Read Online The Betrayal by Jerry B. Jenkins - Free Book Online Page A

woman said. “Naturally. I love him, but I’m no substitute for the real thing. I just got off the phone with your mama, Haeley. She can’t leave until tomorrow morning.”
    Haeley immediately called her. “Yes, I still need you. I don’t want to drag Max downtown to lawyer meetings, and Florence has used up her days off. . . . I’ll tell you all about it later. . . . Of course it’s not true. I’ll talk to you when you get here.”
    â€œBack to work tomorrow,” Florence said. “I was kinda liking the break.”
    â€œThis couldn’t have been much of a break,” Haeley said. “How will I ever thank you?”
    â€œHush. It was a privilege.” As Florence retrieved her coat, she said, “He didn’t sleep much last night and there was no nap today. Lord knows I tried.”
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    â€œI woulda been the same way, his age,” she said as Boone and Haeley walked her to the door. “He was just scared and wanted you.”
    Max, cheek pressed against his mother’s shoulder, peered at Boone. The boy’s eyes looked heavy and he blinked slowly. “You could probably put him down, Haeley. He’s about to go.”
    â€œI will. In about a year.” She settled on the couch, arms wrapped around her son, whose breathing was soon even and deep. “Boone, what in the world is going on?”
    â€œI wish I knew. And I will as soon as I can get after it. So now Wade thinks it’s an inside job? He’s going to have me turning everything inside out until I know the truth. Anyway, how bad was County?”
    Haeley looked away and shook her head.
    â€œDid the noise ever die down? I can’t imagine how anybody sleeps in there.”
    â€œI don’t want to talk about it.”
    â€œMaybe later?”
    â€œNever, Boone. Please.”
    â€œYou sure it won’t help?”
    She shook her head.
    â€œDid somebody try something? Hurt you? Threaten you?”
    â€œYou’re not going to leave this alone, even when I’m begging you?”
    Boone rose and paced. “Haeley, if someone—”
    â€œListen to me. You know that most of the women in there are the worst of the worst, right?”
    â€œOf course,” he said.
    â€œThey target the weak, pick on the newbies. Even the younger gangbangers have no chance. Fortunately for me, most of the women are mothers. In fact, most of the ones I talked to had two or three kids. When they found out I was a mother, they told me who to stay away from and what to do or say if one of the leaders tried anything.”
    Boone sat and leaned forward. “Good. So you had some protection.”
    â€œJust a little moral support.”
    â€œAnd so did anyone try any—”
    â€œDo you believe me when I talk to you?”
    â€œSure! What do you mean?”
    â€œYou’re on the edge, Boone. Now I’ve already said way more than I intended to, and I’m finished. I’m not going to say another word about it, and if you ask you’ll regret it. Do I need to be clearer?”
    Boone shook his head. “That was clear enough. I’m sure glad you’re out.”
    Haeley’s voice grew thick. “You and me both. Would you mind staying with Max while I take a shower, and then till I fall asleep?”
    â€œYou know you don’t have to ask twice.”
    But she seemed in no hurry, and for nearly the next hour they chatted, and he filled her in on how hard it had been for him to get any information on where she was. She seemed impressed by his idea to hire Zappolo.
    Finally she laid Max on the couch next to Boone, then took a long shower. When she returned in a floor-length terry robe, she was in tears again.
    â€œImagine my mother having to hear all this. She said she was prepared to stay with Max as long as I needed, even if I had to go back in. Can you believe it?”
    â€œShe loves