Read Online Framed: A Psychological Thriller (Boston's Crimes of Passion Book 2) by Colleen Connally - Free Book Online Page A

me.”
    “Are you threatening me?”
    “Take it any way you want.” He scowled at her. “You got your way. You have the house for a little while longer. You are going to the gala, but if you try anything…anything at all to me or…”
    Suddenly, it hit her. She murmured under her breath, “Olivia is home.”
    “And she is quite disappointed with the way the events have unfolded.” Walter added, “Stay away from her at the gala…more importantly, Dennis.”
    She met his eyes once more. He had delivered the message he had intended. He crossed the room. Before he exited, he turned at the door. “If you don’t heed my warning, you will regret it. That I promise you.”
    Riley stared at the closed door. She rubbed her tired eyes. Frustration clawed at her. Why did she ever think any dealings with her uncle would have gone any different?
    Why…oh why…did she care?
    Abruptly, she pivoted around. When she glanced over at Kincaid, he gave her a sympathetic look. It pissed her off.
    She couldn’t take any more. Without another word, she left the room and retreated into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
    * * * *
    As Riley stomped off into her bedroom, Kincaid couldn’t take his eyes off her finely rounded curves. The thought of holding her this morning—caressing…kissing—bombarded his libido. Damn Walter Ashcroft .
    Reason dictated that this was no time to be contemplating sex. He had a story in his hands. He would be well served to listen to the warning bells going off concerning Riley Ashcroft. But if this morning had been any indication, this strong attraction he felt for her wasn’t going to be easily ignored.
    Walter Ashcroft ruffled his feathers, but the man hadn’t accomplished his objective if he thought his little display this morning thwarted Kincaid’s efforts for this scoop. No, far from it.
    Kincaid smelled blood. Instead of diverting his attention, Ashcroft had only served to magnify his interest.
    The more Kincaid thought of the story, the more his instincts flared.
    Walter Ashcroft’s hot temper was well documented over the years. The man was used to getting his way. This time, though, Riley had called him out immediately, making it quite obvious there was little love between the two.
    It was also apparent Ashcroft had come to make a point— warning  Kincaid against Riley. He heard it. Just didn’t care.
    Kincaid glanced over his shoulder. He heard water running.  Riley must be taking a shower. Probably assumed I left.
    He hadn’t.
    Walking over to the couch, he picked up one of the pictures. Smiling back at him was what seemed a happy family. A young, pretty woman, blonde with a head full of curls and a warm smile, held a chubby, giggly baby girl. A man held the two close to him and looked down at them, beaming with happiness.
    Kincaid recognized Jack Ashcroft. In another picture, Jack had his arms around his brothers, Walter and Donald, smiling broadly, seemingly greatly enjoying each other’s company. From the picture, it looked as though the three had been close, but appearances certainly were deceiving when it came to this wealthy Boston elite family.
    Then a picture caught his eye. Jack Ashcroft knelt on one knee beside a young African-American boy dressed in a Pop Warner football uniform. A handsome lad. Pride radiated from Jack Ashcroft’s eyes at the boy.
    Was this Harrison Taylor? How the hell had this normal-looking kid become a vicious cop killer?
    As he stared at the boy, questions bothered him. The information he had obtained indicated the Taylor case had been cut-and-dry. What had Helen Barlow known that had gotten her killed? Was her murder connected to that knowledge or just a coincidence?
    Was it a coincidence that Jack Ashcroft had known Harrison Taylor…from Riley’s own words…looked at him like a son? Or was he about to get himself mixed up in a family squabble over nothing more than greed and power?
    Every instinct he possessed told him there were just