Lost Girl: Hidden Book One Read Online Free Page A

female reporter stood in front of one of the houses I had dropped the girls off at earlier in the night. It felt like so long ago.
    A voice over said. “We interrupt this broadcast for a breaking news bulletin. Four people who went missing earlier this week have been miraculously returned to their families, from all reports, by the Angel. We’re on the scene with one of these people now.” I watched and shook my head. Media was getting stupid about this now.
    “I’m here on the Southwest side with the family of Shanti Williams, who, as you may remember, along with her friends Maria Alvarez and Amber Bryant, went missing earlier this week. Witnesses said they saw three men push them into a van and drive away. Tonight, all three girls are back with their families, safe and sound, and, from all reports, they have the Angel to thank! Shanti, can you tell me what happened?”
    “The guys had us in an empty neighborhood. They were about to sell us to someone. We were in the van, tied up, and they were outside. And all of a sudden, we heard yelling and sounds like punching or kicking, and we were scared to death, thinking how much worse can this get, you know?”
    “And then the van doors opened, and there she was. The woman who’s been finding lost girls,” Shanti said, and smiled through her tears. “She beat the hell out of two much bigger men, managed to get their guns away from them, got us out of there and drove us home. I’ve never seen anything like that my whole life. Those who don’t believe Jesus answers prayers, you’re wrong. I prayed for help, and He sent her. I know it.” And then the tears started falling.
    The camera cut back to the studio. “We’re also getting reports that Teresa Marson, missing from her home for over a week, has also been found and returned to her family.”
    The camera cut to another neighborhood. “I’m here in East English Village, where Teresa Marson returned home about a half hour ago.” A crowd outside the home erupted in cheers. “Teresa, can you tell us how you made it home?”
    Teresa appeared on screen. Face bruised, but looking happy. “My ex-husband, Brad, kidnapped me because I wouldn’t go back to him.  He bought a gun yesterday,” she said, and her voice started to tremble. “He knew people were looking for me. He was going to get rid of me tonight, he told me.”
    “And I was laying in the trunk, waiting to die, and I heard someone working at the trunk, like they were trying to pry it open. But then I heard a fight start. Brad had come back, and he wasn’t happy to find her there.”
    “Her?”
    “The woman who rescued me. The one who finds lost girls. She fought Brad off, knocked him out, tied him up. Then she got me out of the car. I hope she’s okay,” she said, her forehead creasing. “Brad shot her, but she wouldn’t let me take her to the hospital,” she said, and then she started crying.
    I clicked the television off and sat in the living room in silence. It had always been my intention to keep a low profile. I didn’t want the media circus. Being known made it so much harder to fly under the radar, which was necessary for the way I did things. I’d been toying with the idea of taking memories of me away from those I saved. Too many people now knew what I looked like, what I drove. It was only going to complicate matters. I’d been against the idea of stealing their memories, because it seemed wrong. But there was no other way to work this. I sighed and closed my eyes.
    I had just dozed off when I heard the dogs snarling, and the doorbell rang. “What now?” I growled into the empty room, and headed toward the door. I looked out the small window and groaned.
    “Are you kidding? What are you doing here?” I muttered as I opened the front door.

Chapter Three
     
    “You got shot. I’m here to check on you.” The asshole from the truck. Nain. I glared at him.
    “Were you following me again?” I was on the verge of shouting.
    “I