Read Online Beyond the Shadows by Cassidy Hunter - Free Book Online

surprised, they didn’t show it.
    The building took on a dark, evil look, and she was sure the men could hear her thumping heart. Constantine, at last.
    “You’re pale, Sarah. You’re not afraid, are you?”
    “Of course not.”
    “Good. There’s no reason to be.”
    “I know.”
    She might have shattered into a million pieces if he’d touched her, but other than a gentle nudge to the small of her back to urge her on, he kept his hands to himself.
    As though moving in slow motion, she walked toward the door. The air felt thick enough to slow her progress. The guards stood on either side of the door as Kai ushered her inside.
    “Do you want company, sir?” one of them asked.
    “No.”
    Then they were inside, inside a small waiting area, inconspicuous and innocent looking. It could have been any room. A tall, fake plant stood in a gloomy corner, a dusty, lonely sentinel. Plastic arms reached beseechingly, forever frozen in a silent tableau.
    What have you seen, little plant? Have you seen my brother?
    Kai led her down a dim hall into a slightly more cheerful room filled with a long table, benches, a chalkboard, and old, nonworking vending machines sunk seamlessly into the walls, leftovers from a different time.
    It didn’t look like hell. But then, she hadn’t seen the prisoners’ cells. Yet.
    He pointed to a chair. “Sit, I’ll get you some water. Would you like something to eat?”
    “Just water. Thank you.”
    He opened the icebox and pulled out a ceramic pitcher of water. After pouring her a glass, he leaned against the wall, watching her drink. “Why do you want to see the jail, Sarah?”
    Fuck me . “I don’t want to,” she said, eyes wide.
    “No?” He took a long pull of his water, his gaze never leaving hers.
    Carefully, she put her water on the table. “Not particularly, no. I don’t care one way or the other. I just thought the tour you offered might be a…a distraction.”
    “Seeing the prisoners is not going to upset you?” His raised eyebrow suggested he thought she should be upset, unless there was some sneaky reason she wanted to be there.
    Or maybe she was overthinking things.
    “Do you really think I possess such delicate sensibilities, then?”
    He shrugged, drawing her stare to his wide, wide shoulders.
    “I’m not sure what to think about you just yet, Sarah.”
    She took a drink of water, wondering how he could rattle her so easily. He turned her to mush, nearly causing her to blurt out everything like a babbling idiot.
    “Then maybe we should just—”
    And as she was about to suggest they return to the house, fate intervened and took the decision from her.
    Screams of rage or pain, perhaps both, erupted from somewhere deeper inside the building, and she started from her chair with little thought for the watching Kai. Constantine. They were hurting him…
    But no, Constantine was stoic and full of stubborn male pride. He would never scream. At least, the Constantine she’d known would never scream. God only knew what changes his captivity had brought about.
    Digging her nails into her thighs, she turned to Kai, whose shuttered gaze remained on her as he leaned casually against the wall. “Shouldn’t we… Shouldn’t you see to them?”
    “They’re just fighting, Sarah. Men do that.”
    She ground her teeth together as the yells escalated. Someday she would show him that women did that as well. “Take me there. I want to see.”
    That brought him off the wall. “You want to see them fighting?”
    “Yes. Please.”
    “Hmm.”
    “Kai.”
    At last he gave a familiar shrug. “Very well. Come along, my curious and bloodthirsty Sarah.” He took her arm. “You surprise me.”
    Let him think what he would. She needed to see to her brother.
    Constantine, don’t give me away.

Chapter Twelve
     
    It didn’t sound as though they were fighting. It sounded like a few of them had ganged up on one hapless soul and were beating the life out of him.
    As Kai led her down the