Relic (The Brethren Series) Read Online Free Page A

and seeking out every nook and cranny that Jared could’ve fallen into. She’d tried to find the elusive Dr. Chappo and come up short every time. She lived everyday with the terrible notion that something evil had befallen her brother. Not a day passed that guilt didn’t wash over her as she remembered the last angry thoughts she had of him so many months ago. The only one who had helped at all? Monica Rainchild.
    Monica helped her understand there were things in this world that couldn’t be explained simply, like her experience with the goddess statue. She learned to accept that as a unique event and move on with her life. Other than some raging hot, erotic dreams she’d been having with a dream lover, nothing more had occurred, so Serena attributed that experience to too much stress and too little sleep. Monica also agreed with her, however, she also saw that something dark had surrounded her brother, something evil. But she couldn’t locate him or tell whether he was alive or dead.
    Thrust back to reality by the ring of a telephone, Serena focused on the large envelope on her desk blotter. Drained, emotionally and physically, she picked it up and left without a word.
    “Serena, wait! Damn it all.” The gravel crunched as Callie hurried to catch up. “I’m such an ass and so sorry! I wasn’t thinking, with being on the phone and all. Please, forgive me. It was insensitive of me to tell you there was a delivery waiting on your desk, and I promise not to do it anymore. I won’t even put packages in your office from now on.”
    “Callie, don’t be ridiculous. An envelope came for me. You told me where to find it. What’s insensitive about that? I’m the one who’s sorry, making you feel as though you need to tiptoe around me. I’m the ass who can’t seem to move on. I love you, girlfriend, now let me go. I need some space, okay? I’ll be fine. I’m going home. Tomorrow’s another day, isn’t it? I’ll try to have my act together by then. I owe it to you. I owe it to all of you.”
    Serena hugged her dear friend, hopped in her Jeep, and drove off in a flurry of dust and sand.
     
    ***
     
    I want to scream. No, I want to cry. Even better, I want to bust something up big time. As she attempted to unlock her front door, it swung open on its own, and her pulse skyrocketed into fast and furious.
    “Holy shit!” She froze on the threshold, looking around at the mess that used to be her living room. “What on God’s green earth?” She backed away and ran to her Jeep. She dug feverishly into her backpack for her cell phone. With trembling hands, she managed to call 911 and waited where she thought she’d be most secure until the police arrived, scrunched up by the Jeep’s floorboards. After what seemed like a lifetime, she heard sirens blaring. The crunch of the gritty dirt and car doors slamming meant the police had arrived.
    “Johnson, take the front. Mahoney, take the rear. Edwards, secure the perimeter. Ms. Sikes? Is that you in there?” She heard a strong and confident voice call from above her. “You can come out now, ma’am. We’ve got everything in hand. We’ll keep you safe.”
    “I…I can’t move. I…I’m scared stiff, literally.”
    “Here, let me help you out. No need to worry. It’ll all be fine now. Can you reach your hands out to me?”
    “I…I think so.” She held out her hands ever so slightly, and the officer gently pulled her out of her hiding spot. She landed unceremoniously draped over him, but he quickly righted her and sat her on the ground. “Thank you, Officer…?”
    “That’d be Plummer, ma’am. And you’re welcome. Now why don’t you drink some of this water I have here? Don’t want you going all shocky on me.”
    “Okay.” The water tasted like a gift from heaven, sliding down her parched throat. It did nothing, though to calm her nerves.
    “Area’s secure, sir. No one inside or out, but the place sure is a disaster. Won’t know what’s missing