Guild of Truth 02 - Shield from the Heart Read Online Free Page A

shook away the melancholy thoughts. “I’m not
that
good of a person, trust me. So … are we okay?”
    He trailed a finger down the side of her face affectionately. “We’re golden.”
    “How’re we on time?”
    Joel glanced over at the alarm clock. His face fell.
    “Not enough time for sex and a shower?” she guessed.
    Joel flashed her a bright smile. “We can always kill two birds with one stone.”
    Sydney scrunched up her nose. “You know how much I hate that saying. Besides, in the shower? I don’t think so. Sex wasn’t meant for the shower.” His face grew crestfallen. She kissed him on the nose. “After,” she promised. “After we get back home we’ll spend the rest of our vacation together. In bed.”
    Joel perked up instantly. “Then what the hell are we waiting for?”
    • • •
    “Not much security, is there?” Sydney surveyed the area for what was probably the seventh time. She wrapped her arms tighter around her body as another breeze swept through the streets. She didn’t know if it was just her, but the San Francisco wind seemed so much colder than the breeze that blew off the Newport ocean back home.
    Joel was busy on his laptop. Somehow he had hacked into the building’s well-concealed security system and deactivated the feed and alarms. He had some kind of loop playing that would make them invisible in the building as long as they didn’t encounter anyone.
    “Only a handful of guards on duty,” he answered.
    And they had no idea if those guards had powers or not. Which made their plan extra tricky. Back in their hotel they’d come up with a roughly put together plan. If they came across someone with powers, Sydney would Shield until Joel could get close enough, then she’d drop her Shield and he’d use his ability to Lock anyone to anything, including a person’s shoes to the floor. One their prey was stalled with nowhere to move, Joel would knock them out. Because once she put her Shield back up his Lock would be negated.
    She patted the side pocket of her cargo pants. And if all else failed then it was a good thing she’d brought her own supply of Propofol.
    Joel shoved his laptop into his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. “Ready?” He looked positively delighted. Sydney couldn’t understand how he and Felix could get so excited about playing super hero. It was downright terrifying.
    Maybe you
should
have let Cali come instead.
    She could hardly keep the water in her stomach down.
    “Syd?” Joel asked when she hesitated.
    No backing out now. You can do it.
    “I’m ready.”
    He gave her an encouraging squeeze on the arm.
    They crept out from the bus stop when there was a lull in traffic. This late at night on a weekday there weren’t many cars on the street. They reached the chain-link fence and Joel pulled out a master key that he’d programmed to open the gate. He slid it past the sensor. She held her breath. The gate rattled open on its rusty wheels.
    They slipped inside the parking lot and made their way along the wall of the building to remain unseen to those driving along the street.
    Any minute she expected a car to drive in and spot them.
    Did her heart always sound this loud?
    She shook herself.
Stay focused.
    A loud burst of laughter came from down the street. Sydney spun.
    Joel got to work on the entrance lock. “Don’t worry.” He seemed to sense her nervousness. “No one from the street can see us.”
    The gate started to rattle closed.
    “Joel — ” she started.
    “It’s supposed to do that,” he reassured her. “It’s set on a timer as if a car was driving in.”
    Right.
    Stop being so childish. Remember why you’re doing this.
    She recalled to mind the way her mystery man had been drugged, sitting all alone in that cell, suffering.
    The image bolstered her confidence.
    Joel cracked the lock on the front door. “Go in easy,” he whispered as she passed by him to enter the dim lit lobby.
    She hovered near the door while he