Read Online Behind the Stars by Leigh Talbert Moore - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Leigh Talbert Moore
Tags: Suspense, adventure, Paranormal, Action, Survival, love, small town, female protagonist, Romantic
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shook his head No as he chewed his steak.
“Would you have known if... anybody was in them?”
He shook his head again.
I nodded and wiped my eyes with my sleeve. Swallowing the hard knot in my throat, I sniffed the pain away. Jackson wasn’t in one. I wouldn’t even think it. He was out there alive and waiting for me.
“Three bites of everything,” a male voice cut in behind me, making me jump.
I was just getting ready to make a smart comment back when Cleve reached forward and threw his tray of food against the back wall with a loud SLAM!
We all jerked to attention as metal crashed into concrete, sending steak and veggies scattering across the floor.
“You can’t DO THIS TO US! ” He shouted as he grabbed a fork and broke his glass of milk.
White liquid splashed on the table, and I jumped out of my chair away from the spill, pressing my back to the wall. Everybody sat in shock waiting for what would happen next.
Several of the guards moved forward, and I saw one touch the side of his neck, just below his ear. He seemed to speak as he made his way toward the drifter. Cleve’s shoulders moved up and down with his fast breathing.
“I’m leaving this place, and YOU CAN’T STOP ME! ”
It was like he’d gone crazy. His voice was ragged, hoarse.
“I’m a FREE AMERICAN CITIZEN! I’m NOT going in a BOX! ”
Walking backward, he’d almost reached the double doors when they opened on their own. The fair-haired leader Ovett appeared behind him, smiling his sinister grin. I couldn’t breathe as I watched it unfold. I clutched the sides of my head unable to stop it, unable to warn him.
Cleve tried to run, but four guards surrounded him. Two held his arms as he struggled, thrashing with all his might. He managed to throw one off, into the side chairs, but a shot of light glinted off a shiny object in Ovett’s hand.
“Rebellion will not be tolerated.” Ovett’s voice rolled out in a low growl.
At once I recognized what he held. It was a large syringe—the kind Doc Green used to put down horses. His arm flew quickly into the air then he jammed it down into the base of Cleve’s neck, right at the top of his spine. A shout of pain, a whimper of fear, and I watched him drop instantly.
“ NO! ” I screamed, sinking to the floor, my entire body shaking violently.
Ovett stood over Cleve’s lifeless body, the now-empty syringe still clutched in his fist. After several moments, he took a step back and turned to face us all.
“Rebels will be dealt with swiftly and finally.” His voice was cold with authority, and his white-blue eyes slowly met every horrified gaze that might dare follow in Cleve’s footsteps.
They landed on mine, and the fire of death sparked in them. I knew he was daring me to make a move. I couldn’t get up if I tried.
Ovett’s last words slammed against my ears. “Take the body to the storage unit.”
* * *
“Learning to Spy”
Volume 2
Chapter 6
––––––––
S tar McLain shouted like a drill sergeant. “Stop draggin’ ass, Flora!”
She stalked back and forth in front of our line straightening shoulders and lifting chins. “Get those kicks up! Homecoming has the most fans, and our job is to get them on their feet!”
She went back to her place in the center of the line. “Now from the top. GET! FIRED! UP!” She shouted, signaling the start of our performance.
We went through the motions and ended with me standing on top of a pyramid made entirely of girls with my arms stretched overhead. My dismount was supposed to be a front flip, but I’d never been much of a gymnast. Instead, I used the height to pull my legs into the toe touch I’d finally mastered.
“Better, Prentiss,” Star said. “I’d still like something more... razzle-dazzle. Sure you can’t do a somersault or something?”
I looked up at her wondering if she hoped I’d break my neck. “I never took gymnastics or nothing.”
“You learned a toe touch quick
“Would you have known if... anybody was in them?”
He shook his head again.
I nodded and wiped my eyes with my sleeve. Swallowing the hard knot in my throat, I sniffed the pain away. Jackson wasn’t in one. I wouldn’t even think it. He was out there alive and waiting for me.
“Three bites of everything,” a male voice cut in behind me, making me jump.
I was just getting ready to make a smart comment back when Cleve reached forward and threw his tray of food against the back wall with a loud SLAM!
We all jerked to attention as metal crashed into concrete, sending steak and veggies scattering across the floor.
“You can’t DO THIS TO US! ” He shouted as he grabbed a fork and broke his glass of milk.
White liquid splashed on the table, and I jumped out of my chair away from the spill, pressing my back to the wall. Everybody sat in shock waiting for what would happen next.
Several of the guards moved forward, and I saw one touch the side of his neck, just below his ear. He seemed to speak as he made his way toward the drifter. Cleve’s shoulders moved up and down with his fast breathing.
“I’m leaving this place, and YOU CAN’T STOP ME! ”
It was like he’d gone crazy. His voice was ragged, hoarse.
“I’m a FREE AMERICAN CITIZEN! I’m NOT going in a BOX! ”
Walking backward, he’d almost reached the double doors when they opened on their own. The fair-haired leader Ovett appeared behind him, smiling his sinister grin. I couldn’t breathe as I watched it unfold. I clutched the sides of my head unable to stop it, unable to warn him.
Cleve tried to run, but four guards surrounded him. Two held his arms as he struggled, thrashing with all his might. He managed to throw one off, into the side chairs, but a shot of light glinted off a shiny object in Ovett’s hand.
“Rebellion will not be tolerated.” Ovett’s voice rolled out in a low growl.
At once I recognized what he held. It was a large syringe—the kind Doc Green used to put down horses. His arm flew quickly into the air then he jammed it down into the base of Cleve’s neck, right at the top of his spine. A shout of pain, a whimper of fear, and I watched him drop instantly.
“ NO! ” I screamed, sinking to the floor, my entire body shaking violently.
Ovett stood over Cleve’s lifeless body, the now-empty syringe still clutched in his fist. After several moments, he took a step back and turned to face us all.
“Rebels will be dealt with swiftly and finally.” His voice was cold with authority, and his white-blue eyes slowly met every horrified gaze that might dare follow in Cleve’s footsteps.
They landed on mine, and the fire of death sparked in them. I knew he was daring me to make a move. I couldn’t get up if I tried.
Ovett’s last words slammed against my ears. “Take the body to the storage unit.”
* * *
“Learning to Spy”
Volume 2
Chapter 6
––––––––
S tar McLain shouted like a drill sergeant. “Stop draggin’ ass, Flora!”
She stalked back and forth in front of our line straightening shoulders and lifting chins. “Get those kicks up! Homecoming has the most fans, and our job is to get them on their feet!”
She went back to her place in the center of the line. “Now from the top. GET! FIRED! UP!” She shouted, signaling the start of our performance.
We went through the motions and ended with me standing on top of a pyramid made entirely of girls with my arms stretched overhead. My dismount was supposed to be a front flip, but I’d never been much of a gymnast. Instead, I used the height to pull my legs into the toe touch I’d finally mastered.
“Better, Prentiss,” Star said. “I’d still like something more... razzle-dazzle. Sure you can’t do a somersault or something?”
I looked up at her wondering if she hoped I’d break my neck. “I never took gymnastics or nothing.”
“You learned a toe touch quick
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