Read Online Going For Broke by Nina Howard - Free Book Online Page B

has broke the law and she’s got to pay for it one way or another.  That’s how it runs on my watch.”
                  Victoria stood strong, waiting for her fate.  Who the hell was the guy with the sheriff?  He was good looking - was he an actor?  He looked familiar.  Though anyone she would know would never be caught dead in this hellhole.  
                  “Stay the hell out of this,” the sheriff exploded at Mike.  He turned back to Victoria.  “Come on little lady.  We’re going to go for a ride.”
                  “Oh, Christ,” it was Mike’s turn to explode.  He pulled out his wallet and threw two twenties on Victoria’s table.  “We’re good?” he asked the sheriff. 
                  The manager scurried and grabbed the money.  “I’ll get your change,” he whispered.
                  The sheriff laughed.  He had had his fun.  “Well, that is darned nice of your boyfriend here.  You sure are lucky lady.  Ben, keep things quiet around here!” he yelled to the manager as he walked off, laughing.
                  Victoria turned to Mike, more angry with him than she had been with the sheriff.
                  “Why did you do that?” she snapped.
                  “To keep you out of jail,” he answered.  “Trust me, you wouldn’t like it.”
                  “I didn’t need your money.  I could have paid for the damn food.  It was the principle of the thing.”
                  Mike was a little taken aback.  He didn’t expect tears of gratitude, but a thank you at the very least.  “I’ve found when people say it’s the principle, it’s the money.”
                  “I think I could have handled --” she stopped short.  “I do know you.  How?”  She was searching his face for something. 
                  “The Hamptons?  Maybe the club?  Wait - didn’t we meet at your place?”  He was toying with her and she didn’t like it. She’d rather go to jail.
                  “As if I’d let someone like you in my house,” she muttered.
                  “Let’s see, there’s Pieter the doorman, and your maid - Lucia is it?”
                  This stopped her cold.  Who the hell was this guy?  There was something about him, but she couldn’t name it.  Where did she know him from? 
                  “I really should be going,” he said as he doffed an imaginary hat.  “See you around.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 6
                  As Victoria went past the churning steel mills of Gary, Indiana and over the Skyway into Chicago, she had a terrible sinking feeling in her stomach.  She hadn’t been back to Chicago since the day she left for Boston College, and had never wanted to come back.    She never even came home for Christmas in college - she always spent it with friends.  She was surprised, then, when she first caught sight of the city skyline.  It was a brilliant blue sky day and Lake Michigan sparkled. The city stood tall, like a beacon welcoming her home.  She almost got a little teary, and fought back the emotion. 
                  “Is that where Grandmother lives?” Posey asked.  Her adorable outfit of three days ago had morphed into a pair of leggings and one of Parker’s lacrosse t-shirts.  Her face was filthy and she had spilled a chocolate milkshake down her arm and across her lap.  Victoria had given up trying to feed her children any semblance of a healthy meal before she got out of Pennsylvania.  Fast food was the rule, not the exception, now, and her kids inhaled it as if they had never eaten before.
                  “No, she lives on the other side of the city,” Victoria replied.
                  “Where are the cows?” Parker