Hard Break (Deadlines & Diamonds, #5) Read Online Free Page B

free from the box on the counter. Instead of handing it over, he reached out to wipe away the sadness. “You’ll be okay.”
    “I won’t.” Her sob skinned him alive.
    “You will. Someday, you will.”
    She shook her head. “I won’t.”
    Without thought, he drew her against him. He held her while she cried. He wasn’t sure how long he comforted her, but knew she needed to face her children before they came looking for her. He backed away. “I’ll help you tell them.”
    “No. They need to hear it from me.”
    “I’ll go—”
    “No.”
    The mixed message didn’t make sense, but he doubted very little did in her jumbled thoughts.
    He held her hand, hoping to ground her as they descended the stairs. An argument over the red crayon had broken out at the kitchen table.
    Kayla squeezed his hand. “Wait here. We’ll all need you once they know.”
    He nodded, wondering if she’d realized she’d said she needed him.
    “Mom, Penelope took… What’s wrong?” Sadie sounded panicked.
    So did Chase. “Mom, what’s going on?”
    Ian couldn’t make out the entire story, but caught enough that his eyes burned. He closed his lids, breathed deep through his nose. Those four people needed a rock to cling to in the upcoming storm. He needed to provide that strength. If they’d let him.
    “No!” Chase yelled. “You’re lying!”
    Ian heard a chair hit the floor and angry footsteps coming toward him. Chase glared at him. “You knew! You took me for ice cream. And you knew my dad was dead! You’re a jerk! I hate you!”
    The words cut through Ian deeper than any sword, slicing right through his heart. He opened his mouth to offer an apology, to explain …
    What? No explanation would suffice.
    Tears slipped from Chase’s eyes. He swiped at them angrily.
    Ian took a step toward the boy. When Chase didn’t retreat, Ian slowly walked up to him and opened his arms.
    Chase whispered a defeated, “I hate you,” then grasped hold, weeping into Ian’s torso.
     
    ***
    
    Ian wasn’t sure how he’d made it through the last twelve hours. The Black family had all gone to bed and he’d set up camp on the family room couch.
    He fired up his cell, calling into the station. “Hey , Gavin.”
    “You’re in deep shit, man,” Gavin, the Assignment Editor, said.
    “I’m not surprised. Is anybody around?”
    “Lucie just got here.”
    “Lemme talk to her.” Perfect, the morning show entertainment producer would be able to help him.
    Hold music came on the line for about fifteen seconds, interrupted by, “Where the hell have you been?”
    “I’m, ah, I—” He cleared his throat. “I need to take some time off.”
    “Ian, what’s going on?” Concerned question.
    “I can’t come in for a few days.”
    “What’s wrong?” The newshound in her wasn’t going to let it go.
    “Nothing.” Everything.
    Alarm crept into her tone. “Phil said you ran off the scene of that officer involved shooting. What the hell’s going on?”
    The sight of Leon’s lifeless arm falling free of the gurney would haunt Ian for a very long time, and the aftermath would be something he’d never recover from.
    “I know him. Knew him. Dammit! Whatever.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “The way I figure it, I have at least two weeks vacation and a week of sick time saved up. I’ll call if I’m ready to come back sooner.”
    “You can’t—” The argument died on her tongue.
    Being in news a guy saw a lot of bad shit. It was the nature of the beast. He’d been at KKLV for five years, worked his ass off, gaining a reputation for his cool head. And, check it, he’d blown the shit out of that status in one action. This second one would seal his fate, sink his ship. And he’d be damned, but he didn’t care.
    “I’ll let them know.” L ucie sighed. “Take care of yourself, Ian.”
    It wasn’t his own care that worried him. “I’ll be in touch.”
    He powered his phone down and set it on the coffee