Read Online Indestructible by Alycia Linwood - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Alycia Linwood
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get that?”
“Someone sent me a note with this,” I said. “Oh, and some woman tried to kill me a couple of days ago while I was in a coma. Not that you care or anything.”
She gaped at me, her dark brown eyes weary and frightened. “Honey...”
“I’m obviously still alive and I’d like to stay that way, but it looks like someone is after me, and maybe after our whole family because of that stupid deal my great-grandfather struck.” I put my hands on my hips, wondering whether my mom still called me honey because she was used to it or because she was starting to believe me.
My mother’s gaze flew in the direction of my left hand. “You didn’t get married, did you?”
“Of course not.” I groaned. “Even if I did, why would it mean anything? You said those people would hunt us down if we married someone who had an earth, water or air element. Adrian has ice.”
“I’m not sure that means anything,” she said. “At the time Jonathan signed the deal we didn’t know about… Sub-elements.” She glanced at Adrian.
“Still, I didn’t get married, so why are they trying to kill me?” The tension left my shoulders.
“I don’t know.” A frown line creased her forehead.
“Can you tell us more about the deal?” Adrian said. “We need to figure out who those people are.”
“I’m afraid I told Ria everything I know.” She sat down in her chair and clasped her hands. “I guess I could show you the police reports, but the police never found anything substantial.”
“That would be great, but we need something more personal,” I said. “Maybe something that belonged to Jonathan, like a journal or something. Or any info about who takes care of the bank accounts in Las Vegas? We know his lover’s name was Rosalia, but we need a last name, address, phone number or anything that could identify her.”
My mother’s cheeks were flustered. “Your great-grandpa had many secrets, but he’s gone. There’s no point in ruining his memory.”
“Oh, really?” I gritted my teeth. “I might die because of him!”
“Ria.” Adrian put a hand on my shoulder and I realized I’d gotten closer to my mother. Only the desk was in my way.
“Mrs. Milanez, if you have something we could use or know where we can find it, you better tell us or we won’t be able to stop those people from hurting your daughter or anyone else in your family. It is possible that whoever was monitoring the deal is dead, so there’s nothing stopping the assassins from finding you too,” he said.
She considered Adrian’s words for a moment, then reached for one of the drawers. I immediately stepped back because I couldn’t sense her element and I couldn’t tell whether she was upset. I had no idea how I’d lived so many years without being able to feel other people’s elements. Who’d have thought I’d miss my disease?
My mom took out a dark brown wooden box and placed it on the desk. “All the things that belonged to Jonathan are stored in the attic of his old house. My mother gave me the key for safekeeping. This office seemed like the safest place for it.”
“So our house is still full of cooks, maids and drivers, and you can’t keep such an important thing there,” I grinned. Some things never changed, I supposed. I’d been wondering if my mother wanted more privacy after everything that had happened, but apparently she’d never bother to learn how to cook and clean.
“I’ll give you the key,” she said, giving me a reproachful look. “But you must return it to me.”
“Whoa, why don’t you just tell us not to steal anything while you’re at it?” I said. “I know that you’re thinking it.”
“Honey.” She sighed. “Your great-grandpa wouldn’t want his things disturbed or damaged. You have to be careful. See if you can find what you need, but don’t take anything else.”
“Got it.” I snatched the box off the desk so I could inspect it. The golden clasp that held the box together
“Someone sent me a note with this,” I said. “Oh, and some woman tried to kill me a couple of days ago while I was in a coma. Not that you care or anything.”
She gaped at me, her dark brown eyes weary and frightened. “Honey...”
“I’m obviously still alive and I’d like to stay that way, but it looks like someone is after me, and maybe after our whole family because of that stupid deal my great-grandfather struck.” I put my hands on my hips, wondering whether my mom still called me honey because she was used to it or because she was starting to believe me.
My mother’s gaze flew in the direction of my left hand. “You didn’t get married, did you?”
“Of course not.” I groaned. “Even if I did, why would it mean anything? You said those people would hunt us down if we married someone who had an earth, water or air element. Adrian has ice.”
“I’m not sure that means anything,” she said. “At the time Jonathan signed the deal we didn’t know about… Sub-elements.” She glanced at Adrian.
“Still, I didn’t get married, so why are they trying to kill me?” The tension left my shoulders.
“I don’t know.” A frown line creased her forehead.
“Can you tell us more about the deal?” Adrian said. “We need to figure out who those people are.”
“I’m afraid I told Ria everything I know.” She sat down in her chair and clasped her hands. “I guess I could show you the police reports, but the police never found anything substantial.”
“That would be great, but we need something more personal,” I said. “Maybe something that belonged to Jonathan, like a journal or something. Or any info about who takes care of the bank accounts in Las Vegas? We know his lover’s name was Rosalia, but we need a last name, address, phone number or anything that could identify her.”
My mother’s cheeks were flustered. “Your great-grandpa had many secrets, but he’s gone. There’s no point in ruining his memory.”
“Oh, really?” I gritted my teeth. “I might die because of him!”
“Ria.” Adrian put a hand on my shoulder and I realized I’d gotten closer to my mother. Only the desk was in my way.
“Mrs. Milanez, if you have something we could use or know where we can find it, you better tell us or we won’t be able to stop those people from hurting your daughter or anyone else in your family. It is possible that whoever was monitoring the deal is dead, so there’s nothing stopping the assassins from finding you too,” he said.
She considered Adrian’s words for a moment, then reached for one of the drawers. I immediately stepped back because I couldn’t sense her element and I couldn’t tell whether she was upset. I had no idea how I’d lived so many years without being able to feel other people’s elements. Who’d have thought I’d miss my disease?
My mom took out a dark brown wooden box and placed it on the desk. “All the things that belonged to Jonathan are stored in the attic of his old house. My mother gave me the key for safekeeping. This office seemed like the safest place for it.”
“So our house is still full of cooks, maids and drivers, and you can’t keep such an important thing there,” I grinned. Some things never changed, I supposed. I’d been wondering if my mother wanted more privacy after everything that had happened, but apparently she’d never bother to learn how to cook and clean.
“I’ll give you the key,” she said, giving me a reproachful look. “But you must return it to me.”
“Whoa, why don’t you just tell us not to steal anything while you’re at it?” I said. “I know that you’re thinking it.”
“Honey.” She sighed. “Your great-grandpa wouldn’t want his things disturbed or damaged. You have to be careful. See if you can find what you need, but don’t take anything else.”
“Got it.” I snatched the box off the desk so I could inspect it. The golden clasp that held the box together
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