The Protectors Series Bundle - By Nana Malone Page 0,57
possible, given everything he’d done to me. You were my miracle. This baby is a miracle.”
Seth set his jaw, but the look in his eyes softened to something tender and a little mischievous. “I am happy. In fact, I want to show you exactly how ha—” His body went still as stone.
Cassie placed a palm on his cheek. “Seth, what’s the matter? What do you see?”
“It’s Symone. Turn on the TV. She’s been exposed.”
Without even a second for the thought, Cassie’s cell phone flew into her hand and the remote into the other. Telekinesis sure was handy for some things. She dialed Symone’s number by memory and checked the satellite television for news of Symone while she waited for her friend to pick up. Just their luck, one of the Miami stations was running the story of a baffling robbery gone awry.
“Hi, Cassie.”
Cassie tried not to smile at the resignation in Symone’s voice. It had been too long since they’d spoken. Cassie missed her friend. Wished she’d come home. “Just what part about lying low did you not understand?”
“Chill, I’m in no mood for an ass chewing. Besides, I’m laying low. Sorta.”
“It’s all over the news, Symone. Three male assailants stopped mid-robbery. One thrown through the window of one of the store fronts. Do you want to explain?”
Symone let out a long breath. “I promise, I wasn’t seen. Cassie, what’s the point of my powers if I’m not allowed to use them to help anybody?”
Cassie sucked in a deep breath, trying to stave off a sudden bout of nausea and the strange urge for Oreo cookies. “Symone, look. I’m not saying you shouldn’t help anybody, but you could have been hurt. It’s dangerous out there. There could still be some people trying to continue Peter’s work, we have to be careful and stay hidden. Can you imagine if someone got the drop on you? What would happen if you landed in the hospital? One look at your genetic makeup, and it would be another lab. There are still scary things out there.”
“You seem to forget I’m one of the things that goes bump in the night. Besides, what was I supposed to let them do, hurt that girl?”
“What girl?” Cassie didn’t like the sounds of this. Given Symone’s past history of being on the streets, she was always trying to bring in strays. Some worthy of her help. Several not. But Cassie couldn’t tell her not to help someone. It was what she would do herself. “Let me guess she needs some help.”
“The Miami Street Kings had her rob a lawyer’s office for some files. They threatened to kill her if she didn’t. They’re not just going to leave her alone now. She’s got no one looking out for her on the street. I need to get her somewhere safe.”
Cassie knew there was no point arguing with Symone. When her friend wanted something, she got it. “I’ll make some calls. I might be able to get her placement in Atlanta. That girl—can she identify you? Do I need to come down there?”
Symone stayed quiet for several heartbeats. “She won’t be a problem.”
“How can you be so sure? All we need is one blabbermouth claiming they saw Wonder Woman, or Super Girl, or some such nonsense, and that’s it, lights out. My brother and his Trackers will come looking for you and the others.”
“Peter’s dead.” Symone didn’t buy into Seth’s vision that Peter had survived the explosion a couple of years ago. She thought Peter was just the Boogeyman Cassie and Seth used to scare them all into complying with the rules.
“You keep telling yourself he’s dead. I have to act like he’s a real and present danger. I need to keep you all protected.”
“Look. I know. I don’t want to endanger anyone. I just didn’t want that kid to get hurt. I’ll be more careful next time.”
“You have to think of yourself first, Symone.” Cassie let her exasperation weave in and around her clipped words.
“I hear you, okay? Just please don’t yank me.”
A pang pierced Cassie’s heart. “Symone, I couldn’t yank you back, even if I wanted to. I’m not your mother, and the Lair is not a prison. It’s your home for as long as you want it. I’m not your warden. I hope you think of me as your friend.”
Jansen Michaels, resident human and bomb expert, strolled into the kitchen. His gaze honed in on Seth’s frown, then he looked at Cassie. “Is that Symone?”