Shadows to Light (Shadows of Justice 5) Read Online Free Page A
Author: Regan Black
she could see it in the bright afternoon sunlight. She couldn't believe it. Her hearing had started early, but her body felt like it had been standing for days rather than a few hours. Medically, she understood the phenomenon. There wasn't much she didn't understand in the human body, but that didn't make feeling it any easier.
She paused at the picnic area with its shaded tables and ruthlessly groomed privet hedge. It seemed not even a leaf was allowed to grow out of place in her order's headquarters.
No wonder she wasn't welcome. She'd grown well beyond anyone's expectations or knowledge. A dark sedan pulled up at the wrought iron gate and the rear door swung open.
Trap or salvation?
Her display beeped, though she was sure she only heard it in her head. No red dots in front of her. But two red dots in the building were gaining on her position. She waved the cuff over the gate lock and strolled through as if every janitor got a ride home from work in a private car. Sliding into the darkness of the back seat, she felt butter-soft leather under her palms just before the unmistakable hiss of a hypospray met her neck and her world went dark.
Chapter 2
Mira eased out from under the sedative, but kept her eyes closed, listening for clues to her location. The air smelled too clean, not specifically antiseptic, but no trace of the leather of the car she'd climbed into.
She recognized the feel of a hospital bed supporting her, and a light sheet pulled up to her chin, but she knew she wasn't in a typical medical facility. Not hearing anyone in the room with her, she opened her eyes, blinking several times at the blank white ceiling. The display in her contacts had either shut off, or the contacts had been removed. There was no sense playing coy, if they had monitors, they already knew she was awake.
Mira didn't sit up right away, instead she flexed her toes, feet, fingers and hands, testing for restraints as well as perking up her blood flow. The lack of restraints gave her a little hope. Sitting up, she glanced around, taking in the window, a door opposite and another door across from the bed. In a hospital that would most likely lead to the bathroom. Appearances to the contrary, her instincts said she wasn't in any sort of real facility. Weird.
Other than a little twinge at the hypospray site, she felt completely normal and was relieved to see she was still dressed in the janitor's uniform.
A chime sounded and the door swung open. A woman entered with a confident stride, carrying a tray in one hand and a shopping bag in the other.
The honey blond hair and intense green eyes proved unforgettable. Mira had treated this woman several months ago. In a Chicago hospital. Even now, she remembered the intense energy of this particular patient, could practically feel the woman's strong heart beat as she walked closer.
"Hi there. I'm Jaden."
It seemed the recognition was one-sided, just the way Mira preferred.
"Sorry for the theatrics earlier, but security matters. No bad side effects, I hope?"
"None," Mira replied. "What's going on?"
"Right now?" Jaden smiled. "Breakfast. Go ahead and eat. They tell me you'll be hungry."
On cue, Mira's stomach rumbled. "How long was I out?" She adjusted the bed and accepted the aromatic tray.
"Long enough," Jaden evaded. "I was only told to pick you up and bring you here."
Mira poked at the scrambled eggs, wondering if she could trust the food. "And here is?"
"Chicago." Jaden leaned forward and took a bite of the eggs in question. "The food's safe. You're safe, I promise."
Mira couldn't argue without information and denying herself would only weaken her. Besides, if her mother was right, she'd be dead by now, or worse, stripped of her gift. She ate, only mildly uncomfortable as Jaden watched in silence.
"I brought you some better clothes and supplies," she said, patting the shopping bag.
"Thanks."
"I don't know what kind of trouble you're in specifically. We were just the pick up
She paused at the picnic area with its shaded tables and ruthlessly groomed privet hedge. It seemed not even a leaf was allowed to grow out of place in her order's headquarters.
No wonder she wasn't welcome. She'd grown well beyond anyone's expectations or knowledge. A dark sedan pulled up at the wrought iron gate and the rear door swung open.
Trap or salvation?
Her display beeped, though she was sure she only heard it in her head. No red dots in front of her. But two red dots in the building were gaining on her position. She waved the cuff over the gate lock and strolled through as if every janitor got a ride home from work in a private car. Sliding into the darkness of the back seat, she felt butter-soft leather under her palms just before the unmistakable hiss of a hypospray met her neck and her world went dark.
Chapter 2
Mira eased out from under the sedative, but kept her eyes closed, listening for clues to her location. The air smelled too clean, not specifically antiseptic, but no trace of the leather of the car she'd climbed into.
She recognized the feel of a hospital bed supporting her, and a light sheet pulled up to her chin, but she knew she wasn't in a typical medical facility. Not hearing anyone in the room with her, she opened her eyes, blinking several times at the blank white ceiling. The display in her contacts had either shut off, or the contacts had been removed. There was no sense playing coy, if they had monitors, they already knew she was awake.
Mira didn't sit up right away, instead she flexed her toes, feet, fingers and hands, testing for restraints as well as perking up her blood flow. The lack of restraints gave her a little hope. Sitting up, she glanced around, taking in the window, a door opposite and another door across from the bed. In a hospital that would most likely lead to the bathroom. Appearances to the contrary, her instincts said she wasn't in any sort of real facility. Weird.
Other than a little twinge at the hypospray site, she felt completely normal and was relieved to see she was still dressed in the janitor's uniform.
A chime sounded and the door swung open. A woman entered with a confident stride, carrying a tray in one hand and a shopping bag in the other.
The honey blond hair and intense green eyes proved unforgettable. Mira had treated this woman several months ago. In a Chicago hospital. Even now, she remembered the intense energy of this particular patient, could practically feel the woman's strong heart beat as she walked closer.
"Hi there. I'm Jaden."
It seemed the recognition was one-sided, just the way Mira preferred.
"Sorry for the theatrics earlier, but security matters. No bad side effects, I hope?"
"None," Mira replied. "What's going on?"
"Right now?" Jaden smiled. "Breakfast. Go ahead and eat. They tell me you'll be hungry."
On cue, Mira's stomach rumbled. "How long was I out?" She adjusted the bed and accepted the aromatic tray.
"Long enough," Jaden evaded. "I was only told to pick you up and bring you here."
Mira poked at the scrambled eggs, wondering if she could trust the food. "And here is?"
"Chicago." Jaden leaned forward and took a bite of the eggs in question. "The food's safe. You're safe, I promise."
Mira couldn't argue without information and denying herself would only weaken her. Besides, if her mother was right, she'd be dead by now, or worse, stripped of her gift. She ate, only mildly uncomfortable as Jaden watched in silence.
"I brought you some better clothes and supplies," she said, patting the shopping bag.
"Thanks."
"I don't know what kind of trouble you're in specifically. We were just the pick up
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