Read Online Justice Incarnate by Regan Black - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Regan Black
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follow, oh, well.
"Judge A didn't do this."
Jaden decided she'd never be desperate enough to ask for help from this man who consistently failed her. "Of course not." She allowed him the superior smirk and struggled forward; shamelessly relieved she wasn't hauling him too. "He hired it done and we both know it."
"We don't both know it."
"I'm done arguing with you." Her temper surged past reason. "Judge A is a demon, sent to create as much hell and havoc as possible before I kill him. It's the same every damn time." She shoved away from him, and cursed her waning strength. She resisted Brian's efforts to help or hinder, she didn't know his intent, just that his hands kept seeking her body.
"Back up the bus, gorgeous."
She was about to tell him where to shove his outdated euphemisms when the rumbling tipped her off. "Oh, shit." She grabbed at him and his surprise allowed her to push him down and away from the debris field about to rain on them.
"What the–" was all he got out before he lost his breath when she landed on him.
The windows of her warehouse blew out as the rest of the building neatly folded in on itself, sending a spike of fire heavenward. Dust and bits of her life covered them in a fine powder.
"Bastard," she shouted at the smoldering remains.
"Call me Brian," Thomas muttered beneath her.
"Not you. You're conscious?"
"You could sound happier about it."
Jaden shook her head. Then she laughed. "He doesn't know he missed me. I can be happy with that."
She stood, again refreshed from the contact with Thomas, and tried to resume her escape from the alley, the police and the evidence crews due to arrive any second.
"You need my help," he said, following her.
"From what little you know it might look that way. But I'm okay alone. Really."
"What I know might surprise you..."
Jaden knew he was still talking. His lips would hardly be moving otherwise. But she couldn't hear his words over the screams in her head. This chick has a set of pipes. She refused to let her knees buckle until she was out of the alley and into the dim light of the pathway.
On trembling legs, she kept moving. Or tried to. But her vision was marred by the wild gaze of the terrified girl. She could well relate to the feeling of Albertson's approach. Too easily, she understood the gut-loosening intimidation caused by the soft-spoken delivery of evil words.
With one hand on the nearest wall, Jaden forced herself to move forward, while focusing on the girl's surroundings.
She seized on the few details available. A pattern of long, rectangular windows in groups of three. Light poured through them, telling Jaden more than it told the victim. Albertson staged his vile games on a set as false as he was.
If this girl survived, and held the courage to tell, she'd say her assault took place during daylight hours when the Judge would be safely behind his bench. Her story discredited, he'd remain above suspicion and she'd get a month of injections.
"Bastard," she said aloud.
Thomas gave her a hard shake. "An evidence van just turned the corner. Let's go give your statement."
Though still seeing with the girl's eyes, the poor creature had lapsed into a shocked silence, which allowed Jaden to hear again. "Can't," she said on a ragged breath. "I'm not serving thirty days anywhere but home."
"Home's gone."
"Right. Well, bye." She began to formulate an alternate plan. "See ya around."
She felt him hesitate, then go. She walked a bit further, until she felt the corner of the rusty dumpster. Slumping into what she hoped looked like a pitiful ball of homelessness, she waited for the excitement to pass.
When running feet skidded to a stop beside her she played the part as best she could. Soon, though, she felt Thomas's touch.
"Call me Brian and I'll get you outta here."
"Okay, Brian." She reached out. "But why help me now?"
"Later. Tell me what's wrong," he ordered.
"I'm sorta blind at the moment."
"The explosion?"
It was a convenient
"Judge A didn't do this."
Jaden decided she'd never be desperate enough to ask for help from this man who consistently failed her. "Of course not." She allowed him the superior smirk and struggled forward; shamelessly relieved she wasn't hauling him too. "He hired it done and we both know it."
"We don't both know it."
"I'm done arguing with you." Her temper surged past reason. "Judge A is a demon, sent to create as much hell and havoc as possible before I kill him. It's the same every damn time." She shoved away from him, and cursed her waning strength. She resisted Brian's efforts to help or hinder, she didn't know his intent, just that his hands kept seeking her body.
"Back up the bus, gorgeous."
She was about to tell him where to shove his outdated euphemisms when the rumbling tipped her off. "Oh, shit." She grabbed at him and his surprise allowed her to push him down and away from the debris field about to rain on them.
"What the–" was all he got out before he lost his breath when she landed on him.
The windows of her warehouse blew out as the rest of the building neatly folded in on itself, sending a spike of fire heavenward. Dust and bits of her life covered them in a fine powder.
"Bastard," she shouted at the smoldering remains.
"Call me Brian," Thomas muttered beneath her.
"Not you. You're conscious?"
"You could sound happier about it."
Jaden shook her head. Then she laughed. "He doesn't know he missed me. I can be happy with that."
She stood, again refreshed from the contact with Thomas, and tried to resume her escape from the alley, the police and the evidence crews due to arrive any second.
"You need my help," he said, following her.
"From what little you know it might look that way. But I'm okay alone. Really."
"What I know might surprise you..."
Jaden knew he was still talking. His lips would hardly be moving otherwise. But she couldn't hear his words over the screams in her head. This chick has a set of pipes. She refused to let her knees buckle until she was out of the alley and into the dim light of the pathway.
On trembling legs, she kept moving. Or tried to. But her vision was marred by the wild gaze of the terrified girl. She could well relate to the feeling of Albertson's approach. Too easily, she understood the gut-loosening intimidation caused by the soft-spoken delivery of evil words.
With one hand on the nearest wall, Jaden forced herself to move forward, while focusing on the girl's surroundings.
She seized on the few details available. A pattern of long, rectangular windows in groups of three. Light poured through them, telling Jaden more than it told the victim. Albertson staged his vile games on a set as false as he was.
If this girl survived, and held the courage to tell, she'd say her assault took place during daylight hours when the Judge would be safely behind his bench. Her story discredited, he'd remain above suspicion and she'd get a month of injections.
"Bastard," she said aloud.
Thomas gave her a hard shake. "An evidence van just turned the corner. Let's go give your statement."
Though still seeing with the girl's eyes, the poor creature had lapsed into a shocked silence, which allowed Jaden to hear again. "Can't," she said on a ragged breath. "I'm not serving thirty days anywhere but home."
"Home's gone."
"Right. Well, bye." She began to formulate an alternate plan. "See ya around."
She felt him hesitate, then go. She walked a bit further, until she felt the corner of the rusty dumpster. Slumping into what she hoped looked like a pitiful ball of homelessness, she waited for the excitement to pass.
When running feet skidded to a stop beside her she played the part as best she could. Soon, though, she felt Thomas's touch.
"Call me Brian and I'll get you outta here."
"Okay, Brian." She reached out. "But why help me now?"
"Later. Tell me what's wrong," he ordered.
"I'm sorta blind at the moment."
"The explosion?"
It was a convenient
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