Reluctant Protector Read Online Free PDF Page B

my mind. At the very least becoming schizophrenic or something. All those voices all at once. When I told Peter, he wasn’t surprised. More like thrilled. He wondered what had taken so long for them to manifest as my brain scans were off the charts.”
    She shuddered at the memory. “I was already stronger than his best projections. He didn’t realize until later that I’d read him and knew what he planned. The drugs he gave me weren’t to help me, but rather part of his sick experiments to make human beings faster, stronger, more agile. He planned to sell the technology to Symcore. Their research on lab animals had been marginally successful, but only on the youngest ones. My asshole of a brother needed human subjects, but what parent in their right mind would sign their child up for risky experiments?”
    Seth frowned, but he used his good arm and reached over to the bedside table for his recorder. Clicking the record button, he asked, “Do you know what he was giving you? Do you have access to any samples?”
    “You mean besides what’s in my blood?” She shook her head. “On the night of my second escape, I stole a sleeping pill from the lab and slipped it into my bodyguard’s coffee. I made it thirty miles before Peter’s men found me. After that, I was moved to the labs full time.”
    Seth narrowed his eyes. “How long ago was that?”
    “Five years ago. I've been locked in the labs ever since.” She met his eyes and wanted to shrink back at the kindness in his gaze. The man she drugged, Peter made her watch as his men killed him.
    “I assume that wasn’t the last time you ran.”
    She smiled. “I never made it very far. Peter has all his employees wear these special earphones. They emit a frequency I can’t get past to read or push minds. They’re a mandatory part of the uniform. Plus only those on a need-to-know list ever had contact with me. Didn’t stop me, though. My father always said I was stubborn.”
    Seth cursed under his breath. “How did you manage to get out this time?”
    “This time I had help.” Her voice softened at the thought of Annabel. She didn’t want to concentrate on the destiny waiting for her friend. “Peter’s had a deal with Symcore for months. I’m part of the deal. Symcore gets me, and if they like how I perform, they’ll supply Gentech with more lab subjects. When I found that out, I knew I had to get out or die trying.”
    The frown lines on his forehead were deep as he scribbled. “Do you have any proof with you to back up your claim?”
    “Besides being a walking freak show? No. The only thing I was able to sneak out of there was a file of potential lab locations. I’m not the only person my brother has done this too. He had Annabel’s son, promised to fix his blood disorder like he fixed my heart failure. But also like me, soon after Jeremy started to recuperate, Peter isolated him. I promised Annabel I’d get him out.”
    Seth scrubbed his good hand down his face. “That’s some story.”
    She sighed.  “It’s okay. You don’t have to believe me.” She shrugged. “Your wounds look like they’ll heal well. I’ll be out of your hair in no time and I can become one of those bizarre stories you tell your friends.”
    He tapped the pen impatiently on the notepad. “Occam’s razor, Honey. From the outside this sounds like a tale spun by a mentally disturbed woman.”
    Cassie tied off the stiches at his shoulder and inched back from him. “Every time I overuse my powers, I get drained. That's my Kryptonite, I guess.” She shrugged. “As it stands, today, I’m surprised I’m still functional. I didn’t have to push too many people, but the physical exertion and my attempts to push you have depleted me.” She touched her shoulder. “That’s why I wanted to make sure the chip was disabled before we settled. Destroying it bought us some time.”
    “And what makes you think I won't sell you out the moment you're asleep. For all I know, you're