Facing It by Linda Winfree

Author:Linda Winfree [Winfree, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Man-Woman Relationships, Suspense, Spousal Abuse, Wife Abuse
ISBN: 9781605045450
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Published: 2010-01-31T16:00:00+00:00

A muffled thud startled Chris from his half-doze. His pulse thumped a sick rhythm in his throat. Shoulder aching, he straightened from his slump on the sofa. The kids were okay—John Robert reading in the armchair, Camille snoozing on the other end of the couch. By his feet, Ainsley sat enraptured by SpongeBob and idly plucking at Chris’s shoelaces.

Another hushed bump. He frowned. What the hell was that?

With easy hands, he nudged her aside. “Excuse me, Ainsley.”

The house seemed normal enough. Down the hall, Lenora and Tori’s voices rose and fell in quiet conversation. A quick glance through the dining room windows revealed no new vehicles in the drive. So not car doors closing.

A third bang drew him to the foyer. A shoebox hit the floor, joining the two already there. A lid tumbled off and a tattered paperback fell out. He rested a hand on the coat closet’s open door. “What are you doing?”

“Cleaning off the shelf.” Ruthie didn’t turn. She stretched higher, reaching for the next precarious stack of shoeboxes.

Chris laid a hand on the top box. “Let me help you with that.”

He pulled the containers free and set them next to their counterparts. Only when he turned back to her did their proximity and her glittering tears sink in. She tilted her chin to a defiant angle. “I suppose you want to know why I’m cleaning the closet.”

A couple of steps back returned him to a safe distance. “Because you need something to do, something to keep you busy.”

The look she slanted in his direction was probably meant to be a glare. The unshed tears and her trembling mouth ruined it. “You’re too insightful.”

He shrugged. Pointing out he was a cop and therefore pretty much required to be insightful seemed like overkill.

She bent and lifted the book back into its box. “I despise him. You can’t own another person and that’s what he wants, to possess and control me, even from a state away… You can’t own another person, Chris.”

“I know.”

She surveyed the handful of boxes. “I made a mess of things.”

“Messes can be cleaned up.”

Her disbelieving laugh quivered between them before it morphed into a sob. Two steps and he’d tucked her close. She turned her face into his shoulder.

“I’m so scared.” Her torn whisper shook him. He tightened his arms and rested his lips on her hair.

“I know.”

“Ruthie?”

Tori’s quiet voice tensed every muscle in Chris’s body. Oh, hell. Leaning against his chest, Ruthie stiffened as if anticipating yet another blow and anger singed his nerve endings. She didn’t deserve this, any of this.

No one did.

Ruthie swiped at her eyes and slipped away from his easy hold. Her shimmering gaze flicked to his before she turned to face her sister.

“I’m sorry.” Apology hovered in Tori’s rich voice as she held out the cordless phone. “You have a phone call. It’s Agent Settles.”

“Thanks.” Ruthie’s face blanched somewhat, but she accepted the phone and lifted it to her ear. “Hello?”

Chris watched as she listened, varying expressions chasing across her features.

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