Free Retribution by K.A. Robinson Page B

focus on anything else as I started to kiss him back.
    My mind went to Shelly with her beautiful smile and loving nature. I focused on her instead of what was going on now. I thought of all the times we’d spent together over the years. I’d watched her grow up in our foster home and even after. My mind drifted to the day at the zoo when Cooper had accompanied us. Shelly absolutely adored Cooper, something that she’d made quite obvious.
    Robert slowly pulled away from me and cupped the good side of my face. “I want you, Claire.”
    I shook my head before I could stop myself. “I can’t.”
    He frowned. “Why not?”
    Anger spiked through my veins. “Because my ribs are black and blue. I can barely walk without wincing.”
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”
    I shrugged. “It’s fine, but I think I want to go to bed. I don’t feel so great all of a sudden.”
    He nodded as he flipped the television off. “Bed sounds like a good idea. Do you mind if I join you?”
    Cooper seriously owed me for everything I was doing, and I had every intention of letting him know that.
    “Not at all.” I took Robert’s hand in mine as we started walking toward the stairs.
    When we reached them, we both stopped at a sound that came from behind us. Cooper stood in the doorway. His eyes were glued to our joined hands.
    “Cooper,” Robert said, suddenly tense. “I see you finally decided to come home.”
    “I’ve been home for over a week, Father. I just didn’t feel like hanging around with the lovebirds.” He smirked at us. “Seeing you two look all lovey-dovey as you head upstairs, I was obviously right to stay away. I wouldn’t want to hear that again.”
    “Cooper…” Robert’s voice was full of warning, and his hand tightened around mine.
    “What? I’m just stating the obv—holy fuck. What the hell happened to you?” Cooper’s tone turned sharp as his eyes landed on my face.
    I gave him a questioning look as Robert’s entire body went rigid.
    “Your face looks like it went through a meat grinder!” Cooper said when neither Robert nor I had spoken.
    “I, uh…I fell down the stairs a few days ago,” I lied.
    Cooper’s eyes swung to Robert. “Like hell you did. My father did this to you, didn’t he, Claire?”
    “No! I fell,” I said.
    What was Cooper’s end game?
    The only thing that would come of this was a fight between him and Robert. My eyes widened. That was what he wanted. He was looking for an excuse to go after Robert.
    Cooper swiftly moved across the room. Before either of us could react, he swung back and nailed Robert in the stomach—hard. Robert released my hand and doubled over in pain. He wheezed, causing Cooper to smirk at him for a moment, before he turned his attention to me.
    “And you !” Cooper pointed at me. “You’re worse than I thought. I knew you were weak, but to stay with him after he hurt you like that? You’ve sunk to a new low. You two deserve each other.”
    He pushed past me and darted up the stairs. All I could do was watch him go.
    Cooper was officially the king of manipulation. I couldn’t help but wonder if he was playing me the way he had just played Robert.

    Robert left early the next day. Neither of us had spoken about what Cooper had done, but I knew Robert was angry. It practically radiated off of him. I hoped that Cooper knew what he was doing because I’d been on the wrong side of Robert’s wrath, and it wasn’t pretty.
    Since it was Saturday, I didn’t have to work, but apparently, Robert had things he needed to take care of at his office. I wondered if he was really going to the office or if he was sneaking off to meet a mistress I didn’t know about. Cooper had shown me photographs before I married Robert, proving that he had cheated on Marie. When everything had fallen apart between Cooper and me, I’d pushed his proof aside, deciding to believe the best of Robert. Now, I knew better. It wouldn’t surprise me if he was cheating, and a