No One (Element Preservers, #3.5) Read Online Free Page A

Alan's curiosity usually got better of him, and this time was no different.
    "It doesn't matter. I need your help. Will you take me to one of the scientists?"
    "And why would I do that?" Alan crossed his arms. "What are you offering in exchange?"
    "I'll tell you what you want to know so badly." I concentrated on my element, which some people preferred to call a sub-element, and felt the coldness seep out of my skin. "And you'll get to live another day."
    Alan chuckled. "Would you kill me like you killed Valeria? Did ending her life make you happy?"
    "I won't do anything unless you force me to." Handing Alan's words back to him was hilarious, but I couldn't feel satisfied about it. "And I'm not like you. I don't celebrate anyone's death. How did you find out she was dead?" I had frozen Valeria to death in her office during the action to overtake the Element Preservers. Seeing her glassy eyes under all the ice should have made me feel better. I should have felt relieved that a woman responsible for so many deaths found her end, but all I felt was emptiness. Nothing I did to Valeria would have brought those people back to life. It didn't stop her from plaguing my nightmares either.
    "You forget who I am. I have many sources. And I should thank you for killing her. I wasn't very fond of her. She had her eyes on the vice presidency." Alan's loyalty usually lay with those who were of use to him, but when you got in the way of something he wanted, you became disposable. Except for me. For some reason, Alan didn't consider me disposable. At least not yet.
    "I can freeze this house in ten seconds. Will you do what I ask of you or not?"
    "Would you really kill me?" Alan was either waiting for backup or he was stalling for no other reason than to annoy me. Ria thought that Alan cared about me somewhere deep inside, but if he did, he had a twisted way of showing it.
    "Not unless I have to." And that was the truth. Damn, even though we had lived together for years, our relationship was seriously fucked up.
    "Fine. I'll take you with me so you can talk with my acquaintance," he finally said.
    "How about you tell me the name and I'll go by myself?" Preferably with a whole team of people accompanying me.
    "No. You are coming with me. People need to see that I'm still your guardian."
    I rolled my eyes. Alan could find benefits for himself in any situation. "All right." The gleam in his eyes proved that he'd enjoy taking me to the lab like in old good times. "But if you try to trick me and capture me, I'm going to kill you and anyone who tries to help you."
    "Believe it or not, you're more worth to me walking around freely this time." Alan smirked. "Now tell me. Who is your new carrier?"
    I took a deep breath and released it slowly. Most of the times, Alan could tell if I was lying, but I hoped this time would be different. No matter what, I couldn't tell him that Ria had the disease because that would be far too dangerous information to give. It was a wonder he hadn't figured it out already. "Paula." My voice was steady when I said it, and I didn't flinch under Alan's scrutinizing gaze.
    "Paula?" Surprise was etched into his face. "Your ex-girlfriend?"
    "Yes." I lowered my eyes, praying that Alan would buy my act.
    "Ria's best friend?"
    I nodded, and Alan burst out laughing. "I didn't think you'd find it so amusing," I said dryly.
    "Oh, I'm sorry, but this is hilarious. You infect someone, and it's your lover's best friend. Ria will never forgive you for that." Alan sobered almost instantly and frowned. "How did that happen exactly? Did you forget all the necessary precautions for sleeping with a normal person?"
    "I have my doubts about that. Paula has been friendly with another carrier, but Ria doesn't want to hear about it." I let annoyance show in my voice.
    "We'll talk about this in the car. I'll be right back." With a broad smile, Alan practically waltzed out of the room. This was making him way too happy. He had to have some crazy plan