Read Online The Adventurer by Diana Whitney - Free Book Online

looked away. “No, you wouldn’t. ” Balling his fists into painful knots, Devon stared out the window, stifled by silent recrimination. All he knew about his mother was that she’d been young and beautiful and that she’d died giving him life. Although Crandall had never directly blamed his son, the resentment had been reflected in every frigid look, every stinging word. As a child, Devon had guilelessly knelt beside his bed asking God to return his mother and take him instead. He’d thought it a fair trade, one that would make his father smile again. Apparently the Almighty hadn’t agreed because Devon had always awakened each morning, disappointed and besieged by shame.
    That shame had never gone away.
    Sighing, Devon gazed out from the tenth-story vantage point absently watching miniature cars moving along a distant freeway, and trying to ignore the palpable tension that always existed when he and his father were in the same room. It seemed that they were bound only by blood, sharing nothing except common ancestry and bitter memories. But Devon was tired of the pain and anger. Life was too short. So he pushed the hurt aside and changed subjects. “I hear you’re going to be released on Monday. ” “IYS about time, ” came the peevish reply. “The production schedules are already a week behind. “
    Devon glanced over his shoulder. “
    “You do realize that it’ll be a few weeks before you can go back to the office. ” “In a few weeks I’ll be bankrupt. ” Crandall’s jaw set into a stubborn line. ” I’ve got a business to run. ” The idiotic rationale set Devon’s teeth on edge. “And who do you suppose is going to run the damned company after you’ve worked yourself into a massive coronary-those brilliant executives you keep bragging about? ” “What difference does it make? ” Crandall flung the report onto the nightstand and sent an empty plastic water glass and the box of cards clattering to the floor. “You sure don’t give a damn” Devon spun away from the window, his voice rising to a shout. “If that’s what you think, then what in hell am I doing here? ” “I didn’t ask you to come. ” Crandall, too, was shouting. He leaned forward in bed, his puffy face growing redder by the minute. “Go back to the career that means so damned much to you. You’re not needed here. ” “Yeah. I can see that. ” Snatching his jacket, Devon strode furiously to the door but as he grabbed the knob, an echo from the past whispered in the back of his mind. I didn’t ask you to come back. ! I don’t need you.. ! I don’t need anybody.. !
    Devon remembered the moment as clearly as if it had happened yesterday.
    He’d been studying in the dorm room with Larkin and Roberto when one of the vicechancellors had shown up. Devon had been told to pack his things. Fifteen minutes later, he’d been marched to the administrative office to face the father he hadn’t seen in months. Crandall had pinned him with frigid eyes. “My son the car thief. How proud you make me. ” Deep inside, Devon had been shattered by his father’s contempt but had long ago learned that displaying weakness was a fatal flaw. Besides, Crandall’s fury had hardly been unexpected. After all, a man without anger doesn’t abandon his son to a state lockup for three months. So Devon merely lifted his chin and held his father’s cold gaze with one of defiance and said nothing. After a moment , Crandall emitted a scornful snort and strode to the door, holding it open. “Hurry up, ” he growled. “I’ve just spent twelve hours on an airplane. I’m hot, I’m tired and I’m definitely not in the mood to indulge a dawdling child. ” ‘ Devon followed without remarking that he was no longer a child. He’d tasted terror; he’d seen death. He was a man now. A cowardly man. The drive to Bel-Aire was a silent one. Only when the big Cadillac pulled into the gated drive did Crandall announce that Aunt Emmaline would not be