Guardian (The Guardian Trilogy) (33 page)
Read Guardian (The Guardian Trilogy) Online
Authors: Sara Mack
WHAT
DID YOU DO???
Of
course she assumed that I was to blame for the way things turned out with Dane,
and she was right. I explained our fight to her and she proceeded to rip me up
one side and down the other. I took it like a champ because there’s nothing I
can do. What’s done is done. He’ll never forgive me. I don’t forgive me. I
feel absolutely wretched about everything, and I miss him more than I’d like to
admit to myself. I can’t wait for classes to begin, so something occupies my
mind other than the memory of Dane’s sad and angry face. I’m starting to think
I don’t deserve happiness. First James, now Dane. The image of me as the
crazy cat lady that James mentioned so long ago comes to mind.
My
stomach rumbles and I realize I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast. It’s
almost four. I open the fridge to discover that I have nothing appetizing to
feed myself. I grab my keys and wallet and decide to walk to the small market
that’s close to me, about two blocks away. When I get there my hunger takes
over, and I end up with two paper bags of groceries, plus some new shampoo,
conditioner, and a candle that I thought would look nice on my small entertainment
center. You find things you wouldn’t normally purchase when you have
uninterrupted time to wander around a store.
I make
it back to the apartments carrying both bags without incident. It’s when I’m
trying to unlock the door that I have a problem. I look around on the ground
for a dry spot to set one of my bags; it rained this afternoon and everything
is still wet.
“Need a
hand?”
I turn
around to see a guy approaching the door. He has brown hair that curls a little
and his skin has an olive tone. As he gets closer I notice his eyes. They’re a
strange mix of blue and green, almost turquoise. I’ve never seen anything like
them. Contacts, I immediately think. He smiles at me in a friendly way.
“Thanks,”
I say gratefully and offer him one of bags. He takes it as I dig out my key. “Do
you live here?” I ask as I open the door.
“Yep,
just moved in.”
“I did
too. You must be apartment four.” I turn and smile at him, then step inside
and hold the door open. He follows me. “I’m number two.”
“Hello
number two,” he says and laughs a little.
We walk
down the short hallway to my place and I unlock the door. I hurry inside to
set down my bag while he waits in the hallway. I return to take the other bag
from him. “Sorry,” I apologize.
“It’s not
a problem,” he says. “So, number two, do you have a name?”
I shift
my purchases in my arms and extend my hand. “Yes. Emma. Emma Donohue.”
He
regards me for a moment, then smiles and shakes my hand. “That name sounds
familiar. I feel like I’ve met you before.”
I shake
my head. “If we have met, I don’t remember.”
He
releases my hand and takes a step back. “Well, we’ve met now. I guess I’ll be
seeing you around number two.”
I
laugh. “Guess so. Thanks for your help.”
He nods
and starts to walk away as I begin to shut the door.
“Wait,”
I stick my head out into the hall.
He
stops and turns. “Yes?”
“I
didn’t catch your name.”
“Oh,”
he smiles. “Garrett. Garrett Abernathy.”
Look
for the second book in The Guardian Trilogy:
Allegiant
Coming fall
2013!
Sara
Mack is a Michigan native who grew up with her nose in books. She is a wife
and a hockey mom on top of being trapped in a windowless office forty hours a
week.
Her
spare time is spent one-clicking on Amazon and devouring books on her Kindle, cleaning
up after her kids and two elderly cats, attempting to keep her flower garden alive,
and, of course, writing. She has an unnatural affinity for dark chocolate,
iced tea, and bacon. This is her debut novel.
Connect with Sara and all things Guardian:
On
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sara-Mack/377965205649175
On
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/smackwrites
Blog
and Email:
http://smackwrites.blogspot.com
Check
out Spotify for the Guardian playlist:
http://open.spotify.com/user/smackwrites/playlist/2f3QDdBp0zaHRJpggdG96E
and
Café Press for Guardian merch!
Book 2 of The
Guardian Trilogy
Prologue - James
The
connection between them was indescribable. Limitless. It was as if an
invisible elastic band stretched between them, and he was powerless to ignore its
pull. The band held a soft electric hum that sat in the back of his mind,
reminding him of its presence and his duty. Reminding him of her. Reminding
him of what was lost.
There
were moments when he felt gentle tugs on the band. Instinctively, he knew
which were more important than others. Only once, since becoming her Guardian,
did he feel an overwhelmingly strong pull, but he could sense she wasn’t in
danger and focused all of his energy on resisting the urge to go to her. She
had asked him to stay away, and he trusted her. He still needed time. Time to
convince his mind and his heart that he could no longer love her.
He
cursed Garrett under his breath. Where did he go? His guidance was needed
now, more so than ever. His feelings for her had yet to diminish. How much
more time did he have before The Allegiant stepped in? Before they realized
his poor Guardianship and took his memories and love for her by force? They
had the power to eliminate her from his life, for eternity.
He
felt a gentle tug on the band again and closed his eyes tightly. He has to
stop loving her. He has no other choice.
****
“Have
you considered my proposition?”
Jack
meets Lucas on the street in front of the Roman Pantheon. “I have. I’m sorry
to say that it’s denied.”
Jack
scowls. “You can’t be serious.”
“I most
certainly am.”
Jack
looks around and then leans toward Lucas. “I don’t think you understand the
severity of the situation!” he whispers.
Lucas
raises his eyebrows. “Don’t I? I think I’m quite familiar, thank you.”
Jack
crosses his arms. “I don’t trust James. Or Emma, for that matter. She’s
breaking down as time goes on. You have to have seen that.”
“That
girl doesn’t have one malicious bone in her body,” Lucas says, and starts to
walk toward the impressive structure. “She carries around a tremendous amount
of guilt. More than one young woman should be made to bear.”
“James
is a huge part of that,” Jack tries to persuade Lucas. “If you take him out of
the equation, Emma can move on. James can perform his duty; our actions will
remain hidden.”
Lucas
reaches the first steps of the Pantheon and takes a seat. He looks up at
Jack. “Erasure is out of the question.”
“Why?”
Jack presses. “It’s the easiest solution.”
Lucas
shakes his head. “I don’t see a problem.”
“Come
on!” he retreats a few steps.
“Jack,”
Lucas calls him back. “I’ve observed Emma. She’s not a threat.”
“And
James?”
“He’s
having a rough time, I’ll give you that,” he sighs and then frowns. “They both
are.”
“Exactly
my point. Things aren’t happening exactly as planned. If you eliminate James’
memory of Emma, save his duty…”
“No,”
Lucas says, his tone firm. “How much more should we ask of him? He’s already
made the ultimate sacrifice. I’m not going to ask James to give up any more.”
“That’s
just it,” Jack says and sets his jaw. “You don’t ask.”
Lucas
pushes himself off the step and stands eye to eye with Jack. “Watch yourself,”
he warns. “You’re dangerously close to overstepping your part in this.”
“You
know why this is important to me,” Jack says through gritted teeth.
Lucas’
relaxes his expression. He knows Jack means well; he’s one of the only people
to fully understand him given his harsh personality. No one questions the
strength of Jack’s emotions. What they don’t know is that they come from a
pure place. “Relax,” Lucas places a hand on Jack’s shoulder. “Things are
about to get a lot easier.”
“How
so?”
“I’ve
arranged for someone to step up and admit to the rumors to pacify my brothers.
Give it another day and all will be well.”
Jack
regards Lucas skeptically. “Who would agree to such a thing?”
“Someone
willing to trade false information for something they desperately want –
eternity.”
Jack
scoffs. “They will be cast out for sure.”
“Not so
fast,” Lucas disagrees. “My brothers are hell bent on putting this issue to
rest. They’ll agree to immunity for information. Trust me.”
Jack
pauses to consider Lucas’ claim. Who is he to question the motivation of The
Allegiant? He hopes Lucas is correct in his assumptions. “And after that? We
still have two months to keep James in check.”
Lucas
looks confident. “You deal with your end of the bargain and I’ll handle mine.
Continue to impersonate your brother from time to time as we agreed. Keep the
secret under wraps, and you’ll get what you want.” He raises his eyebrows.
“When have I ever steered you wrong?”
Jack
thinks back to the first time he met Lucas. Sixty-odd years ago, on the day he
died, when he offered him the choice. “I’m putting my faith in you,” he says
pointedly. “Don’t let me down.”
“If I
let you down then I let myself down,” Lucas smiles. “And we both know I would
never allow that to happen.”
