Thorn: Carter Kids #2 Read Online Free Page B

hiding, he was weakened. I knew JD wouldn’t forget about me, not by a long shot, but right now I was taking one small victory at a time.
    I would sleep soundly tonight because the grudge I had feared George was holding had died with him.
    The man who knew my weakness was dead.
    And my Thorn was safe.
     

     
    THE REMAINDER OF SPRING passed in a hazy blur, and by the time summer arrived, Hope and I were settling back into the Irish culture and lifestyle. We had found ourselves a nice little bedsit close to Salt Hill where we had lived contently for the past three months, but one visit from Hope’s parents last week, and it was decided that our living quarters weren’t close to being good enough for their only daughter.
    Mr. Carter made a few phone calls and one night’s packing and a four-hour drive later we found ourselves standing in the swankiest bachelorette pad ever in the Rebel County.
    I wasn’t friends with Hope for the money, but the fact that her dad was loaded with cash didn’t hurt. Personally, I would have preferred to stay in Galway, but I was homeless and the Carter’s had the money, so it was their call.
    “I can’t believe you actually own this place,” I told my best friend as I unpacked a box of towels. “This is insane.” It wasn’t a huge apartment– two bedrooms, with one bathroom and a kitchen/lounge – but it was beautiful and in a really safe part of the city. This place made our bedsit look like a cow shed. “Most nineteen year old girls get hair straighteners for their birthday, Hope. You get a property.”
    “You know what my father says,” Hope huffed as she balanced a gigantic box against her thigh, lowering it onto our brand new coffee table, matching our brand new L shaped couch. “Rent money is dead money.” Dropping the box on the table, Hope stretched her back and let out a sigh. “This isn’t a freebie, Teegs, and I’m not accepting this place as a birthday gift either. I’ll pay him back.”
    “I don’t think he minds, Hope,” I assured her, holding back on the sarcasm. Being in debt to her dad was a touchy subject for Hope. She hated getting handouts. For a daddy’s girl, she was unusually independent and incredibly self-sufficient.
    “I mind, Teagan,” Hope shot back, “I…”
    Hope’s phone went off and she dropped everything she was doing before bolting down the hallway towards her bedroom.
    Of course, I knew why she was rushing to get to the phone. It was the same reason Mr. and Mrs. Carter had flown back to the states instead of helping us move.
    Noah was being sentenced today.
    When I thought about Noah locked away in some shitty penitentiary half way across the world my chest squeezed so tightly I could barely draw a breath.
    A huge chunk of me wanted to board the next flight just to be there for him, to support him and love him; but then I remembered what he had done to me and I shut those feelings down. I couldn’t feel sorry for him, it would break me, and I couldn’t cry for him because if I did, if I let myself mourn, I would never stop.
     

     
    “TEAGAN, LOOK AT ME . Look at me.” Noah’s eyes were red and pained. “This is not your fault. Do you understand me? This is my fault, baby, and you’re not going down for it.”
    The sound of sirens blasted through my ears and panic tore through me.
    Noah hissed out a sharp breath. “The second this belt cracks, I want you to get out of this car and run.” He caught my chin between his fingers. “Do not stop running. Do not wait for me.”
    I ran and ran until every breath left my body – until I couldn’t run any further.
    Hiding behind a boulder on the side of the dirt road, I sank to my knees and wept.
    Noah…
    What was going to happen to him?
    Oh god, I shouldn’t have left him there. I was a horrible person.
    Every fiber of my being demanded I go back there and help him, do something, anything… but I couldn’t move.
    I was frozen in fear.
    In shock.
    I must have stood in our