Read Infinite Ties (All That Remains #3) for Free Online

you leave?” My voice is small,
and it pisses me off. I can’t let him intimidate me.
    He smirks. “Afraid I’ll screw up your
little harem here?”
    “Let the past stay in the past, and I’ll
allow you to meet Carson.”
    His eyes darken and narrow. “Allow me? Who
the fuck do you think you’re talking to?”
    I wince as his fingers tighten around my
bicep. I didn’t lie to Airen when I said Jon never hit me. He always swore he’d
never hit a woman, but he saw no problem with grabbing and pushing, sometimes
hard enough to bruise.
    “Take your fucking hands off of her.” Joseph
steps into the clearing, his voice deathly calm, his expression fierce.
    Jon releases me with a sneer. “Relax, we
were just talking.”
    “Everything okay, ladybug?” he asks,
glaring at Jon who scoffs at the pet name.
    “I’m fine.” Actually, I’m terrified one of
them is going to swing at the other. Stepping between them and squaring my
shoulders, I glare at Jon. “Tomorrow afternoon. Come after lunch, and I’ll make
sure Carson is home.”
    He nods, satisfied he won. “Tomorrow
afternoon, Gail.” He walks away without another word, leaving me with a very
pissed off boyfriend.
    Grasping my shoulders firmly, his piercing
green eyes bore into mine. “Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine,” I reply shortly, shrugging out
of his grasp.
    “Why did you run off like that? You scared
the shit out of me.”
    “What do you mean, run off? I took a walk
in the woods. Why are you following me?”
    “Abby! I’m trying to keep you safe. Look
at you. Your whole body is trembling. What if I hadn’t showed up?”
    He’s right. I barrel into his chest,
hugging him hard and pressing my face against his heart. “I’m sorry. Thank
you.”
    He sighs and kisses the top of my head.
“Were you trying to meet with him alone?” I’m as surprised by the edge of
jealousy in his voice as I am by the accusation.
    “What? No! I just wanted a few minutes by
myself. I didn’t know he’d be out here. I don’t want to see him, I swear.”
    “I believe you. Let’s take a walk.” It’s
not a suggestion. His hand grips mine, and he leads me toward the lake.
    “I don’t want to talk about him, Joseph.”
    “Of course you don’t. Fortunately, I don’t
give much of a shit what you want right now, Abigail. I’m more concerned with
what you need.”
    “I need to prepare Carson.”
    “So, you’re going to go through with it?”
    “I don’t have much choice.”
    “Sure you do. Airen and I will send his
ass back to Indianapolis.”
    “He won’t give up until he gets his way.
We don’t need a new enemy to guard against. I won’t force Carson if he doesn’t
want to meet him, but I don’t think that’ll be an issue.”
    “Are you worried about his influence on
Carson?”
    “No, he’s had two great role models to
emulate. He considers Airen his father, and you know he looks up to you.” I
squeeze his hand. “I just don’t want him to be disappointed when he realizes
what his father is like.”
    “And you’re worried Jon will reveal some
deep dark secret that will make us quit loving you,” he murmurs.
    “We’ve covered that already.”
    “It’s not going to happen, my girl.” The
blare of Airen’s voice over the radio clipped to Joseph’s belt saves me from
answering.
    “Is Abby with you?”
    “Yeah, we’re just taking a walk.”
    “All right. I’m heading to Eric’s to patch
the roof. Lane and Walker are with Jayla, elbow deep in finger paint.”
    Joseph chuckles. “Thanks for the warning.”
    There’s a pause before Airen’s asks, “How
are you, Abby?”
    “Fine. We need to talk tonight.”
    “Sure thing, darlin’. I’ll see you later.
I love you.” I’m flooded with guilt at the longing in his voice, the hope that
I’ve forgiven him. I’m such a bitch.
    “I love you, too. Be careful, Air.” I’m
awarded with the sight of Joseph’s adorable dimples as a sunny smile brightens
his face. “I’m still