Read Online Lightbringer by Frankie Robertson - Free Book Online Page A

another part remained wary. Why did this have to be so difficult? Jared had been nothing but kind. He’d given her a glimpse inside; she knew he just wanted to make sure she was safe. But why is he taking such an interest in me? And what is he hiding behind that mental barrier of his?
    The elevator dinged and the doors opened. Jared started to follow her into the car, but Cassie turned and blocked him.
    Jared said softly, “You can trust me, you know.”
    No, I don’t know . Her instincts and her psychic ability said she could trust him, but her reason had no proof. He’d lowered his barrier and shared a little of himself, but what if she’d misinterpreted what he shown her? What if she’d seen only what he wanted her to see? Or what she wanted? She wouldn’t make that mistake again. Especially since she had wanted to see him again tonight.
    She held out her hand. “I’ll take it from here. Thank you for all you’ve done.” She steeled herself for an argument, but Jared just handed her the pack.
    “You’re welcome.” He wasn’t smiling now, but she couldn’t back down.
    She was embarrassed by her stiff words. “I mean, you’ve been great. Really. You didn’t have to come over the way you did. It’s just …”
    Jared lifted one corner of his mouth, showing a hint of humor. “It’s just you’d rather I didn’t know exactly which room you and Linda are in.”
    She couldn’t meet his eyes. Stated so baldly it sounded awful, but it was the truth, and she wasn’t going to change her mind.
    “It’s okay. I understand. It’s good to be cautious.” He stepped back. “I’ll call you tomorrow morning,” he said as the doors closed.
    Cassie stared at the seam in the brushed steel, not sure if what she felt was guilt, or fear, or relief, or all three. She glanced at her watch. It was a quarter to one in the morning. One thing was certain. It would be three o’clock before Linda finished grilling her about what happened tonight.

    Cassie woke up, disoriented for a moment. A shower was running. The room was too dark, and Edgar wasn’t kneading her stomach and meowing for his breakfast. She wasn’t in her own bed.
    Memory flooded back. Cameras in her house. Jared. A vision of Linda, dead. Cassie curled around her pillow as fear washed through her. It was happening again. No, this was worse, because this time she had no idea who was responsible, and this time her best friend was in danger.
    But she wasn’t alone this time. Jared had come to help without being asked. Was he really that nice, or did he have some other agenda? She relaxed at the memory of his warm brown eyes filled with concern, his dimples, his dark curling hair. Her body heated as she remembered pressing against him the night before, and her nipples tightened.
    He barely knew her, but he’d come running when he thought she needed him. He’d found the cameras the police had missed, and held her hair back while she barfed. She groaned at the memory. Way to impress a guy, Cass. Even better than blowing that drink out my nose .
    Not that she wanted to impress him. The man had an impenetrable mental shield, after all. A shield she’d only seen behind because he’d let her. What is he hiding?
    She forced herself to set the question aside. She’d worry it like a dog with a bone and drive herself crazy if she didn’t let go. There was no way to answer that question anyway, short of Jared telling her.
    She glanced at the clock and groaned. Nine-fifteen. Five and a half hours of sleep. Not nearly enough.
    The water stopped, and a few minutes later Linda came out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. She saw Cassie was awake and opened the blackout curtains about a foot. Bright southern Arizona sunshine blasted into the room like a laser beam. “Good morning, sleepyhead. What do you want to do today?”
    Cassie didn’t want to do anything today. She certainly didn’t want to go to a house and office full of mics and cameras. She rolled to her