The Returned Read Online Free Page A

now.”
    â€œRight,” Con said, his British accent drowning the t sound. “So there might be trouble. No worries, love. We got your back.” He nudged the tall, thin boy next to him. “Right, mate?”
    â€œUm, yeah.”
    Wraith looked at Geek. In contrast to Con’s pale skin, his was a warm brown. He wore thick glasses and a Green Lantern shirt that was a couple of sizes too big but just barely long enough. Despite his appearance, he was half troll. That meant he was stronger than ten Schwarzeneggers. But he had the gentlest soul Wraith had ever encountered.
    â€œYou sure you’re up for this?” she asked him.
    He nodded.
    Wraith could see the uncertainty in his dark eyes. She gave him a gentle smile. “It’s okay if you’re not.”
    â€œNo, I wanted to be here,” he said and pushed his glasses up higher on his nose.
    â€œBrilliant,” Con said. “You have your word with her, and if anyone interrupts, I’ll give them a hot foot, or our man here can feed them their own teeth.”
    Wraith rolled her eyes, turned around, and started walking toward River.
    â€œWhat?” Con said as he and Geek followed.
    Wraith kept scanning the area. This part of Houston was controlled by the Purple Death, a local but dangerous gang that had its hands in guns, drugs, and sex trafficking. A piece of Wraith hoped something would happen.
    â€œHi,” Wraith said when she got close enough. “River, right?”
    The nixie girl looked around nervously. “Yeah, do I know you?”
    â€œI’m Wraith,” she said and gestured to her friends. “These are my friends. The short one is Con, the tall guy is Geek.”
    River looked from the boys to Wraith. “I, um, I don’t really do groups—”
    â€œBloody hell, love,” Con said. “We ain’t customers.”
    â€œWe’re here to get you out,” Wraith said. “We have a place where people like us can go.”
    River looked very nervous. “What do you mean? I don’t—”
    Wraith smiled. “Con and I are slingers. Geek is a fifty, like you.”
    â€œWell, not like you,” he said through a nervous smile.
    â€œYou got a crush, mate?” Con asked in a whisper.
    Geek elbowed him, almost knocking him into the street.
    River’s eyes darted around. “I have a place.”
    â€œYou have a pimp and his gang,” Wraith said. “We can get you off the street. We’ll teach you how to take care of yourself.”
    â€œI—”
    â€œI know you’re scared,” Wraith said. “You don’t know us. As far as you know, we could be another pimp. Or something worse.”
    River’s silence confirmed this thought.
    â€œI promise you we’re not,” Wraith said. “This is a real offer, and it comes from a magister of the Rogue Court. Her name is Brigid, and she wants to help.”
    River’s eyes went hard. “Yeah? Well, where was she when my dad kicked me out? Where was she when I was starving and had to let some forty-year-old perv—?”
    â€œThere’re a lot of us out here, River,” Wraith said. “We’re getting to people as fast as we can.” She stepped close and looked the girl in the eye. “Trust me, I’ve been through some pretty horrible shit too. We all have. You’re not alone.”
    â€œWhat’s your angle?” River said.
    â€œI don’t like bullies,” Wraith said. “I do like knowing I did something to help make someone’s life a little better though.”
    â€œBullshit,” River said. “Nobody does nothing unless there’s something in it for them.”
    â€œShe does,” Geek said. “And we do.”
    Wraith noticed River almost smile at Geek. “Look, you can come with us and get some clean clothes, something to eat, and a good night’s sleep. You won’t have to worry about someone