Read Online Retribution by K.A. Robinson - Free Book Online

been there in an instant. I love you, Claire, but what I did was barbaric. I can understand if you hate me now. I hate myself.”
    “I don’t hate you, Robert. I love you. I just want to know what I did wrong to make you hate me ,” I said, telling the biggest lie of my life.
    I despised this man. I absolutely hated him. Any tenderness I’d felt for him disappeared when his foot became one with my rib cage.
    “I love you, too. Please tell me what I can do to make this right,” Robert said as he gripped my hand tighter.
    “Come home to me,” I whispered. “Come home, and be my husband. Show me how much you love me.”
    He seemed startled by my words. “That’s what you really want?”
    It wasn’t, not at all. What I wanted was for him to lay on the floor while I walked all over him with my three-inch spiked heels.
    “It is. Please come back to me. We love each other, and I know we can make this work again. I don’t want to lose you.”
    “Oh, Claire,” he said as he rose to his feet.
    He pulled me up until I was standing next to him. I flinched and let out a muffled cry when he hugged me.
    He instantly let go of me and stepped back. “What’s wrong?”
    “My ribs are sore.” I gasped as I wrapped my arms around my middle, hoping to ease the pain even a little.
    “I’m so sorry. I didn’t…I should have known…” he said, looking ashamed.
    God, he was so convincing. I wanted to comfort him because he looked so upset.
    “It doesn’t matter. I’m fine,” I said as I picked my purse up off the floor. “I need to get to work. You’ll be home later though, won’t you?”
    He nodded. “I’ll be there. I promise.”
    I walked to the door, shoving my sunglasses on my face as I went. “Good.”
    When I opened the door, he called out, “Claire?”
    I glanced over my shoulder at him.
    “I love you.”
    “I love you, too.”
    Lies, so many lies.
    And they would only grow.

    “What’s with the glasses?” Becky asked when I sat down across from her.
    I shrugged. “My head is killing me, and the lighting makes it worse. I thought I’d try wearing them to see if it would help.”
    She gave me a sympathetic look. “I heard you were sick. If you’re still recovering, you could have stayed home. The filing can wait another day even though I’m sure you’re super excited to get back down to the basement.”
    “Oh, yes, I spent my time at home pining away for the filing system downstairs. I might have even shed a few tears.”
    Becky chuckled. “You’re ridiculous, my dear. So, how are you really feeling?”
    “I’m okay. Just exhausted. Being…sick sucks, but I’m glad to be back.”
    “Well, I’m glad to have you back as well. With that being said, get your tiny butt downstairs and start filing away. Also, you can take this massive stack”—she gestured to a large stack of files sitting on the edge of her desk—“downstairs with you.”
    “Oh, goodie. Thanks so much.” I stood up. “You’re the best boss ever.”
    She laughed. “I know.”
    I smirked as I reached for the folders. There were so many that the stack had to be nearly a foot tall. As soon as I lifted them, pain sliced through my ribs. I let out a cry as I dropped them. I watched in horror as they fell to the floor, and papers scattered around. Becky jumped out of her chair and came around the desk to where I was standing, bent over and clutching my ribs.
    “Are you okay?” she asked as she tried to help me stand upright.
    Her hand pressed against my ribs, and I jerked away. She froze.
    “Claire, lift your shirt up for me.”
    I gave her a look that said I thought she was crazy. Inside, I was freaking out. If she saw my ribs, she would know that something had happened, something bad. I couldn’t let her see. If she told anyone or went to Robert, I would be screwed.
    “I’m fine,” I said as I stepped back, hoping to put more space between us.
    But I had no such luck. She moved with me. Before I could stop her, she