Page 18 of Tainted Gifts
“If I had called, I wouldn’t have heard your thoughts,” he whispers while sliding his hand down my shoulder to my waist.
I tremble to the point my weakened body is forced to collapse, and he catches me before I hit the ground.
“What the hell?” he panics while scooping me up and pulling me to him.
“I’m okay,” I grumble while flipping free from his clutches.
I stagger lightly, but I quickly regain my balance before he can overanalyze the situation. His eyes narrow to tell me he’s studying the thoughts I refuse to share.
“Aria, tell me what’s going on.”
“I’m just a little… stressed. Probably because I’m straining so hard to keep some commander from prying into my mind and fucking with it.”
Crap.
His eyes fall to the floor as hopelessness weighs down his shoulders.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Banner." He straightens his tie, his eyes continuing to avoid mine. "I’ll leave you in peace, and I’ll see you later - at which time I’ll maintain my distance so as not to force you to feel so guarded.”
He disappears from the room before I can say anything else, and I fall backwards to the bed. I didn’t mean to frigging explode. Now I feel like a bitch.
I shouldn’t feel like a bitch. He broke me. He needs to quit thinking I’m still his to fuck with.
The loud sirens wailing outside the window make me jump to my feet, and I squeal out my startled gasp as I rush to find out what's going on.
Dust clouds are stirring in the distance as a convoy of vehicles zoom toward us. I almost think there’s about to be an attack when I realize those are our fleet vehicles hauling ass over the dried road between the seas of green grass.
“What’s going on?” I shout down from the window when I see Rex rushing out holding the hand of his counter.
I’m so jealous. I wish I had that. I almost did with Jase, but-
“It’s him! They’ve got Kellan Maverick!” Rex yells in excitement, and I get sick.
That means Mom will be here soon, and her interrogation skills will bring out the truth no matter how hard Kellan fights to tell her. She’s too good, and she’ll know what’s out there. Once she knows, she’ll die trying to bring it down.
Jase walks over to the foaming-at-the-mouth assembly as the gates open for the speeding convoy. How didn’t he already know they had him? Why wouldn’t they have called the commander right away?
I jump down from the balcony because no phantom is going to answer the questions in my mind. Simone rushes over to me and shakes her head.
“This is incredible. I’ve been worried about you having to go out there while not feeling a hundred percent.”
“Still no luck with my blood?” I huff out.
“There’s nothing abnormal in the structure. I’ll dive a little deeper later. Right now, let’s go catch up with Aunt Araya.”
Oh damn.
“Mom’s already here?” I gasp.
“Yeah, she arrived last night. By the way, she doesn’t know about your latest abduction. You can thank Jase for that.”
My eyes involuntarily slide over to the man signaling the direction for the vehicles to follow. He’s so incredible like this, in control. Can I get over his lies?
“How did they find him? When did they find him?”
I wanted to be the one to find him, damn it.
“They just called it in a few seconds ago due to silent stalk details. Abram found him.”
