Read Online Whisper of Memory (Whispering Woods Book 2) by Brinda Berry - Free Book Online Page A

disappear.” He paced back and forth with his hands steepled together as if contemplating that very action. “That would make it easier for me.”
    “He knows about us.” I whispered the words but Regulus heard. An involuntary shaking started at my knees and quivered up my body. I pushed my hands to the ground to steady them. I wanted to hear what he knew. Why he cared.
    The man’s black eyes pierced my confidence. I looked away. Regulus and Arizona had bound him in a seated position against the tree in such a way that he couldn’t escape or even struggle. Nevertheless, his eyes didn’t show fear.
    Regulus squatted on his haunches in front of the man so he was at eye level. His voice held a menacing tone I had never heard before today. “You are nothing to us. And nothing to the people who sent you. When you disappear, no one will miss you.”
    Austin moved forward. “Reg—”
    “You sit down.”
    Regulus and Austin glared at each other. The air thickened with tension. An orange cloud of frustration glowed around both of them.
    I had to intervene. “Austin, please sit by me. Let’s stay out of it.”
    “Come with me, Mia. You’ve got to see how crazy these guys are.” Austin leaned over to grab for my hand.
    “I can’t, Austin. You know I can’t.”
    He rose slowly, and his fingers brushed my shoulder. “And I can’t be a part of this. The dude was wrong, yeah. I don’t do well in confinement, and this is heavy.” Austin shifted from one foot to the other nervously. “I have to leave.”
    I was startled when Regulus sat on the ground next to me. “Arizona and I will be back. Can you stay here and guard this man with Austin?”
    “Where are you going?” I asked.
    “Hey man, I said I was leaving. You can’t leave Mia by herself with this dude.”
    “No, that’s why you’ll stay. I need to find out if this man is in our jurisdiction.” Regulus stood.
    “Damn,” Austin muttered so only I could hear.
----
    A pair of owls hooted back and forth. Other than nature’s background noise, no other sounds interrupted the night’s quiet. Austin sat in silence staring at our prisoner. I knelt next to him on the ground, periodically checking my watch. I clicked the flashlight off. The batteries would probably last, but I didn’t want to risk not having it if we needed it.
    “What’s been going on with you?” I studied Austin’s face and hoped to read it in the moonlight. He didn’t answer.
    “I haven’t really talked to you in weeks.” I hoped the statement didn’t sound accusing. My schedule had been filled with school and Regulus, both activities not involving Austin.
    He still didn’t respond. His eyebrows lifted in unison with his shrug. “You haven’t been…available,” he muttered under his breath. He shook the strand of hair from his eyes and continued to stare at the man tied to the tree.
    “You’re right. Sorry.” I picked at the torn fabric on the knee of my jeans. “It’s my senior year. I have a lot going on.”
    “That’s not what I’m talking about.”
    “And Regulus and Arizona have been training me. I have to be able to protect myself.”
    “That’s working out, huh?”
    I stayed quiet.
    “They’re going to get you killed. You’re in over your head, Mia. You’re just a kid.”
    “And what are you?”
    “Barely more than a kid.” Then he laughed. The sound was dark and full of remorse. “I understood why you were involved in the beginning. We all want to find your brother.” He stopped and took a deep breath.
    “Go on,” I said.
    “This isn’t about your brother now. The IIA is using you and you have to admit to yourself that Regulus is too.”
    “That’s not your business.”
    “I’m your best friend.” He paused. “Or at least I used to be.”
    “You still are.”
    “Then listen to me. You should get out of this while you can.”
    “He’s right.” Our prisoner’s gravelly voice startled me.
    “I wasn’t talking to you. Shut up,” I said