Retribution: An Alpha Billionaire Romance (Secrets & Lies Book 3) Read Online Free

happiness I want when I see Melissa.
    I sigh, and wonder what I'm going to do. I do know one thing, though. I will protect this family, no matter what. I just have to figure out how I'm going to be able to protect them from Peter. Andrea and Carson may have given him an ultimatum, warning him to stay away, but I worked for the man for too many years to think he'll stop now. His entire life is in chaos after being burned severely. Peter had sent a deadly assassin named Vadim Orloff after us, Andrea in particular, having her kidnapped. Carson was able to kill Orloff when he rescued Andrea, and together they rigged the motor home where Peter thought he would be meeting Orloff. The man will not back off. He will only strike back. The only thing that has bought us this much time of relative peace is that Peter's had to use so many of his resources just to keep himself out of prison and to keep up the facade of his lifestyle. He can't devote all of his resources to us. But this reprieve won't last forever.
    “Hey, Nathan?” Melissa calls, and I look up, perhaps a bit more excited than I should be to hear her voice. She sounds so happy and innocent, I can't take that away from her. I can't destroy this angel.
    “Yes, Melissa?”
    “What about some afternoon tea?” she asks, climbing down. “I can call Carson to send the crew out to collect Ascension .”
    “I would love some,” I say happily, getting up. “I have one I haven't shared with anyone here yet, would you like to try? You and I can be the first.”
    “Is it a hot one?” Melissa asks, coming up and rubbing her hands together and blowing on them. “That steel is so cold to the touch!”
    I reach out, taking her ice cold fingers in my hands. I warm them carefully. They’re creator's hands, artist's hands, not the stumpy, bloody hands of a butcher like myself. I have hands that only know how to destroy. Face it, it feels good to hold her hands, even if only to warm them, and I give myself this moment of greedy pleasure. “Does that help?”
    “Th... thank you,” Melissa says shyly, giving me a little smile. “Nathan...”
    Before she can say anything, my cell phone rings, and I can tell by the call it's from Katrina, who rarely calls unless something is wrong. For her to call me... a stab of concern goes through my heart, and I let go of Melissa's hands. “I'm sorry, 'Lissa. I need to take this.”
    She nods, maybe with a bit of regret, and goes inside the house. She busies herself with drawing water for my ceramic water heater while I answer the phone. “Yes, Katrina?”
    All business, I hear in Katrina's voice the warrior I've come to respect and listen to. “I just got word from my sources. Peter's making his next move.”
    “What is it?”
    “Another Orloff. Maybe a team of them. We need to have a family meeting. Where are Carson and Andrea?”
    “In town, doing a little bit of New Year's paperwork for MCS and some shopping.”
    “Okay. I'll call them. Jackson and I have already contacted our assistants at the dojo, we're going to pack up our stuff in the van and head out there.”
    “You bringing your heavy artillery?” I ask, and Katrina chuckles. It's not a kind laugh either, she knows I'm not joking. The woman packs heat that even I don't carry most of the time.
    “Damn right. See you in an hour and a half?”
    “An hour and a half. We will be waiting.”
    Katrina hangs up, and I go inside. Melissa looks up, her eyes full of worry. “What is it?”
    I sigh and go over, wrapping her in a hug. It's not romantic even though I wish it was, but rather a way to support and comfort her as I say what comes next.
    “Peter is coming.”

Chapter Three
Melissa
    C arson and Andrea get home first. When they pull up in Carson's pickup, I see they've both got worried expressions on their faces. They're trying to be casual about things though when they get out, greeting me on the porch. “Hey, 'Lissa. How was your work this morning?”
    “I think