Vow to Protect Read Free Page B

to watch, where the fact of what he was wasn’t in their faces? “What is this about?”
    â€œShut up.”
    He should have known better than to ask. He had nothing coming. The old prison saying was just as true on this side of the razor wire.
    A dark green sedan crept up the drive and stopped behind the cruisers. The door opened and a dark-haired detective climbed out.
    The last time Cord had seen Reed McCaskey, the cop had been marrying Cord’s half sister Diana on the shores of Lake Mendota. Cord hadn’t been invited, not to the wedding and not to the small reception held on a boat afterward, but he’d stood in the shadow of the park shelter anyway and watched, though to this day, he didn’t really understand why.
    McCaskey made his way through the parked cruisers and stopped behind the cop who’d been shouting the orders. “This isn’t Kane.”
    The cop gave him a frown. “You sure?”
    â€œYes. But bring him to the downtown district office. We need to have a talk with him anyway.”
    The patrol cop nodded. “Parole violation?”
    â€œPossibly. And helping his father escape.”
    Melanie didn’t move. In her embrace, Ethan scuffed the rubber sole of his shoe against the pavement. As if sensing Cord’s gaze, the boy raised his eyes.
    Then looked away.
    Â 
    M ELANIE HELD ON to Ethan’s shoulders, a tremor seizing her and questions spinning through her mind. Just an hour ago she’d had her life just the way she’d wanted. A great job at the lab. A secure home for her son. A sane and safe neighborhood in which he could grow up and thrive.
    And then Cord had walked back into her life and brought all her worst nightmares with him.
    She looked down at the top of her son’s head. Ethan had no idea Cord was his father, but that didn’t prevent him from watching Cord’s arrest with wide eyes, soaking in every detail. She had to get him out of here. She’d spent her life making sure he didn’t have to witness this kind of thing, that he didn’t have to grow up in the world she did. She turned to the police officer who had shunted them out of the line of fire.
    â€œCan I take my son inside?”
    â€œIn just a moment, ma’am. Detective McCaskey will want to talk to you first.” He nodded his head in the direction of a tall, dark-haired man wearing a police department polo shirt.
    The detective wound his way through officers and cars and stopped in front of her. “Do you know this man?”
    â€œYes. I mean, I did. A long time ago.”
    â€œWas he threatening you?”
    â€œNo, of course not.”
    â€œYou can answer honestly. We can keep you safe from him.”
    â€œNo, he wasn’t threatening. He was warning me.”
    â€œWarning you? About what?”
    She glanced down at Ethan. “Can we talk about this another time?”
    The detective followed her gaze. His eyes narrowed on Ethan. Then, as almost a reflex, he glanced back at Cord. “I think I understand.”
    A tremor lodged in Melanie’s chest. She should have known he’d figure it out. Ethan looked so much like Cord, it was frightening. The resemblance had stolen her breath on more than one occasion. And now, seeing the two of them together, McCaskey would have to be blind not to see that they were father and son.
    And that that fact meant Ethan was Dryden Kane’s grandson.
    The thought squeezed the breath from her lungs. She couldn’t accept that Ethan shared that monster’s blood. She couldn’t even start to wrap her mind around it. She could only pray the detective wouldn’t comment. “We were just leaving when the police arrived.”
    â€œWhy don’t you pack some things and we’ll see what we can do as far as protection is concerned? We can talk more after you’re settled.”
    She nodded. She could do that. She would pack some of their things and take Ethan