Lost Energy Read Online Free PDF Page A

deep smile and sexy lip bite when angry Ginger took a few steps closer
to the table proved my theory.
    Here we go. I turned to Jake. "He tell you
what's going on?"
    He pulled Mom close, kissing the
top of her head. "Yeah, he did. Be careful, all right?"
    "Wait, what's going on?"
The worry flooding Mom's eyes had me contemplating lying, but I'd decided after
my second Arcus trip, she'd always hear at least an outline of the truth.
    Squaring my shoulders–and moving to
block Farren's view of Belva–I answered with complete honesty. "Dad saw
Exemplians outside his place last couple nights. Probably the same Guide I felt
yesterday."
    Mom's bottom lip trembled, but she
lifted her chin. "Remember what Farren's been teaching you, and…and
actually, why don't you stay behind him when you find the jerks."
    I bent to kiss her cheek. "Thanks
for the advice." I turned to Farren–and the steam coming from his ears. "Let's
go."
    He didn't respond, his body tight. When
Belva snatched the guy's phone from his hand and plugged in her number, Farren's
fists clenched. I punched him in the arm. It probably hurt about as bad as a
feather whipping, but it got his attention.
    "What?" His tone would've
had a lesser person cringing.
    "Let's. Go." When he
still didn't budge, I grabbed his arm, attempting to drag all that muscle out
the door.
    A death stare targeted my invading
hand. "Wait a second." He pried my fingers off his forearm and
stalked to the table...and the unfortunate guy who was busy with Belva's phone.
    Farren snatched her phone from the
guy's hands, handing it back to her. Then with the lethal calm of a sociopath,
Farren picked up the scared kid's phone from the table and squeezed until it
fell on the thin carpet in pieces.
    "She's not interested, clear?"
    The guy couldn't nod fast enough, his
once tan face as white as snow.
    Farren held out his hand to Belva. "Time
to get up."
    I turned to Jake, shocked as hell,
and motioned for him to do something. My boss shook his head, smiling.
    Belva ignored Farren's hand as she
stomped to the kitchen. She yelled over her shoulder before pushing the door
open. "You better make up your damn mind, 'cause I'm not gonna wait
forever!"
    Pretty sure the entire lobby felt
the heat from those words and the ice from the kitchen door slamming in Farren's
face when he tried to follow her. His huge back heaved a few times as he stood
at the frame, hands on either side, squeezing the wood until it creaked. By the
scrambling in the lobby, I'm sure everyone heard the wood splitting, too.
    Damn. Belva didn't understand how
dangerous a Protector game was.

 
     

    UNWANTED
VISITORS
     
    "W ant to say something, or am I gonna
have to invest in a new steering wheel?"
    Farren answered by gripping the
wheel tighter, his cheeks flaming. I probably shouldn't have let him drive,
even if the deep scowl on his face indicated he'd have taken off my head if I refused
to hand over the keys.
    I let the silence, flashing lights from
other cars, and stoplights fill the space between us for another block before
trying again. "Why don't you give in already?"
    He laughed until he yelled,
stabbing me right in the eardrum. "You think I don't want to be with her?"
    "Well…not after tonight."
I kept my tone neutral, practicing the same calm skills Tarek always had.
    He smacked the wheel and yelled one
more time. After another red light, Farren's softer voice filled the car. "I
used to work for the authority, Lena."
    I really believed this was going
somewhere. But…damn. "I got that when you tasered Tarek, remember?"
    "Okay, and so I know how they
operate, what they do to defectors and rogues…traitors."
    Shit, this didn't sound good.
    "When Guides stray, they're
easy to kill, especially if their Protectors don't stick around after transport."
He took a deep breath and continued on the exhale. "Someone always knew
something, and willing or forced, they'd end up telling us where the traitors
went."
    "Farren, you don't have