Read Never Give You Up for Free Online Page B

behind. If only he could step up to the plate, be a man and walk away, without guilt making him turn around and run right back.
    “Are you all right, sweetheart? You look ill.”
    He blinked, realizing how pathetic he must look standing there touching the window like a blubbering fool. Maybe there were tears in his eyes—he couldn’t be sure. He turned to face Wanda, his father’s second wife, and forced a smile for her benefit. After all, if it wasn’t for her his father probably would’ve killed himself in his grief.
    He stepped away from the window and slipped the velvet box into his jacket pocket.
    “I want to see it,” she said, and lifted her hand.
    Terry cleared his throat and stared at her in disbelief. “What? Why?”
    “Because I want to see. Don’t argue with me.” Palm up, she fluttered her fingers impatiently.
    Against his better judgment he reluctantly handed her the velvet box.
    He watched her in confused silence as she held the box in delicate fingers and opened the lid. She didn’t cry, didn’t bat a lash, didn’t even make a sound, but to Terry it seemed as if seeing Adolfo’s finger hurt her soul. He didn’t want her to suffer as his mother did. The dirty bowels of this business should never be seen by innocent eyes.
    He may be a monster, but he’d never intentionally break another’s innocence.
    Wanda sighed deeply. “Some people never learn.” She closed the lid and handed him the box, her smile tight. “Nobody messes with my family.”
    “I know.” He led her toward the plush sectional couch—a white and grossly modern monstrosity—in the middle of the parlor, before making his way to the liquor cabinet. “Drink?” He held up a crystal tumbler.
    Everything in his family home was original, right down to the floral wallpaper and fainting couches. But Wanda insisted on “pops of modern and contemporary furnishings,” as she’d told Colton. Terry thought the mixture to be highly unusual and in very bad taste. But he’d never tell her the bitter truth.
    Wanda shook her head and frowned. “Terry, darling, what is going on with you? You have me worried with your drinking lately.”
    Ignoring her pleading eyes, he focused on pouring a healthy measure of vodka, clean. “I’m an adult and I’m fine.”
    With her thin eyebrows arched high, the wrinkles in Wanda’s forehead deepened. “What would your father say if he knew you drank a forty a day?”
    He blinked. “How do you know how much I drink?” He shook his head. “Never mind.” She probably knew everything. She was a smart cookie and kept tabs on them all.
    “Where’s Dad?”
    She sighed again, her expression full of worry. “He hasn’t been feeling well lately. I don’t think he’ll be joining us for lunch. You’ll have to entertain our business guests, sweetheart.”
    Wanda clasped her hands together as she always did when deep in thought. Terry stared at the beautiful woman who devoted her life to his father. She was a raven-haired beauty with mocha skin and dark eyes that whispered scandal. Tall and thin, she was a rare gem who commanded attention and made many women jealous. No wonder Colton fell for her quickly. She epitomized grace and charm and brass balls.
    “I wish you would open up to me, my boy. I only want you to be happy. Don’t be like your father, Terry.”
    More guilt weighed on his shoulders. “I know. You’re the total opposite of the wicked stepmother in every other book.”
    She slowly eyed him up. “Is there a woman in your life? Someone to make you happy?”
    He swept his hand out in a gesture of indifference. “There’s many of them. They’re only good for one thing.”
    “Terry!” Wanda’s eyes widened in surprise, then she chuckled softly. “One day you will learn the power of a woman. One woman. And if you’re lucky you might survive what she does to your heart.”
    The power of a woman.
    Terry grinned as an idea sprung to mind. “What do you think of the