Read Online Masked by Janelle Stalder - Free Book Online Page A

amazing, the people in blissful ignorance of what the world had really become. They lived as though nothing had changed, even though more than half the world’s population was now dead, and those still alive lived poorly. Did they care? She didn’t think so. Not once had she come across an Upper willing to help those who lived beyond those fences separating the city. Even the ones she had met while dancing at the Red Lounge didn’t care that when she went home at night, it wasn’t to a comfortable apartment in a safe neighbourhood. No, it was to a small, rundown room in a building that looked as if a strong wind could blow it over.
    It had been better than nothing though, Bridgette thought. She knew others lived even worse than she did, so who was she to complain? Life wasn’t ideal, but it wasn’t horrible either. Or at least, it hadn’t been, until she ended up here. If only the next week and half would go by quicker, without any more blood spilled. Then she would return to her father, get her sister, and leave. Where? She wasn’t sure. But she knew there were still ways to get out of the city to the outskirts, and travel into the countryside. It wasn’t necessarily the safest, but it was better than staying here and dealing with her father’s insanity. There were rumours of criminals littering the countryside, dangerous and violent people who refused to live within the city limits. Bridgette wasn’t scared. With Charlotte and McKay by her side, and whoever else chose to leave with them, she was sure they could make it to one of the smaller villages that hadn’t been completely destroyed. A quiet life, that’s what she needed.
    “What are you doing up here?”

CHAPTER SIX
    Roman stood close to her, the heat of his body radiating through the fabric of her shirt to warm her skin. She shivered, his voice always rippling through her like a caress. Gathering her fractured thoughts, she answered, “I just needed some air.”
    Bridgette sensed him take a step closer, but didn’t turn to face him. “I thought you’re scared of heights,” he said.
    “No, that was always Ch –” She stopped herself, her pulse racing at the narrow slip. “Uh, a joke. That was always a joke. I was just kidding when I told you that.” Her words were rushed and jumbled together.
    Roman moved to stand beside her, just within her peripheral vision. She watched him from the corner of her eye, taking in the firm set of his jaw and focused gaze of his dark eyes.
    “You were practically green when I took you up in that fighter jet that one time.”
    Bridgette shrugged. “I guess I just got over it then.”
    He grunted, but didn’t push the subject. “Nice night,” he commented.
    She nodded, keeping her gaze on the city below. “Were you born in the city?” she asked, curious.
    He turned to look at her but she didn’t meet his eyes. “No,” he answered, his voice betraying his surprise at the question. “I grew up all over the place really. My parents were…well, let’s just say they had no business having a kid. I learned from an early age to rely on myself for everything. I spent more time cleaning up after them and taking care of them than they ever did for me. By thirteen I’d had it, and sort of moved around from place to place.”
    She turned to look at him now, her mouth dropped open in shock. “Thirteen?” she said softly. “What did you do for money? For food?”
    A wry smile pulled at one corner of his mouth. “I stole, Lottey. That’s what you do when you live on the streets.”
    She searched his eyes; saw the hardness there that had been built up from a difficult youth. Her parents had never been overly affectionate, but at least they had provided a roof over their heads, and food to eat. Bridgette couldn’t imagine having to rely on just herself at such a young age.
    “When did you meet Ludwig then?” she asked.
    He tilted his head, watching her carefully. Both eyebrows rose when she asked the question.