Bad Bloods Read Online Free PDF Page A

everyone with you too.”
    He was still in the Northern Flock. He always
would be.
    While Floyd’s shoulders relaxed, Adam’s grip
tightened around Maggie. “What?” It was practically a curse. This
was my opportunity to ostracize Floyd, but I wasn’t taking it.
Despite the ruckus the guy had caused, I was still going to protect
him.
    I locked eyes with my best friend and Cal’s
nephew. “I know it’s late”—I took a breath—“but everyone will be
safe in the dark, and you all need to sleep in your own beds
tonight. Floyd will lead you back.”
    As much as I wanted to blame him, I couldn’t.
I wasn’t around, not by choice, and Vendona was in a tough
position. Nerves were high, and they were only about to escalate.
Michele’s premonition about Henderson had yet to come true, and I
knew it was approaching quickly. When it happened, I didn’t need to
be leading a bunch of children through the night. I needed to be
alone. I needed to be able to come up with the next step, and in
the meantime, Floyd could do what I couldn’t. Giving him the
responsibility would also ease the tension.
    “What about you?” Peyton asked as she tugged
on my jacket. I hadn’t even noticed the eleven-year-old standing
next to me.
    “I’ll be back in the morning,” I
promised.
    She eyed me, but Michele grabbed her hand,
and the two headed for the door. Hearing the door open, Kally
appeared from the back room with Blake, and Cal hovered in the
hallway as Adam helped Maggie to the exit. Floyd watched me, but he
didn’t speak as he walked by. I was the one to grab him.
    “I trust you to get them back safe,” I
said.
    He was quiet, searching my face for something
I couldn’t guess, but then he nodded. As he left with the others
following, Tessa paused at the doorway. The flowers Blake had
brought me were already withering. In the chaos, we forgot to put
them in water. But Tessa leaned up on her tiptoes and stretched her
fingertips toward the bruising plants. They sprung up, straight
toward the ceiling, and glowed white with life.
    She shot me a small grin before spinning
around, flinging her two long braids over her shoulder. When
Tessa’s tanned skin disappeared against the dark alleyway and the
door was shut behind her, I stared at the gift. My once-dying
flowers looked like they hadn’t come near death at all, and my
once-damaged flock seemed to mirror the plant’s revival. But
Tessa’s powers only worked for so long, and staring at the lilies
reminded me of the one flaw in the little girl’s abilities.
    After she revived plants, they always died
quicker than the time before.

 
     

    “Daniel.”
Hearing my name shook me awake as much as Calhoun’s one-arm shake
did. Barely. “Daniel. Daniel, wake up.”
    “Huh?” I blinked, trying to focus in the dim
light. It was still dark out. I must not have been asleep for long.
Maybe two hours at most.
    “Wake up,” he repeated as his silhouette
slowly gained color. Calhoun always avoided turning his lights on
at night to avoid suspicions from the neighbors, but tonight was
bordering on an exception. A small stream of golden light spewed
down the hallway toward us. His office light was on.
    I rubbed my eyes and propped myself up on my
elbows. I had fallen asleep in the living room instead of my
bedroom. “What’s going on?”
    Cal pressed a cold can of Diet Coke against
my face, and suddenly the room was as clear as day. The shock
awakened my senses, and I grabbed the can as I cursed. Before I
could yell at Cal, he started walking back to his office, speaking
over his shoulder. “You need to see this.”
    Michele’s premonition. It must have come
true. Something had happened to Alec Henderson, and whatever
happened, even Cal was in a fit.
    I opened the can of Diet Coke and took a sip
as I speed-walked to Cal’s office. We rarely went to his office,
and I definitely didn’t venture into his private room without
permission, but I’d seen it once before. Still, the room