He started talking the instant I answered.
    “I’m going on my lunch break now. Can I come over? I need to see you.”
    “I need time, Ian.” I slid in behind the wheel and slumped in my seat. Letting him past my defenses that morning had been a mistake.
    “Why do you keep shutting me out?”
    “I don’t want to shut you out, but . . .”
    “But what?”
    I’m ashamed.
    “I’ve got some stuff to sort out. I’m sorry.” I hung up, shut off my phone, and headed to the hospital to spend the rest of my day with Eve. And I prayed to God Ian would stick to the wing he worked in.

6. C HRISTMAS
    Eve’s doctor gave me the best Christmas present I could’ve hoped for. My baby was coming home in two weeks.
    I must have cried happy tears for an hour straight, and thankfully Eve was too preoccupied with opening her gifts and visiting with Santa to notice that her mother was a basket case. Only this time I was a basket case in the best sense of the word; I hadn’t been this happy in months.
    So of course Gage would have to ruin my Christmas with his mere presence.
    “Merry Christmas,” he said, nodding toward Santa as the big guy in red and white exited Eve’s room. Gage shut the door and took the empty seat on the opposite side of her bed.
    I gawked at him as he began removing presents—all of them wrapped in shiny paper splashed with Santa’s reindeer and adorned with fancy bows. I wondered if he’d wrapped them himself or if he’d paid the department store to do it for him. He smiled at Eve, a grin so huge and unguarded that I did a double take. When she sat up and grinned back, something within me unleashed. I bolted from my chair and pulled him away from her.
    “What the hell do you think you’re doing here?”
    He had the nerve to look offended. “It’s Christmas. What do you think I’m doing here?”
    “Mommy! Can I open them?”
    “Of course you can,” he answered before I was able to. “I brought them especially for you.”
    I glared at him. “I won’t let you use her to get to me. I don’t want you anywhere near her.” I lowered my voice amidst Eve’s enthusiastic package-opening. “Do you understand? She’s off-limits to your sick games. You can play them with me all you want, but you’d better leave her out of it.” If I hadn’t been so worked up myself, I would have been alarmed by the fury that crossed his face.
    His gaze darted behind me, and I turned around and noticed Eve’s curious expression. He grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the door. “I need to talk to your mom. Merry Christmas, Eve.” He practically dragged me from her room, and I saw him strain under the effort it took to keep from slamming the