War Bringer Read Online Free Page B

my eggs protected, I wouldn’t put foxes in the coop.”
    He stood and started to climb back up the rocky ledge.
    “Wait! What about me?”
    Max gave Pete a lopsided smile. “Turn around and climb up. I’m leaving you the truck. It’s still running. Guess you have about a quarter of a tank left before you got a long walk home.”

    * * *

    Fiona woke in an unfamiliar room. The bare walls looked as if they’d last seen new paint about a century ago. Bars were on the window, dimming what light the filthy panes allowed in. Daylight. How long had she been unconscious? Had they drugged her?
    It wasn’t a very large space she was in. There was a room divider midway that didn’t quite reach to the ceiling. She moved, relieved to discover she was no longer restrained. Her hand went to her neck, feeling for the team’s security necklace. It was gone, as was the security bracelet Kelan gave her. And the garnet earrings he’d surprised her with after her first week at school. Her feet were cold…and bare. At least she still had her clothes on.
    She sat up and the world began to spin around her. She groaned and braced her head in her hands.
    The floors creaked as three young women crowded the opening of her alcove. “She’s awake!” one of them announced.  
    She tried to speak, but her voice was drier than a dirt road. “Water, please,” was all she could manage to say.
    The youngest of the girls left then came back with a plastic cup full of tap water. Fiona guzzled it down as she looked at the four women staring at her. Their expressions ranged from tension to boredom.  
    Who were they, and where was she?
    “What is this place?” she asked them.
    “Typical,” the bored girl huffed. “They never know.”
    The girl standing next to her was barely more helpful. “It’s a place your old self would never know and your new self will wanna forget.”
    Fiona frowned at that cryptic announcement.  
    The bored girl rolled her eyes. “You’re in a cathouse, honey. Out in the middle of Colorado’s big, empty nowhere.”  
    Two dogs started to bark outside. The youngest girl jumped. Her eyes got big, then glazed over. The dogs ran from one side of the house around to the front, snarling at something.  
    Fiona went to the window, but whatever was happening was on the other side of the house. There was a mechanical sound like a garage door opening. The dogs were going crazy.
    “Do yourself a favor,” the bored girl said as the group left her room. “Stay put in here and don’t make a sound.” She shook her head. “No matter what you hear.”
    Someone came into the house. “Haley, girl, I’m early today. Couldn’t wait,” a man announced. “You don’t look happy to see me.” There was some shuffling of feet. One of the girls was being shoved into the alcove next to Fiona’s. “Don’t matter. Seems whatever you do works for me.”
    Fiona’s heart started to beat hard. There was a scuffle. A bed creaked. She heard the man’s heavy breathing, then the bed creaked in time with his grunts.
    Fiona covered her mouth with her hand. It seemed to go on and on. No one screamed. No one fought. You’re in a cathouse, honey, the girl had said. Were they prostitutes? None of them looked even as old as she was.  
    They had to get out of here. She looked up at the bars on the windows. Maybe there were other windows that weren’t barred. Or the front or back doors. Maybe they had a phone here—she could call Kelan. God, he had to be worried sick by now.
    Fiona slipped silently to the ground to hunch against the wall, afraid any more movement would make the floorboards creak. Someone turned on a radio, covering the sound of the girl’s whimpers.  
    Fiona knew she was a coward, shaking in this corner as she passively witnessed another woman being raped. She thought of her training with Angel. He always said if avoidance was an option, take it. But would Selena huddle here and do nothing?
    No, she wouldn’t.  
    But