The Haunting Read Online Free PDF Page A

anything to protect and care for them. He was going to be gone for a few days and needed the money for food and everyday necessities until he got back. After this trip money would no longer be an issue. They would have more than enough to take care of their mother with plenty left over.    
         Thinking about his family was a welcome distraction. He didn't have to think about the woman sitting next to him, which was an entirely different type of distraction all by itself. Jace had to apologize to her again. It would eat him away inside if he didn't. But, what the fuck was he going say to her? She probably thought he got off on that kind of stuff. Who got hard after almost choking someone to death? A sick and demented person that's who.     
         She was looking out the window the whole ride sitting as far away from him as humanly possible. He didn't blame her though. If he was in her shoes he would've asked to change seats immediately. He cleared his throat before he spoke. "I'm really sorry miss. You caught me off guard."   
         She continued to look out the window. "Kelly."  
        Jace barely heard her and was shocked that she even said anything to him. He was expecting her to completely ignore him. "Excuse me?"   
         "Kelly. My name is Kelly."    
         "Kelly, I can't tell you how sorry I am. That's not me at all. I would never put my hands on a woman like that. Ever."    
         She turned and looked at him; he heard a hint of anger in her voice. He couldn’t blame her though. “I said it was okay. I'm fine. Really."    
        Jace felt hurt. What was this alien feeling inside him? He was The Flame. He didn't give a shit what anyone thought. Why did he care if she forgave him or not? The only problem was he did care, more than he wanted to admit. "Look, Kelly, I don't know what else I can say to make you believe me. I was sleeping and you caught me off guard. I didn't mean to hurt you."     
         Kelly turned to face him and smiled at him softly. "I know you didn't. It was my fault really. I never should have kicked you like that. I tried to wake you, but you wouldn't move. I guess we're both at fault here.  I should have better manners…."    
        "Jace"     
        Her smiled widened. "Jace. What a nice name. Well, what do you say we start over?"    
        Jace returned the gesture. He couldn't remember the last time he smiled at a woman. It had been a while. Lately, he was never in the mood to be happy. His mother was terminally ill and it didn't feel right to him to be going out and having a good time while she lay dying in bed. He wasn't thinking of that now and it made him feel guilty that he was starting to enjoy talking to Kelly. Her smile was infectious and he couldn't help but to smile back at her.     
        "I'd say starting over is a good idea."    
       Kelly stared at him and squinted her eyes a little. “You look familiar Jace. I feel like we've met before."     
       Jace shifted in his seat. Here it comes . He would have loved to tell her that she didn't, but fact of the matter was, she had. Cesar had frequented the strip club where she worked and he had to literally carry the man out on more than one occasion for his drunken and rowdy behavior. Jace was the only who could physically control Cesar. It wasn't easy to hold down an almost six foot two hundred and twenty five pound man. Especially when he was high and drinking. Jace was just a bit shorter then Cesar and didn't weigh much less than him either.  
           But, Jace couldn't bring himself to tell her that he had seen her dancing in the club before and what was worse, he would sometimes stand in the back of the club watching her at the bar.  She would have definitely thought he was some sort of crazed creepy maniac and was stalking her. So, he lied. "No, I don't think we've met before."     
         He always wondered why she worked