Carter Read Online Free Page B

people. You now and two others. The people I trust with him.” Murph looked at Rider. “If he finds him, he’ll use him. Like he did me. Max has…he’s like me. Stronger in some things, but like me.”
    “He’s not human.” She shook her head at him. “His father, I’m assuming he’s human. Your mate, I guess.”
    “No. I don’t think so. At least…it was a one night stand, I had an itch, and he was there. He’s human, yes, but not much of anything else.” He asked her what she meant. “I mean he’s a loser. An ass. I never told him about Max because…well, frankly, I didn’t trust him. You know me and trust things.”
    She sat up again and had to take several deep breaths before she was willing to move again. He didn’t stop her, for which she was grateful, and he even helped her to the bathroom to change. Her clothing was covered in blood, but there was nothing else for her to wear. When she came out of the bathroom, there was a woman and another man with Rider. This man she knew from the other night.
    “Thomas.” He nodded and introduced her to his wife. “Linyah. I’m assuming that neither of you are human either? And you guys just happened to be around when Rider needed you? I need to go and get something.”
    “Nope. We popped in.” She stared at Linyah and then at Rider. “I’m taking you to your kid. We can be back here in a few seconds, but I’m thinking if he sees you like that, he’s going to be a little upset. He will be, won’t he?”
    “It’s all I have.”
    Linyah just disappeared. She was standing there one second and gone the next. When she reappeared with a shirt and a pair of pants in her hands, Murph just stared at them.
    “They don’t bite.” She still didn’t take them. “I swear to you that I didn’t steal them, nor did I make them do weird things. The faster you change and get ready, the sooner we can get the kid and put you back to bed.”
    “It’s not that easy.” Instead of wasting energy that she didn’t have, she pulled her shirt up and over her head and dropped it. Both men turned their backs on her. “I’m reasonably sure you’ve both seen a naked woman before. What’s the big deal?”
    Neither of them answered her, and she finished changing. Stupid men. It was just a flipping body. Linyah helped her pull on her boots, and by then Murph was exhausted. Linyah sat on her knees in front of her and watched her.
    “I can heal you should you like it. I can make it all go away. But for now, I’d rather help you with your son.” Murph nodded. “You’ll have to let me into your mind so I can see where he is. Is that all right? It won’t hurt.”
    “You can’t. I mean, normally it would be fine if it wasn’t me, but you can’t get into my head. Not and be okay. I’ll…it will hurt you.” Linyah told her she was a race of people that used their mind a great deal. “Okay, so you do this and I hurt you, which I will, what will happen to me? I mean, he’ll kick my ass, won’t he?”
    “More than likely. He won’t want to, but it’s in his nature.” Thomas just smiled at her when she looked at him. “Leopards are very protective of their mates. While he won’t mean to hurt you, his cat will be nasty.”
    “Yeah, no thanks. My way for now. And if you want to take a walk down Murph lane, then we’ll work something out.” Linyah stood up. “I don’t want you to heal me either. I’m fine. Just focus on going to get my son. Are we going your style of transportation or are we driving?”
    “Mine.”
    Murph stood up and looked at Rider. He’d done this for her. And her son. She didn’t have the words to thank him, but he nodded at her. Linyah put her hands around her waist, careful of her wound, and then asked her where they were going.
    They were there before she finished the street name. The apartment building didn’t look like much, but it was the best place to hide and she knew it. As she started to enter, Linyah pulled out her gun and