The Protectors Series Bundle - By Nana Malone Page 0,8

was gone, he was tracking her somehow. She’d been an idiot to think he’d just let her escape. And now she’d dragged Bryan into this mess. His only crime being that he wanted to help her.

Bryan wasn’t going to make it home tonight. At least not by her hand. As she drove, she ran through any scenario that might get him to safety. If she’d been able to get him to listen to her and put him in a semi -catatonic state, she could maybe do the same to Peter’s men. She could make Bryan forget her. Then she could make Peter’s men forget they’d seen her with him. As plans went, it was pretty half- assed, but it was all she had.

Pulling into a gas station with its lights already out, she turned off the engine. Climbing off, she stared directly at Bryan, looking him in the eye. “Bryan, you will forget everything that happened tonight.” A sharp pain sliced through her brain, but she kept going. “As far as you’re concerned, you went to the party and then went home because you were bored.”

As he nodded, a black SUV rolled into the gas station, two guards stepped out. One of them had a radio. Fantastic. She probably only had a minute before shit got real bad for Bryan. Squeezing his hand, silently gave him one more command. Get on your bike and go. Don’t look back no matter what happens or what you hear.

Bryan squeezed back. He scooted forward and revved the bike to life. Both guards ran toward them, guns drawn, but Cassie stepped into their path. “No. He didn’t do anything. I’ll come with you quietly. There’s no need to hurt anyone. I’ll come home.”

The one with the radio raised it to his lips and she knew she only had a moment before Bryan’s life became all kinds of fucked up. “Listen to me.” She spoke the words as she thought them. Maybe it helped, maybe it didn’t. Shit, she was new to this whole superpowers thing.

Cassie put up her hands. They both stopped and stared at her. Neither one of you will remember Bryan. You found me by myself at the bus station and I ran here.

The guy without the radio nodded, but his partner shook his head as if trying to dislodge her thoughts. She pushed harder. More pain lanced through her skull, but her friend’s life depended on getting this right. You will not remember him. You found me alone. I came willingly.

Finally radio guy nodded his head. There was no point in trying to convince them that she hadn’t been at the bus station. Peter might have been less angry if he’d thought she snuck off to the party, but they’d found her somehow and she’d bet money it was with a tracking device. There was no point in lying.

Radio guy found his voice. “Get in the car, Miss Reeser. Your brother has been concerned about you.”

Yeah, if bullshit didn’t stink, she didn’t know what did. Climbing into the back seat of the SUV, she lay back against the seat. Peter would never forgive a betrayal like this. He wouldn’t kill her simply because he’d put so much energy into her recovery. But she wouldn’t be seeing the light of day ever again.

The guards were silent on their way back to the house. The ride took less than thirty minutes and with each mile they covered, nausea and dread wove a mesh net in her belly.

As they approached the grounds, she considered making one more last ditch attempt at pushing the guards to take her somewhere else, but the truth was she was already so weak. Her head was on the verge of exploding already. She didn’t dare make another attempt with her new power. One thing for sure, she’d be keeping this little gem a secret from Peter as long as she could.

Chapter Four

When the car rolled to a stop, Peter stormed out of the house with Reynolds in tow and flanked by two guards.

Oh shit. How much trouble was he in? She hadn’t meant to cause him any trouble. “Peter, this isn’t Reynolds’ fault. I just wanted to go out and—“

Her brother stared at her impassively. “Do you understand that you’re a very expensive little weapon, Cassie? You’ve clearly proven you can’t be trusted. Your powers have limits little sister. Can you imagine what would have happened if you went too far? Told the wrong person? I can’t even begin