JakesPrisoner Read Online Free PDF Page B

and I don’t blame her.”
    Pete looked around him impatiently. “Then what the hell are
we doing here?”
    “She’s coming back with us, Pete. I’m not leaving her
behind. Now will you help me or not?”
    Pete started up the engine. “Okay, Jake, but you owe me for
this one.”
    He parked the Terra-pod near the service elevator at the
rear of the building. The security codes hadn’t been changed since the last
time Jake had been here and they made their way up to her floor. Pete was still
hesitant until they reached the door of Tanith’s apartment and he winced when
he read the words. “Jake, if we’re caught doing this, neither of us will see
Earth again.”
    Taking a small laser tool from his pocket, Pete worked on
the lock until he heard a soft click and they hurried inside. The apartment was
in darkness, except for a lamp in the sitting room, which he switched off.
Along the corridor, Jake could see a chink of light under the bathroom door. He
went to the bedroom and dragged the quilt off the bed. Knowing Tanith, she
wouldn’t leave willingly and they would need something to wrap her in. As he
turned, his foot brushed against the bag on the floor. He looked around the
bedroom. The images were gone from the shelf and a dark outfit hung neatly on
the back of the door. Tanith was leaving.
    The bathroom door opened and she stepped into the gloom.
“Damned lamp,” Tanith muttered as she walked toward it.
     
    “Leave it,” a voice called from the shadows.
    Jake’s strong arms wrapped around her and he carried her
toward the bedroom. Her treacherous human was back. Tanith kicked and squirmed
in his arms. She managed to free one hand and used it to punch him in the face.
“Let me go, Jake. Put me down.”
    He tossed her onto the bed and wiped his nose with the back
of his hand. She had drawn blood. “Just listen to me. I came to tell you that
I’m sorry, Tanith. Please believe me, I never meant to hurt you.”
    The human’s face looked strained and he had dark circles
under his eyes. He obviously hadn’t been sleeping well. Served him right ,
she thought bitterly. “You lied to me, Jake. Everything about us was a lie.”
    “Tanith, please don’t…”
    Why was he unhappy? The human didn’t care about her. The
nights they had lain together in this room meant nothing to him. She was just
another job. They probably laughed at her—the stupid Cyraelian female falling
for someone like him. “Get out of here, Jake. I won’t be providing any more
amusement for you and your human friends. Leave me alone.”
    Jake’s hands grabbed her upper arms and he pulled her toward
him. His eyes blazed hot with anger. He exhaled slowly and released her arms.
“It was never like that, Tanith. What we had together was real. Look, I know
what I did was wrong. I know that it will take us time to get over this, but my
ship is leaving tonight and I’m not going without you.”
    Oh, he was good. For a brief moment she almost believed him.
Did he really think that she was that stupid? That she would fall for his lies
again?
    The bedroom door opened and Jake’s techie friend popped his
head inside. “I hate to interrupt such a sweet reunion, but Atam’s Terra-pod
just pulled up out front. We need to get out of here.”
    “I am not going with you.”
    “Sweet merciful stars, you are such a pain.” Pete’s arm
whipped around her chest and the other pressed hard against her neck and then
everything went black.
     
    The corridor was empty and they carried the quilt-wrapped
bundle into the service elevator and down to the waiting vehicle. Pete placed
her unconscious body in the backseat while Jake slid into the front. “I’ll
drive, you sit with her.”
    Pete eyed the rolled-up quilt nervously. “What am I going to
do if she wakes up?”
    Jake grinned into the mirror. “Pray.”
    He eyed the clock on the dash. They would have to drive
through the city if they wanted to make the ship on time. He didn’t want to
annoy