Read Online Betrayals of the Heart by Melissa Ohnoutka - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Melissa Ohnoutka
Tags: General Fiction
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the puzzle together without her knowledge.
It was his curiosity and one simple phone call that now placed Nicholas’ life in danger as well as his own. There was little doubt now. Although they’d searched all Nicholas’ favorite hiding places, they’d found no trace of him.
Nicholas was gone. She didn’t know how he’d managed to do it, but the truth tore at her soul. Her youngest son had been taken by a madman set on revenge.
Makayla sat with her head down, fingers twisted in her hair. Michael, who now had all the facts, sat as close to her as he could manage without being in the same chair, and tried to console her. He tried to make sense out of what he’d learned as well as what Nicholas now faced. “He’s my half-brother?” he said under his breath.
It was ironic. Nicholas had just turned five. The age Michael had been when Makayla took him and ran away from Steven.
***
“They already have several leads,” Ryan said as he walked to the kitchen table only long enough to stroke Makayla’s back and place a soft kiss on the top of her head. The police had arrived minutes before he did and were taking Makayla’s statement. He’d know this time was inevitable, but damn it. He’d felt sure there would be more warning.
Without another word, heavy footsteps carried him to his office in the back of the house. The room he’d set up with all sorts of computers and gadgets that he used for his investigative work. First thing on his list, was to get the security camera tapes ready to view.
He struggled to keep the dread from taking over, and tried to contain his own emotions now raging within him.
“Damn him!” Low, angry, almost animal in sound, his voice echoed off the walls. Nicholas was his son. His flesh and blood. How dare Steven lay a hand on his son.
After leaving the airport, Ryan had taken Makayla and Michael as far as Florida where he convinced Makayla to lay low. He already knew that Steven was heading for New York. His contact with the FBI advised him to set up camp for her own safety until some time had blown over and the Feds gathered enough evidence to clear her and put Steven away for life.
Some time had turned into over ten years. Steven kept evading the FBI. They just couldn’t get enough evidence to tie Steven to the drug smuggling and trafficking rings. The man was smart. Covered his tracks and kept his hands clean. But Ryan was counting on Makayla being the thorn in his side that would make him slip up. Steven never let anyone get the best of him.
It hadn’t taken long for Ryan to completely lose himself, heart and soul to both of the victims he needed to protect. Against the FBI’s wishes, he’d married Makayla and they’d had Nicholas soon after. Once he proved how Steven had lied and set up their fake marriage to protect the family money, Makayla was all too eager to break those ties. For her, getting rid of the last name Prichard was the icing on the cake.
His head fell in his hands as he stood before the window. Lord, help me . I’ve tried my best to keep them safe. But what now?
For several minutes, Ryan prayed for Nicholas’ safety, for Makayla’s understanding when she learned the truth about his identity, and for his own forgiveness for the thoughts now running through his head.
He wanted to kill Steven with his bare hands. He wanted to strip every ounce of flesh from his body and leave him for the wild animals to finish off. Each and every sinister act Steven had committed against another human being, he found himself now considering. And he knew it was wrong. He knew it went against everything he believed. For the first time in his life, he found himself struggling with his moral core.
The fact that Steven had his son tore his heart apart one tiny piece at a time, and left a gaping hole in its place. These holes, once full of love, compassion, and understanding, were filling quickly with vengeance. Knowing just what Steven was capable of, rocked him to the
It was his curiosity and one simple phone call that now placed Nicholas’ life in danger as well as his own. There was little doubt now. Although they’d searched all Nicholas’ favorite hiding places, they’d found no trace of him.
Nicholas was gone. She didn’t know how he’d managed to do it, but the truth tore at her soul. Her youngest son had been taken by a madman set on revenge.
Makayla sat with her head down, fingers twisted in her hair. Michael, who now had all the facts, sat as close to her as he could manage without being in the same chair, and tried to console her. He tried to make sense out of what he’d learned as well as what Nicholas now faced. “He’s my half-brother?” he said under his breath.
It was ironic. Nicholas had just turned five. The age Michael had been when Makayla took him and ran away from Steven.
***
“They already have several leads,” Ryan said as he walked to the kitchen table only long enough to stroke Makayla’s back and place a soft kiss on the top of her head. The police had arrived minutes before he did and were taking Makayla’s statement. He’d know this time was inevitable, but damn it. He’d felt sure there would be more warning.
Without another word, heavy footsteps carried him to his office in the back of the house. The room he’d set up with all sorts of computers and gadgets that he used for his investigative work. First thing on his list, was to get the security camera tapes ready to view.
He struggled to keep the dread from taking over, and tried to contain his own emotions now raging within him.
“Damn him!” Low, angry, almost animal in sound, his voice echoed off the walls. Nicholas was his son. His flesh and blood. How dare Steven lay a hand on his son.
After leaving the airport, Ryan had taken Makayla and Michael as far as Florida where he convinced Makayla to lay low. He already knew that Steven was heading for New York. His contact with the FBI advised him to set up camp for her own safety until some time had blown over and the Feds gathered enough evidence to clear her and put Steven away for life.
Some time had turned into over ten years. Steven kept evading the FBI. They just couldn’t get enough evidence to tie Steven to the drug smuggling and trafficking rings. The man was smart. Covered his tracks and kept his hands clean. But Ryan was counting on Makayla being the thorn in his side that would make him slip up. Steven never let anyone get the best of him.
It hadn’t taken long for Ryan to completely lose himself, heart and soul to both of the victims he needed to protect. Against the FBI’s wishes, he’d married Makayla and they’d had Nicholas soon after. Once he proved how Steven had lied and set up their fake marriage to protect the family money, Makayla was all too eager to break those ties. For her, getting rid of the last name Prichard was the icing on the cake.
His head fell in his hands as he stood before the window. Lord, help me . I’ve tried my best to keep them safe. But what now?
For several minutes, Ryan prayed for Nicholas’ safety, for Makayla’s understanding when she learned the truth about his identity, and for his own forgiveness for the thoughts now running through his head.
He wanted to kill Steven with his bare hands. He wanted to strip every ounce of flesh from his body and leave him for the wild animals to finish off. Each and every sinister act Steven had committed against another human being, he found himself now considering. And he knew it was wrong. He knew it went against everything he believed. For the first time in his life, he found himself struggling with his moral core.
The fact that Steven had his son tore his heart apart one tiny piece at a time, and left a gaping hole in its place. These holes, once full of love, compassion, and understanding, were filling quickly with vengeance. Knowing just what Steven was capable of, rocked him to the
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