Read Online Retaliation: An Alpha Billionaire Romance by Lauren Landish - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lauren Landish
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cop that faked his death along with my mother. I spent a decade wanting nothing more than to destroy the DeLaCoeur family, and about a year and a half ago I'd have said I didn't care if I took down Jackson and Andrea, too. As it was, I ended up falling in love with Jackson... but that didn't change the lifestyle that I'd led. Jackson and I live it now. We're underground, with no real names, no real identification. Our daughter Andrea has never been registered with any government agency, and according to the state of Louisiana, I'm dead. We live by our own rules, and a little rule like saying the Glock 18 is illegal for the average person doesn't stop me.”
I nod in respect. I can see how growing up like that would push someone to take such an extreme point of view, especially considering that she's dealing with Peter DeLaCoeur. It's not like my own family situation isn't nearly as extreme in its own way. “And your own rules are?”
“Protect my daughter. Protect my family,” Katrina says simply, reaching for another pistol, a Walther PPK. “From the way you act around Melissa, I'd say you and I have similar points of view.”
“I've tried to,” I agree, putting the weapon back into its space in my rack. “Although I haven't gone to the extremes you have in disappearing and living so... invisibly.”
“You never had reason to,” Katrina says simply, without any bitterness. “But you seem to have your own ways, too. So I take it that Peter never accepted Melissa?”
I shake my head. “Nope. I don't think he even knows that Melissa and I know the truth about her parentage. Assuming he even remembers Mom at all. Anyway, I know it's not a huge collection, but it’s my collection.”
Katrina nods, looking it over. Humming in respectful admiration, she looks over a few of my other pieces before stepping back. “We can talk more about it tomorrow. In the meantime, what's with the other stuff?”
She turns, pointing to my archery collection, and I shrug. “A hobby now, very serious before I realized just how much more powerful firearms are than these. Trent saw that I was protective of 'Lissa, right about the time I picked a fight with a bunch of sixth graders, and I was in second grade. So to teach me some control, we started with archery. I still do it mostly for the mental practice, but also I respect the form and function of the different bows. They're more elegant than a gun, that's for sure. I'm no professional. Just a hobbyist at this point. I don't have time for many hobbies though.”
“I bet. Twenty-five and running a chain of galleries, as well as taking care of a sister who is brilliant, but mentally... sorry, not my place to say. Considering I was fanatical to the point of being nearly suicidal not that long ago, I have no place to judge, either.”
“Melissa's a wonderful woman,” I say defensively. “She's brilliant, and she has a way of looking at things that's special. But yes, she’s been through some things.”
Katrina gives me a heartfelt smile. “I can understand. Can I ask you something?”
Her smile eases my worries, and I nod, giving her a friendly grin in return. “Go ahead. I can't promise an answer though.”
Katrina nods, and crosses her arms across her chest. “What was up with you and Andrea?”
I know exactly what Katrina is talking about, but I can't answer right now. Seriously, how do you tell someone you just met a few hours ago that you think her husband's half-sister is the sexiest, most alluring woman you've seen in your entire life? Especially when said woman also happens to be your sister through a few legal hoops. How do I tell her that I want to unleash on Andrea the dark passions I only admit to myself in the middle of the night, when the moon's high in the air and my body churns with a hunger no woman's ever been able to satisfy?
Instead, I just crack a smile and shake my head, deciding to make a joke. “I don't know. For only being a few months old, your
I nod in respect. I can see how growing up like that would push someone to take such an extreme point of view, especially considering that she's dealing with Peter DeLaCoeur. It's not like my own family situation isn't nearly as extreme in its own way. “And your own rules are?”
“Protect my daughter. Protect my family,” Katrina says simply, reaching for another pistol, a Walther PPK. “From the way you act around Melissa, I'd say you and I have similar points of view.”
“I've tried to,” I agree, putting the weapon back into its space in my rack. “Although I haven't gone to the extremes you have in disappearing and living so... invisibly.”
“You never had reason to,” Katrina says simply, without any bitterness. “But you seem to have your own ways, too. So I take it that Peter never accepted Melissa?”
I shake my head. “Nope. I don't think he even knows that Melissa and I know the truth about her parentage. Assuming he even remembers Mom at all. Anyway, I know it's not a huge collection, but it’s my collection.”
Katrina nods, looking it over. Humming in respectful admiration, she looks over a few of my other pieces before stepping back. “We can talk more about it tomorrow. In the meantime, what's with the other stuff?”
She turns, pointing to my archery collection, and I shrug. “A hobby now, very serious before I realized just how much more powerful firearms are than these. Trent saw that I was protective of 'Lissa, right about the time I picked a fight with a bunch of sixth graders, and I was in second grade. So to teach me some control, we started with archery. I still do it mostly for the mental practice, but also I respect the form and function of the different bows. They're more elegant than a gun, that's for sure. I'm no professional. Just a hobbyist at this point. I don't have time for many hobbies though.”
“I bet. Twenty-five and running a chain of galleries, as well as taking care of a sister who is brilliant, but mentally... sorry, not my place to say. Considering I was fanatical to the point of being nearly suicidal not that long ago, I have no place to judge, either.”
“Melissa's a wonderful woman,” I say defensively. “She's brilliant, and she has a way of looking at things that's special. But yes, she’s been through some things.”
Katrina gives me a heartfelt smile. “I can understand. Can I ask you something?”
Her smile eases my worries, and I nod, giving her a friendly grin in return. “Go ahead. I can't promise an answer though.”
Katrina nods, and crosses her arms across her chest. “What was up with you and Andrea?”
I know exactly what Katrina is talking about, but I can't answer right now. Seriously, how do you tell someone you just met a few hours ago that you think her husband's half-sister is the sexiest, most alluring woman you've seen in your entire life? Especially when said woman also happens to be your sister through a few legal hoops. How do I tell her that I want to unleash on Andrea the dark passions I only admit to myself in the middle of the night, when the moon's high in the air and my body churns with a hunger no woman's ever been able to satisfy?
Instead, I just crack a smile and shake my head, deciding to make a joke. “I don't know. For only being a few months old, your
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