True Nature Read Online Free Page A

key?” Zoe said as she sat beside Kinley.
    “She is so close. I thought it would be easier for her to get here if the kids got home before I did.” Kinley dropped her face into her hands. “He said he was going to kill me if I don’t let him come back.”
    Zoe patted her on the back. “He’s trying to intimidate you. Don’t let him get to you. We’ll change the locks again tomorrow, and I’ll take the extra key. You’ll give your kids my cell phone number, and I’ll come whenever they need me.”
    Hunter’s anger simmered as he saw the outlines of Eric’s big hands on Kinley’s wrists. Bright red marks were already purpling into bruises.
    “Did you call the police?” Hunter knew the answer even as he spoke.
    “I couldn’t do anything. I came around the corner from the hallway, and he grabbed my arms. He held them down so I couldn’t move while he was talking to me.”
    Her words were choppy, as if sobs weren’t far away. Hunter felt like part of the Spanish Inquisition, throwing questions at her before she had time to think, but they were necessary. “Do we need to take you to the hospital?”
    “No.” Kinley wiped her damp face. “I’m sorry, guys. I hated calling you, but I was really scared this time. You’d think I’d be able to take care of myself by now.”
    Hunter slipped over to flank her on the sofa and took both of her hands in his. “This is not about you taking care of yourself. You’ll be able to do that once you get your new home established. Right now, this is about you letting us protect you while we convince Eric that you’re serious. You want him out of your life, and you want to live your life on your own terms.”
    She nodded in agreement. “Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
    He gave her a squeeze. “Take a couple of deep breaths and calm down.”
    Zoe pulled out her cell phone and took some photos of the bruises. “Just for our records,” she said and headed for the kitchen.
    She fixed tea and Hunter heated the pizza in Kinley’s immaculate kitchen. They devoured the pie, only able to coax their client into choking down half a slice. Hunter and Zoe took several tours of the house, checking closets and under beds, glancing out the windows to see if they could spot anyone lurking nearby.
    Both of them talked to Kinley gently, reinforcing what they had been telling her since she started divorce proceedings.
    “You’re right to do this,” Zoe said. “It’s going to be difficult, but we’ll help you through it.”
    Gradually, she calmed down.
    “I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I would be comfortable staying alone after an experience like this,” Zoe said. “Can you stay with your sister or someone tonight?”
    “I don’t know… I’ll be fine here,” Kinley said. “The girls haven’t stayed away from me in three months. I was so happy they wanted to go to Lydia’s overnight. If I go there this late, I’ll just upset them.”
    “How about a friend?” Hunter suggested. “Is there someone I can call for you?”
    “No,” Kinley said with a disgusted sigh. “To tell the truth, I’ve lost all my friends because of Eric. The ones he didn’t run off with his nasty mouth got fed up with me letting him hurt me and said they just couldn’t be around me anymore.”
    Zoe jumped in quickly. “I’ll stay here tonight.” She pitched her car keys to Hunter. “Stop by my place and bring me some clothes on your way in tomorrow.”
    Kinley protested, but Hunter and Zoe insisted.
    “Just grab me a pillow and a blanket,” Zoe said, “I’ll sleep down here.”
    “You can sleep in the girls’ room,” Kinley offered.
    Hunter saw the look of dismay on Zoe’s face. He knew that Kinley’s daughters’ room was a vision of pink, ruffles and lace. Worse, dolls and stuffed animals lined every surface. Hunter almost laughed, thinking of Zoe trapped in that room. She hated pink, and thought all dolls were like Chuckie.
    He struggled