Her Own Best Enemy (The Remnants, Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

tremble of her delicate chin. Or the gentle way her arms wrapped around the stuffed toy, cocooning it in her soft embrace.
    He imagined her embrace would be like coming home.
    Home. The word slammed through his mind. Home? Where the hell did that thought come from?
    He snorted and stomped over to Grace. Home. Just the word left a bitter taste in his mouth. Home was a distant dream. Home was pain, and hatred...and loneliness. Not cinnamon sugar, and hugs and a sense of belonging. Those things were too good to be true.
    And so was Grace.
    She had her secrets. He’d bet on it.
     
     
    Grace’s head snapped up at the sound of Keith’s snort. “I...I’m sorry.” She returned the dolphin to the bed then dashed at the tears on her cheeks before turning to look at him. “You’re right. We need to—What is it?”
    Keith’s body went taut with tension. He yanked his backup gun out of his pants. “I heard something. Stay here while I check it out.”
    She swallowed past the sudden fear that gripped her throat. “What?”
    “It might be nothing,” he said, but the darkness in his eyes couldn’t hide the truth.
    She straightened. “I’m coming with you.”
    “No.”
    “Yes,” she hissed. “I’m not staying here alone. You have the guns, or did you forget that? If someone sneaks into the house...”
    She’d be dead. And Ryker would never be found.
    His mouth tightened with disapproval. “Nobody will get past me.”
    “Good. I’m still coming with you.”
    He wanted to argue. She could see it in the set of his jaw and the way his eyes blazed with frustration.
    “We’re wasting time,” she reminded him.
    “Fine.” He tugged on her arm. “Let’s go. Stay behind me and do exactly as I say.”
    “Of course.”
    He led her out of the bedroom and into the hallway where he abruptly stopped. She bumped into his back. Her cheek grazed his tense muscles.
    Keith signaled her to a stop with his raised fist.
    She jerked back. Her ears strained to hear whatever it was he obviously heard, but only heavy silence greeted her.
    He wagged his fingers at her and she followed him into the kitchen. The low murmur of voices penetrated through the windows. Keith made a downward motion with his hand, signaling her into a crouch, out of view of the square window inset in the door that led outside from the kitchen.
    He popped up for a brief moment, the tip of his finger brushing aside a scrap from the thin lace curtain that hung over the glass. His jaw tightened then he ducked down and returned to her side.
    “Is there another way out, other than this and the front door? A basement? Anything?”
    “No.” Her eyes widened at his grimace. “This is it.”
    “Okay. Follow me.”
    As if she would do anything else. She shadowed him to the living room in a crawl. Her throat constricted. She smelled...smoke? Her eyes darted around the room. A thin wisp of gray rose like a dragon from beneath the door, growing wider by the second.
    “Is that...?”
    “Fire. Damn it.” He moved to the window. “They’re trying to smoke us out.”
    She fell back on her heels. “My house...”
    Her photographs. Ryker’s toys. His clothes.
    His medication.
    She sprang to her feet and dashed down the hallway. Keith tackled her from behind and she went down. Her palms slid across the rough carpet. A thousand stinging points blazed along her skin. Keith’s weight settled against her body and pinned her to the floor.
    “What the hell are you doing?” He spat the question directly in her ear through gritted teeth.
    “Get off of me! I need to get Ryker’s things!”
    “Are you insane? There are men outside with guns. And you’re taking the time to pack ?”
    She jabbed him in the ribs and he slid off her. “I have to get Ryker’s medication. He’ll need it when we find him.”
    He glared at her. “We don’t have time.” He rolled to his feet.
    She stood and glowered back. “I’m making time.”
    “No, you’re not.”
    “Yes, I—”
    The