Read Online Pucker Up (A Damsels of Distress Novel) by R. A. Gates - Free Book Online Page A

to escape
    if she was trapped. It was better than
    nothing. She glanced back to where the
    guys were playing with samurai swords.
    “Got it. You take cash?”
    Irene tied the rope with the
    dampening stone around her neck. “To
    activate the charm, hold the stone firmly
    in your palm and whisper the phrase
    ‘Non evidens.’ You’ll know when the
    charm wears off because the sapphire
    will be clear. When it becomes blue
    again, you can re-activate it. I don’t
    recommend using it more than once a
    day.”
    She paid for the item and left to
    round up the guys. Having some
    protection, no matter how small, eased
    some of the anxiety swirling in her gut.
    Hopefully, their mission would go as
    planned and they’d be back in
    Salmagundi before they became a blip
    on the Eradicator’s radar.
    When they left, Thane had a case
    of chocolate, three charmed backpacks
    and a bunch of those Element Orbs.
    Garren was carrying his new bow with a
    large supply of arrows in a leather
    quiver. Also attached to his belt was a
    new dagger.
    The car ride back was full of
    excitement, at least from the boys.
    “Since next week is spring
    break, we'll leave this coming weekend.
    Before anyone realizes we're gone, we
    should be in California already.” Thane
    explained.
    She peered in the rearview
    mirror, watching Thane eagerly packing
    his backpack with all the new supplies.
    Next to her, Garren was polishing the
    new throwing stars he got when she
    wasn't looking.
    It was dusk by the time she
    pulled the car up in front of Thane's
    family's shop to drop them off. Thane
    patted her shoulder before getting out.
    “Ivy, I'm really glad you decided to join
    us. We're doing the right thing.”
    She gave him a small smile, not
    feeling as confident as he was; her gut
    twisted with unease about the whole
    quest thing. She knew more than anyone
    how dangerous the Eradicators were and
    hoped they weren't making a huge
    mistake leaving the wards, deteriorating
    or not.
    When she reached the boarding
    house, she turned the engine off and
    coasted into the dirt parking spot. She
    didn't want to be heard returning, just in
    case Mr. McGregor was home. The
    driver's door managed to stay quiet as
    she eased it shut. She exhaled slowly
    and crept up the back steps, not
    believing she got away with it.
    As soon as she opened the back
    door, Athena shoved her full backpack at
    her. “Go. Now,” the blonde urged
    quietly.
    “What—”
    “Is that her?” Mr. McGregor
    shouted in the background. He sounded
    pissed.
    Athena shoved her again, causing
    her to stumble backward on the steps.
    “Unless you have a death wish, get the
    hell out of here.”
    Nodding, she took off running
    down the dirt alley behind the boarding
    house. She didn't look back. Not
    knowing where to go, she ran downtown
    where she could possibly blend in with
    the night crowd by the bars.
    She turned a corner and tripped
    over a crack in the sidewalk, face-
    planting in the gutter. Her hands and
    cheek took the worst of it, scraping
    along the pavement. She rolled over and
    touched her face, blood glistening on her
    fingers.
    “Ivy!” Mr. McGregor yelled. He
    was getting closer.
    She had a decision to make—
    keep running or fight back. She glanced
    around as the clomping of his boots
    echoed off the brick buildings around
    her. A couple tin garbage cans in front of
    a wooden fence made adequate cover as
    she stumbled behind them. The scrapes
    on her hands stung against the wooden
    plank she picked up to use as a weapon.
    Mr. McGregor slowed down to a
    walk. “I know yer here somewhere, lass.
    I can smell ye.” He sniffed the air as he
    passed by.
    She held her breath as she
    watched him through the crack between
    the cans. Splinters bore into her skin as
    she gripped the board tighter.
    You can do this, Ivy. He's just
    another werewolf.
    She prepared herself to jump out
    swinging, but hesitated when he spoke
    again.
    “I've finally reached the end of
    me tether with ye.