Renegade Read Online Free PDF Page A

for two weeks. Today is my last day.”
    “If that’s the case, then we won’t push too hard this weekend.”
    A shadow of annoyance crossed her face. “I’m not going to spend the weekend with you just hanging out, Gabriel.”
    It was his turn to frown. “I didn’t ask you to come to hang out. We’ll work, but when you get tired we’ll stop. The spring concert is more than six months away, and if you don’t pace yourself you’ll never make it to May.”
    She knew he was right. It had been years since she had been in a theater production wherein rehearsals began at dawn and sometime ended more than sixteen hours later. She’d return home completely exhausted with bloodshot eyes, aching feet and a sore throat.
    “I want it to be good, Gabriel.”
    “It’s going to be beyond good,” he said confidently. “It will be spectacular.”
    I hope you’re right
, she mused. In that instant Summer realized she had two agendas: to take down the drug dealers and put on a successful musical production.
    Her grandmother said she’d burst forth from her mother’s womb singing rather than crying like most babies. It had been her Gram who had taken her to dancing school, and it was Gram who had encouraged her to pursue a career in the theater. Her parents’ passions were medicine and their son.
    Closing her eyes, she pressed her head against the leather headrest, remembering how it felt to be on stage in front of a live audience. The excitement of opening night, the constant flutters in her stomachuntil the curtain came up and she said her opening line or sang her first note.
    She missed the heat of the spotlights, the gaudy costumes, and the smell of greasepaint. She missed collecting playbills and the articles written by critics either praising or panning a production. She had missed so much, but most of all she missed her brother.
    “Summer. Are you all right?” Gabriel had maneuvered into his assigned space in the faculty parking lot.
    She opened her eyes, unaware of a single tear that had made its way down her cheek. Brushing away the moisture with her fingertips, she nodded, smiling.
    “I’m fine,” she said, knowing it was a lie.
    Leaning closer to his right, Gabriel pressed his mouth to her damp hair. “You’re not a very good liar, Summer Montgomery.”
    “I know.” And she wasn’t. Not when it involved her private life.
    His right hand curved around her neck. “Do you want to talk about it?”
    She shook her head and stared out of the side window. “No. I can’t,” she added after a pregnant silence.
    Gabriel noticed a look of tired sadness pass over her delicate features, the emotion pulling her lush mouth downward. “If you ever want to talk about it or just have a good cry I’ll lend you my shoulder.”
    Pulling back her shoulders, Summer took a deep breath. Within seconds she’d regained control of her emotions. Renegade was back.
    “Thank you, Gabriel.”
    “Don’t move. I’ll get the door for you.”
    She sat, waiting for him, and when he opened the door for her he was wearing a long, black lightweight raincoat and holding the umbrella. He extended hisfree hand. She placed her hand trustingly in his, permitting him to pull her to her feet.
    Holding the umbrella over their heads, Gabriel led Summer across the parking lot to the faculty entrance. Less than ten feet from the door a flash of light blinded them.
    Before Gabriel could blink Summer had seized a camera from a man, ripping out the roll of film. The camera ended up on the wet asphalt.
    She struggled to control her temper. “Try that again, and I’ll make certain you are arrested for trespassing on school property.”
    Stunned, the photographer stared at his damaged equipment. Hands rolled into tight fists, he took a step toward her at the same time Gabriel grabbed the hood on the man’s jacket, savagely jerking him backward.
    “If you touch her, even breathe on her, I
will hurt you
.” He had enunciated each word slowly and