The Protectors Series Bundle - By Nana Malone Page 0,81

the door or the fire escape. Moron rappelled in from the roof.”

Jansen blinked, then glanced at the open door where Lisa knelt with Seth. A brief look of respect flashed over his face, and Symone resisted the urge to hit him with something. She scrubbed a leather-clad hand over her face.

Grave-faced, Cassie pulled her aside. “Symone, we need to talk.”

Symone tried to breathe evenly as Cassie walked with her to the main house. Garrett was in good hands, but she didn’t want to leave him behind. She didn’t trust Jansen with the Tracker, and she still needed some answers from Garrett before any of the guys got bright ideas to tune him up. Mostly she needed his assurance that he wouldn’t blab about kissing her. That was the last kind of shit storm she needed.

The moment she was inside with Cassie, she carefully constructed her mental walls. She told herself it wasn’t a deliberate lie but more of an emotional protection.

Cassie stared at her long and hard, then said softly, “You don’t have to do that, Symone. I wouldn’t deliberately read you without your permission.”

Symone narrowed her eyes. “Then how can you tell I’m blocking?”

“Because your barrier is actually intruding onto my mental space. I feel like I’m being shoved backwards.”

Immediately ashamed, Symone ducked her head and dropped some of her shields. “I’m sorry. Sometimes I forget what it’s like to be around other people.”

Cassie’s eyes were kind as they misted over. “You don’t have to stay away. This is your home any time you want it to be.”

Symone sniffed. “I know. Just after the last time, keeping my distance is easier.” Nine months ago she’d almost killed one of the younger kids Cassie had rescued from the Riddenwell Lab—Andrew. She’d fallen asleep in the tub upstairs and the damn thing had overflowed. When Andrew had come up to find out what was wrong, she’d accidentally sent a charge through the water, nearly electrocuting him. It had taken him a week to recover. She’d left the compound shortly thereafter.

“Easier does not equal better.” Cassie tossed her raven hair, causing it to cascade down her back. “Back to the situation at hand. Do you believe what he’s saying?”

“About wanting to help me and not knowing what Peter was up to?” Symone shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve touched him, and I can see his memories, but it’s not like I can see his intention. Besides, he’s an empath. I don’t know how much of it is him manipulating emotions.”

Cassie’s eyebrows darted up. “An empath? Isn’t that an interesting piece of news?”

“Whatever. Problem is, I can’t trust what I get off of him. What did you see?”

Cassie smiled beatifically. “You know full well I don’t probe without permission. Unless it’s a matter of life and death.”

Symone grinned. “Did you get anything useful?”

Cassie shook her head. “No. I’ll need to wait till he’s conscious. But I did get something else.”

Symone blushed but didn’t bother to start an explanation. If Cassie wanted to be angry and kick her out, she could. Shit, it was probably no less than she deserved. “Exactly what did you get?”

“That maybe it’s time you cut yourself some slack, Symone. So far, what I get from that man is that he’s not a danger to you. It feels like a deep bond. Whether he’s an unwitting danger to us remains to be seen. We’ll talk to him when he’s awake. In the meantime, we’ll take turns guarding him. You should get some rest.” She paused, and pale green eyes met Symone’s gaze. “One thing you should know. When two of us get together, there’s a heightened sense of arousal that makes us combustible. He’s enhanced like you are, so I don’t know what will happen if you get…close. It’s not your fault, and there’s not a ton that can be done about it. Your body is trying to be in control. It’s natural, but a bit tricky.”

Symone finally exhaled the breath she’d been holding onto all night. The kiss hadn’t been entirely her fault. “I was pretty sure I was losing my mind. He kissed me and I—” she cut herself off. “I know it shouldn’t have happened, but I was just so surprised I could touch him, then he…”

Cassie put a hand on her arm. “It must be very lonely being you. I can’t even imagine what you have to go through every day. Like I said, cut yourself some slack. Nobody could blame you for needing to be