Read Betrayals of the Heart for Free Online

life.
    His entire body stiffened. “Where on earth did you get those?” He’d reached over and gently stroked the length of the biggest mark before he realized his mistake.
    “W-what?” She recoiled immediately, both hands flying to cover her secret. The purse and all its contents she taken out hit the floorboard, spilling about her feet.
    He swallowed hard. “I’m so sorry. It’s none of my business.” He turned back to stare at the road, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. The files mentioned alleged abuse, and he’d more than just suspected it that day in the hospital when he’d seen her in person for the first time, but good God. He hadn’t expected anything to this magnitude. The muscles along his jawline flinched violently.
    “My soon to be ex-husband has an anger problem.”
    Her statement took him totally by surprise. Husband? Did she really believe Steven was her husband or was she trying to throw him off? Whatever her reason for the comment, he didn’t expect her to reveal this private detail, especially to a complete stranger.
    “Where is he now? Your husband?”
    “I’m sure not too far behind me.” Her point was simple. She planned to scare him away. No stranger, no matter how gallant, wanted to get involved in a messy divorce. But again, he was no ordinary stranger.
    “Was running really a good choice?” If she wanted to divulge information, he’d take all he could get. It would only strengthen the FBI’s case against Mr. Steven Prichard and prove her innocence.
    “It was that or stay and live a life worse than death.” Michael stirred in his sleep and she turned teary eyes on him. “My son deserves a better life. He didn’t do anything but be born. Me, on the other hand, I actually made the decision to marry into it.”
    Funny. She’d told him her real name and kept saying husband and married. Did she really not understand the trouble she was in? Did she truly believe their marriage was real? The sincerity in her voice tore at his gut. She was hurting from deep gouging wounds he doubted would ever heal.
    “Let me help you.” Ryan’s voice sounded strained. He rolled his grip back on forth on the wheel to keep from making another stupid move to touch her. Damn, he needed her to trust him, to believe he wanted to help her with nothing in return.
    She didn’t speak. He could see she was struggling to keep the tears from overflowing.
    “Don’t say anything yet. Think about it.” He paused to give her time to reflect on his offer. “Okay?”
    “Why? I don’t understand why you would want to help me. You don’t know me. What I’ve done. Have no idea what he’s like. What he will do to you if he finds us together.” Her gaze slowly rose to challenge him. There was so much pain in those amazing eyes it caught him off guard. What could he say? Certainly, not the truth. Instead of gaining trust, he’d stirred up a ton of suspicions.
    A moment of silence passed so thick it made it difficult to breath.
    “I just do.” He zeroed in on her with a look that revealed every emotion he felt. Anger, disgust, disbelief. “No man has the right to hit or hurt a woman.”
    More silence. Then just a nod before her head fell into her hands. She tried to hold them back, to keep control, but the tears came. The heavy sobs ripped at his heart and he sat quiet letting her cry. It was her right. She’d been through hell and if crying helped even slightly, she could bawl to her heart’s content. Shit, he almost felt like crying right along with her.
    “Let me help you,” he said again after her sobs lessened to a hiccup here and there.
    “I’m so sorry. I can’t do that.” She took out a tissue from the scattered contents she’d collected from the floor and blew her nose. “This won’t happen again,” she said. Then she turned to stare back out the window.
    He struggled with his own demons. Even after all she’d been through, she was trying to remain strong. He hadn’t met