Hybrid Read Online Free

doorbell. A young girl opened the door and her eyes immediately lit up when she saw him.
    “Daddy!” She screamed with delight as she jumped into his arms.
    “Hey, Munchkin!” he answered as she settled into his arms. “Where's Mommy?”
    “She's out back with Ricky. They have company. Some goofy business people.” The little girl rolled her eyes upward.
    “Brianna!” a voice interrupted. “You know better than to talk like that.”
    Brianna giggled as she jumped down from her father's arms and headed out into the back yard.
    “Hello, Margaret,” Erik began. “You're looking beautiful, as always.” He tried his best to sound pleasant.
    “You still look.... “She paused, letting her eyes study him. “Blue collar, as always.” She finished with a small tone of contempt in her voice.
    Erik felt a quick pang of hurt at her remark. Margaret was never happy with his trade, or the amount of money he earned. He was sincerely glad she finally got what she wanted. She seemed truly happy, and looked upon him as her biggest mistake.
    “Easy,” he said as he put his hands up. “I didn't come here to start an argument.” He reached into his wallet. “I have the support payment for this month and next month.” Erik pulled out six hundred dollars and handed it to her. He put his still-flush wallet back into his pocket and looked at Margaret.
    “Where did you come across this much cash on such a short notice? The last time we spoke you didn't have two nickels to rub together.” She studied the crisp bills.
    “I just finished a case; that money was part of a bonus from my employer. You know I've been working a case for the last three weeks.”
    “Doing what?” she asked sarcastically. “Finding missing poodles?”
    “No, I really can't discuss it,” he answered evasively, deliberately ignoring the venom in her tone.
    “Please!” she commented. “You're just so important that you're working on secret cases now. I find that difficult to believe.”
    “What's the matter with you?” Erik said louder than he intended. He let her know she hurt him; she seemed to revel in that. “I didn't come here looking for a fight. Why are you treating me this way? I haven't done anything!”
    “Is everything okay, darling?” a voice asked, thick with contempt.
    “Everything is fine, Richard,” Erik spat with equal loathing.
    Richard walked up to Erik and stared at him momentarily. “Oh, it's you.” He looked at Margaret. “I gather you've told him our intentions.”
    Erik noticed that Margaret's face suddenly became red and she looked uncomfortable.
    “Richard, go back to our guests. I'll be with you shortly,” she whispered.
    Richard, however, did not leave. “No, I should be here when you tell him. I want to see the look on his face,” he insisted.
    Margaret looked into Erik's eyes, and he saw the fear. He sensed something was coming—something big. He could read it in her body language, all the subtle physical indications of discomfort. He could feel his ex-wife's emotions, her sudden panic and anxiety.
    “Richard wants to start proceedings to adopt Brianna,” Margaret began. “His attorneys will be mailing you a form to sign over your paternal rights. Before you say anything or go on a tirade, you can see her anytime you want instead of what the old court decree says,” Margaret announced softly, not looking up from the ground. “Richard really wants us to be a family.”
    “No,” Erik said in a soft, deadly voice. He looked at Richard with hate-filled eyes. “You have my wife, you already have my daughter under your roof; the first one you can keep, but you'll never be Brianna's father. I'm her father. Me, Erik Knight, and I won't give that up, not for anything.”
    * * * *
    “No one is asking you to give that up,” Margaret began. “Biologically, you are her father, but face it Erik, you're rarely here. Richard, for all practical purposes, is Brianna's father. She's been with us for the past seven