Skin Walkers Conn Read Online Free Page B

water flow that mark ed the border between Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. 
    The mercenaries on her tail would be forced to split up.  With four men and three directions, her odds of escape would improve exponentially .  She just had to get down to the rapids. 
    A resurgence of hope sprung to life even as she dropped to her knees to crawl under a fallen tree that blocked her path.  Her progression halted just under the tree when the eagle landed on the ground in front of her blocking her path.  She didn’t have time for this.  She waved a hand towards the bird in an attempt to shoo it away.  Instead, the eagle spread its wings and threw its head back before … Holy shit!  I s it growing?
    Aries watched in horror as the animal grew.  Its feathers shortened, pulled tighter to its body as its legs and arms lengthened.  She was frozen with shoc k, her now ashen f ace concealed by the shadow of the trunk overhead. 
    After mere moments, the eagle had changed, shifted to the form of a man.  A fully clothed man. 
    What the… I didn’t just see that.  Did I ?  She blinked hard and lifted a hand to her head.  Did I hit my head when I landed?   That couldn’t have just happen ed !
    Aries couldn’t see the man’s face from under the tree. S he slowly inched backward hoping he hadn’t seen her.  Her whole body was trembling and she was having trouble remembering to breathe. 
    When the man dropped to h is haunches to peer at her, she gasped before scrambling backward awkwardly.  Conn?
    A strong pair of hands grabbed her shoulders and hauled her to her feet.  “There you are ! ”  She recognized York’s voice instantly, and much to her surprise she’d never been more relieved. 
    She turned to stare up at him with dazed eyes and York’s smile faltered as he looked from Aries to Conn.  “Oh boss…you didn’t.”
    “I had to stop her before she made it to the falls.”  Conn’s words w ere clipped.  He wasn’t offering excuses. 
    “But if she’s not Mason ’s sister, we’ll have to…” York’s words died off as Aries ’ mouth fell open and she stared up at him. 
    Kill me. She finished the sentence for him silently , reading the intent in his eyes .  “Look,” she turned to Conn, “I-I didn’t see anything.”
    “Fuck! ” York muttered from behind her, releasing her arms.
    “Really,” Aries’ tone was imploring.  “I won’t say anything, I swear it.”  She turned to stare up at York, “On my life, I swear it.” 
    The man she now knew as Shane stepped to York’s side to frown over her head at Conn.  “We can’t let her go now, even if she’s not Mason ’s sister.”
    “Yes!  Yes you can.” Her tone was shrill with panic .  “Who am I gonna tell?”  She jumped as Conn’s feet smacked the earth after he’d vaulted himself over the fallen tree.  She turned and walked up to him, “I don’t have anyone Conn.  There’s no one to tell.  No parents, no siblings, no lover, no friends.  I-I don’t know anyone.   You’ve seen where I live. I’m all alone out here.  It’s just me. ”
    Conn stared down at her , his hard features softening momentarily with… pity?   “Good.”  He looked over her head.  “There’ll be no one to miss you.  Shane.”
    She turned just in time to catch Shane as he shoved something hard against her arm.  He pulled his hand back and held his palm open as he smiled at her. 
    NO!  Not another tranquilizer !   Aries turned, debating on making a run for it, but she was too slow.
    “York, restrain her.  No more chances with this one.” Conn stared down at her for several moments, watching as her surprise turned to anger.
    Strong arms grabbed her shoulders and slid down to her wrists before she heard the metallic click of the handcuffs locking her arms in place behind her back .
    Her head was already getting fuzzy.  Her vision blurred and her knees buckled, but before she could hit the ground Conn grabbed her around the