Read Online Kate Allenton by Guided Loyalty - Free Book Online Page A

Cathy.”
    Her head shot up, and she glared at him. “Don’t patronize me. I’m not sure that’s possible.”
    He removed his hand from her shoulder and clasped them together between his parted legs. “What was in the vials, Cathy?”
          “The serum the Phantoms have been after. Black gave it to me in good faith so that I’d think of accepting his proposal.”
          “The. Serum. The same serum that duplicates Black’s powers and gives the recipient the powers to absorb another’s gifts?”

            Cathy nodded. She hadn’t wanted anyone to find out this way. She’d wanted to keep it secret for a bit longer, but she could trust Edward, right?
            “What was his proposal?”
            “My life, and in return, he’d stop the attacks and killings. He wants me to work for him.”
            “What does that even mean? You have to know he’s using it as a way to control you…and him.”
            “Don’t you think I know that?”
            “You can’t do it.”
            Cathy stood, walked to the door, and pulled it open. “I have to.”
    Edward stood and moved to her side. He cupped her shoulders, and the concern in his eyes shined through and briefly touched her heart. “Please…don’t do this.”
            “I’d like to be alone. Please leave.” Cathy dropped her gaze to the floor, and her shoulders sagged. She couldn’t do this, not now. She couldn’t handle being responsible for one more person.
            “Come find me if you want to talk or need anything.” Edward kissed her forehead and walked out.
            Cathy shut the door and pulled out her disposable phone. She dialed Gracie and waited for her to answer. There was no answer, so she left a message. “I know Jonah sent the alert for DEFCON 5, but if you get this while you’re in the Eagle’s Nest, I really need you to call me back. I really need you.”
            A tear trickled down Cathy’s face as she hung up and dialed Tara’s number. Tara answered on the first ring. “Hello.”
            Cathy swallowed around the lump in her throat.
            “Hello.”
            “Tara…” Cathy choked out before the tears stared streaming down her face.
            “Oh my god, Cathy, are you okay?”
            Cathy spent the next thirty minutes explaining everything that had happened since leaving Tara’s room that fateful day. When she got to the point about the warning Jonah had sent, Tara stopped her.
            “We were never warned. Are you telling me that we’re all surrounded by Black’s men?”
    Cathy let her head fall back on the couch and closed her eyes. “What do you mean he didn’t send the warning? I watched him fiddle with his watch, and he told me he’d sent it.”
            Tara took a deep breath. “I’ll warn the others, and we’ll mobilize. Thank god you called me.”

         Cathy could hear a shuffle on the phone before Tara put the phone back to her ear. “Is this the number I can reach you on?”
         “Yeah.”
         “It’s all going to be okay, Cathy. We’ll figure this out.”
         “Tara…if I don’t agree to what Black wants, then he’s going to attack. I can’t let him do that.”
         “No...No...No…You better have more faith in us than that. Don’t do anything stupid until you hear back from me. Do you understand?”
         A tear slipped down Cathy’s cheek as she choked out a yes.
         “I’m so sorry, Cathy. I never meant to hurt you.”
         “I know, Tara. I’ve got to go.”
         “Let me get everyone mobilized, then I’ll call you back and we’ll figure out a plan to take this SOB down.”
         Cathy shook her head as if Tara could see her. “Okay.”
         The phone disconnected. Cathy’s heart pounded, not only with regret about putting her friends in danger but because Jonah