Read Online Secured Secret by Charity Parkerson - Free Book Online Page B

gnawing on her arm. Her ears were ringing, her throat was raw, and the images playing across her mind would haunt her for the rest of her life.
    The F.B.I. knew what they were about when they paired her with Bradley and Steven. The three of them were matched so well in personalities that sometimes she would forget she was supposed to be working instead of socializing. The two men were hilarious in their antics, and back when they were investigating The Queen of Diamonds, she laughed so hard watching them try to learn how to be women that she pulled an abdominal muscle.
    Now it was gone. Steven was dead, and her life would never be the same. She understood now, better than ever before, how her mom did the job that she did, and how many lives she must have saved over the years. Lives like Steven’s. Genie’s career was most likely over and she’d have to find a new place in the world. She wasn’t sure yet where that would be, but she knew it was wherever Shannon was. He was the most important thing to her, and even though she knew that, a brighter beacon was shined upon it when she thought she might be dying.
    A new tension entered the air, pulling Genie from her thoughts, and she realized Weave was shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot in the doorway. Jacob, Bob, and Shannon were all watching him, waiting. He finally spoke. “Is it okay if I talk to Genie alone for a few minutes?”
    A collective chorus of shuffling feet and throat clearing carried the men out of the room, but Shannon paused for a second, looking back. He held her gaze mouthing, “I love you,” before pulling the door closed behind him. Weave moved haltingly to the chair next to the bed as if unsure of his welcome. Something about him seemed different today, but she couldn’t pinpoint what it was. She was too tired try. “I’m sorry about Steven,” he said finally. “He seemed like a nice guy: a bit of a klepto, and a little strange, but nice.”
    Genie wanted to laugh at his description but it hurt too much. “He was one of a kind,” she agreed instead.
    “I killed a sixteen year old kid four years ago,” he said, suddenly taking her by surprise. “Despite what everyone thinks, I know it wasn’t intentional, but it was me. He would have been twenty years old now, if he were still alive. That’s old enough to be in college, or the army, or even, God help him, married, but he will never have or do any of those things. Every day I know that it’s because of me.”
    Genie was powerless to stop a tear from rolling down her face. “Steven’s birthday is next Wednesday,” she admitted. “The floor shook a split second before the building exploded and Steven pushed me into Bradley, shoving us both to the floor, before covering us with his body. He might be celebrating next week, if not for saving us.”
    She cried harder as the words left her lips. She didn’t want to blame herself, but that became more difficult with each passing moment.
    “It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t your bomb in that car, and you weren’t the one pulling him over your body covering yourself with him. The entire thing was out of your control. You were only an innocent bystander. The witness to a horrific event, so don’t be like me. Don’t shut out the people who love you. You should tell Shannon what you’ve told me, and let him love you, even on the days that you don’t love yourself.”
    Genie nodded absently, and he leaned over, touching his lips to her forehead before adding. “I’m going to go away for a little while so Shannon might need help with the business, if you’re going to be in between jobs.”
    “Where are you going?”
    Weave smiled sadly. “I need to work on me a little bit, but I’ll leave my number and you can call and talk to me anytime you need to. You know, if you need an understanding ear.”
    Weave stood and opened the door, signaling the others to rejoin them. Shannon reclaimed his seat by her side, and she felt a new sense