Dirty Truths Read Free

be unacceptable to someone like Daniel.
    He shoved his hands in his pockets and strode across the room.
    Kristina stumbled to move out of his way.
    He turned, raising an eyebrow a smirk curving his lips. “What are you afraid of?”
    “Nothing.”
    She straightened her shoulders. He couldn’t hurt her now. The lawyers and the police said he couldn’t.
    Daniel strode toward her, his hands still in his pockets. “You’re scared.”
    “It’ll be hard to impress clients from a jail cell.” She lifted her chin.
    “You wouldn’t do that to me.”
    “Yes I would.”
    He lifted his hand to her hair and twirled an auburn strand between his fingers. “No, I think your boyfriend has your head all turned around, but you still love me.”
    “You’re wrong on both counts.”
    He lowered his arm and strode to the door. “I know when you’re lying.”
    Daniel opened the door and paused. The sunlight streamed through the screen, giving his blond hair a whitish halo, shadowing his face slightly. He smirked and scratched his head. “I wonder if the court would allow a whore to keep her baby. I think they might reconsider if there was another home—a two-parent home—for her to go to.”
    He turned, slamming the door behind him as he left.
    Kristina sank to the floor, her arm coming to rest on the playpen. She glanced at her daughter, who still cooed happily at her reflection. Kristina had no love left for the angry and hateful monster Daniel had become, but when he’d touched her hair, his eyes softened just a little and her resolve weakened. If only they could go back and do it over. There had been good times. Her heart recalled every moment when he looked at her like that.
    Shaking her head, she ran a trembling hand over her face. What had she done to make him so angry? Cadence whined, forcing her back to reality. It didn’t matter what she’d done. No amount of regret could put the pieces back together.

CHAP TER 3
    Daniel squealed the truck’s tires as he sped down the quiet street.
    “What do you think of that, you nosy bastard?” he muttered to the old man who lived next door.
    The man shook his bald head and frowned at Daniel, before turning back to his flowers. Every time he came to see Cadence, the prick stood out front watering something. Did he think he fooled anyone? Kristina probably told him all sorts of bullshit about their marriage. She told anyone who would listen.
    Cursing, he slammed one fist on the steering wheel and swerved, narrowly avoiding a black sedan parked in the middle of the damn road. These streets were too fucking small. Kristina’s always had vehicles lining both sides and no room for anyone to drive. Daniel cranked the wheel, ignoring a stop sign, and careened around the corner. He knew what his wife—ex-wife, was all about. She wanted to ruin him, and she nearly succeeded. His job hung by a thread and his boss had forced him to go to the court-appointed counseling. “To get your temper under control,” Carl had said. If Daniel didn’t do it, he’d be out of a job.
    Arrogant son of a bitch. As if Carl knew anything about anger management. Mr. High and Mighty, Carl Canon, didn’t know a thing about hard times or dealing with a bitch. His wife was perfect, wouldn’t say shit if her mouth were full of it.
    Carl had women on the side and went where he pleased. As long as wifey had enough money to shop and get her hair done, she never said a word. What did he know about Daniel’s misery?
    Canon Design was as old as this shithole town, just like Carl’s family. He’d inherited a fortune and didn’t have to work to make a name for himself. Still, as much as he believed the Canon’s were white trash with more money than brains, he liked his job. As a sales rep, most of his work consisted of meeting prospective clients and discussing what they wanted Canon to do for their home or business while wining, dining, or playing eighteen holes on a Wednesday. Daniel drafted the plans, got