The Revolt (The Reapers: Book Two) Read Online Free Page B

turned. He didn’t bother to
look at me and make sure I was okay, he looked at the guy who’d
pushed me. The guy who was moving toward Jed, his fists raised. I
rolled and started to get up, but a boot caught me in the shoulder
and pinned me to the ground. My attacker kneeled on my stomach and
dug his knee in. “You should have stayed at home, little girl,” the
man said, his breath hot and reeking of garlic against my
cheek.
    Garlic Breath straddled me as I struggled
against him. I was so scared my heart was trying to beat its way
out of my chest. I couldn’t give in to fear this time. I had to
fight. I bucked up and he fell forward, giving me enough leverage
to trap his arms with my own and use all of my body weight to roll
him off. The next step would have been to straddle him and throw
some punches, but he rolled away and stood too quickly for me to
act. He kicked me, hard, in the side, and dropped back down onto my
waist. His face low over mine, his breath making me want to gag.
“I’m going to have some fun with you,” he said, as though he were
original.
    I rolled my eyes and did my best not to look
terrified at the thought. “I’m pretty sure no woman who’s ever been
under you has had fun.” My body might freeze up when I was
threatened, but apparently my mouth worked just fine.
    He laughed, but there was an edge to it that
told me I was getting close to pissing him off enough to make him
even dumber than he already was. “I’m going to prove you wrong,
sugar.” I took a moment to glance at Jed and saw him standing, his
face calm, watching us. The other guy was on the pavement, eyes
closed, not moving. Terror spiked through me, as I realized Jed
wasn’t going to help me.
    I returned my attention to Garlic Breath.
“Really? Because it feels like you don’t have a whole lot to
offer.” I directed my eyes toward the object of my insult and
laughed. He hit me before I’d finished laughing, but I was waiting
for it. I felt him change his balance to wind up for the punch and
I bucked him off, elbowing him in the groin as he fell, and rolled
to my feet. His punch landed on my temple with considerably less
force than he’d intended, but it still hurt and gave me an instant
pounding headache.
    Jed finally moved and punched Garlic Breath
hard in the face. While he was on the ground, clutching his nose,
Jed grabbed my hand and pulled me back to the condo at a run.
    Once we were back, behind a locked door, and
I’d caught my breath. I managed the energy to glare at him. “What
took you so long?”
    He shrugged from his seat in the armchair. “I
wanted to see what Cat taught you. Besides, I figured you deserved
it since you were stupid enough to leave the condo. After having
seen you fight, I’ve raised my estimation of your stupidity.”
    “Gee, thanks.” I would bet he also wanted a
little payback for me tattling on his brother, but I knew better
than to say it. “So why’d you bother using your fists? Couldn’t you
have just knocked him out with your mind?” Jed’s a powerful
telekinetic, or so I’d heard. I’d never actually seen him move
anything without his hands.
    “They were regular humans. I didn’t see any
sign of possession and I couldn’t risk them running around blabbing
about the guy who beat them up with telekinesis.”
    “Uh-huh.” I wasn’t sure I believed him. He’d
been incredibly rude to me and believing him seemed a politeness he
didn’t deserve. “So why are you here anyway?”
    He widened his eyes and shook his head.
“Someone’s got to keep you from getting yourself killed. What the
hell were you thinking putting yourself out there like that?”
    That made me even angrier, because I knew he
was right and because pretty much every part of my body hurt. “I
was thinking I’ve been threatened by reapers before and I’m not
going to stop living my life or give up what’s important to me
because of them.”
    “I would think you would have the sense to
realize this