Free The Fall (ATCOM Book 2) by Jennifer Lowery Page A

and
live the rest of his life without a father.
    “The hacker he hired was sloppy,” Rogan said,
tapping keys on his laptop. “Didn’t cover their tracks good enough. Pretty damn
nice try though.”
    Mia didn’t hear the rest of what they said. The
cops showed up, invading her home, the same as they had ten years ago. Déjà vu
hit her like a wrecking ball. Except this time Jason was a teenager and not an
innocent six-year-old. He stayed by her side as things swirled around her.
People coming at her with questions, then at Jason. Brendan by her side,
fielding the attacks. Rogan printing page after page of proof, sealing her
ex-husband’s fate forever.
    Finally, when the whirlwind settled, she wrapped
her arms around her middle and shuddered. Jason had disappeared into his room
to process in his own way. Rogan packed up his equipment, preparing to leave.
He’d done what he’d come for. Found enough evidence for the Feds to convict Ray.
    A glass appeared in front of her face. Blinking,
she looked up to see Brendan standing there. “Drink this.”
    Numb, she accepted the amber liquid and took a
swallow. When it burned down her throat she coughed, but welcomed the way it
warmed her insides.
    “I’m going to walk Rogan out. Be right back.”
    As if in a dream she nodded, waving to the
shaggy-haired Adonis, listening, but not hearing what he said to her. When
Brendan returned a few minutes later he sat next to her, took the glass out of
her hand and pulled her into his chest. She went willingly, needing his
strength right now. The rug had been pulled out from beneath her so many times
today she couldn’t process it all. Ray stole from her, proving he hadn’t
changed. Her son would never know his father. And, she’d fallen for a man who
walked a razor thin line between danger and safety. Somehow, that hurt worse
than the rest.
    Maybe because she would also spend the rest of her
life alone. Soon, Jason would go off to college and she would be by herself. Worse,
she thought she’d finally found a man she could spend the rest of her life with
and he turned out to be just like her ex.
    “Is everyone gone?” she asked.
    “Yes.”
    “Good.”
    “What can I do?”
    She snuggled closer, taking refuge in his strength.
“Exactly what you’re doing.” Right now she needed him. Later, she would worry
about letting him go.
    His hand stroked her hair, helping release the
tension in her body. How could something so wrong feel so right?
    “I suppose you’ll be leaving now?” she asked,
stomach clenching at the thought. “You did what you promised.”
    “Is that what you want?”
    Sadness filled her heart. It had to be. She
couldn’t take that risk again. “The house is almost packed up and the money
should be back in my account soon so there isn’t any reason for Jason and me to
stick around. My realtor is taking care of the sale of the house. My work is
done here.”
    Silence stole the air from the room. They both knew
she’d just broken off whatever they’d had. As much as it pained her. Her heart
felt like it was being torn out of her chest.
    “I’ll pack my things and be out in the morning,”
Brendan said, putting distance between them.
    She wanted to tell him how sorry she was that they
hadn’t worked out. How she couldn’t get involved with a man that cared more
about his thrill-seeking adventures than his family. But no words came.
Instead, she slipped out of his arms, said goodnight and went to her room,
knowing she’d really said goodbye.

Chapter Ten
    Brendan packed his things, a heaviness in his chest
he couldn’t place. Hell, he knew what it was, he just didn’t want to face it.
Something had happened in the few short days he’d known Mia. It made him want
things he’d sworn he never would. Not only had he fallen for the pretty
schoolteacher, he liked her son. The kid had potential. With the right guidance
he could make something of his future.
    And he was the right guidance? Him? The one who