Battling Destiny (The Piper Anderson Series Book 6) Read Online Free Page B

respectable but showed his mother was not shy about her mostly paid for body.
    “Yes, Mother?” Michael asked, not trying to hide his reluctance as he turned toward her.
    “It means the world to me that you are here for us, Michael,” she hummed as she reached up and touched his cheek affectionately. “Your sister and I need you so much right now. I’ve been waiting for the right moment to talk to you about this. Do you think you and I can sit down after lunch tomorrow?”
    “I’ll be gone by then, Mother.” Michael’s tone was flat and unwavering. He had no intention of getting sucked into spending more time here. He needed to be back with Jules and Frankie in Edenville before it was too late to earn his wife’s forgiveness.
    “You mustn’t leave, Michael. We need you here. You, more than anyone in the world, understand how disastrous it would be if your father’s company were taken over by anyone outside the family. Your sister and I aren’t prepared to handle what needs to be done. You need to step in and take control of your father’s business and his charities.”
    “There is no chance in hell I’m associating myself with his business or his charities. They are a sham. He’s extorted and embezzled more money than he’s ever donated. Why in the world would I walk into that?” The snap in Michael’s voice was partially driven by the slight buzz he was feeling, but his answer would be the same sober. He’d left this place as a twenty-four-year-old with absolutely no intention of ever associating his name with the criminal activities taking place.
    “You don’t have to agree with your father’s business practices, but I thought you’d at least care enough about your sister and me to try to protect us from the backlash that will come if any of those things are exposed. Our family would be ruined. The charities we have that do good in this world would be dissolved. The people we help would all go without. Not to mention all the people your father’s manufacturing company employees. This is bigger than just your moral high ground, Michael.” Her voice was a low whisper with a hiss in it that reminded Michael of who she really was.
    “My moral high ground has never been enough to protect any of us. That’s why I left. That’s the only thing that works—distance. You were by no means ignorant of the business decisions, Mother. You played an active role in flat-out stealing people’s money. I’m not going to put myself between you and that bullet. You chose Dad; you chose to stay with him and be his partner in all this. I’m sorry he died and left you holding the bag, but that isn’t my problem. I’m going to this gala tonight, and I’m leaving after breakfast tomorrow. That’s final.” Michael’s voice boomed and echoed through the large entryway as he stormed out of the house and leaned against one of the pillars that stood like soldiers guarding their front door.
    “Hey stranger,” his sister’s voice called through a smile. “I feel like we haven’t even had a chance to talk yet.” She was wearing a short, black, form-fitting dress with a necklace so full of diamonds it hurt his eyes when it caught the light of the sun.
    He opened his arms to her and she dove in for a hug. She was still so small. She was born premature and Michael remembered how frightened he was that she might not survive. He was twelve years old, and he swore if she lived he’d donate his entire comic book collection to charity. The day she came home from the hospital he boxed them up and had the chauffer drive him to Goodwill. It was a deal he was still so glad he made.
    “Sorry we haven’t really talked yet, Jo,” he said, kissing the top of her head. He released her and watched as she flattened out her dress and adjusted her necklace, exactly the way their mother would have. She resembled her more than he’d ever realized, and his only hope was that their similarities stopped at appearances. But it soon