Read 03 Solar Flare - Spark Series for Free Online Page B

and we go, I promise.” He told the receptionist
what he wanted and escorted Brandy to a chair at the side of the
room. He brushed her hair from her face and looked at her
carefully. “Are you sure he didn’t hurt you? We can do something
about that here.”
    She stared at him until his meaning
penetrated. Heat flushed her skin. “He…” She had to pause and
swallow. “He got his hand in my…d-down my pants,” she whispered,
unable to look at him. “That’s when I hit him.”
    Azor opened his mouth to say something, then
his face hardened. He stared at something over her shoulder.
    Chilled, she looked and saw a man come in on
a stretcher. He was clutching his knee. The nightmare continued.
“It’s him,” she said softly.
    Azor nodded and gripped her hand
reassuringly, then went over and spoke to an orderly. The exchange
only lasted a moment, and then he returned to her side. “Come on.
It’s time for your blood test.”
    She stared at him, not comprehending. Her
attacker was here and Azor wanted her blood?
    “He’s not going anywhere,” he assured her,
interpreting her look. “They think you dislocated his knee. I’ll
have plenty of time to arrest him after we take care of you.”
    She took in a shaky breath and nodded. “I’m
glad I hurt him.”
    The next half hour was confusing. She had to
ask twice why they were there. Azor stepped out once or twice, but
it seemed he was back quickly each time. He drove her home and
walked her up to her suite. She wasn’t afraid to have him
there.
    “You should try to rest,” he suggested once
he had her inside. “Unless you want to wait for your sister. She’ll
be here soon.”
    Brandy frowned. “Why? You’re here.” The
terrors of the night had shown her how foolish her attitude about
Azor had been. Yes, they’d once been adversaries, and she’d
remember that. She’d also remember his kindness to her tonight.
He’d been much more than the sum of her memories, which is where
she’d been living. It was time she gave him a second chance.
    He looked down. “I shouldn’t be here long.
You need your family.”
    She sighed. “You’re wrong, but I’m tired. If
I can sleep, I want to.”
    He nodded and brushed the hair from her face.
“You can still call me. I’ll answer.”
    “You keep doing that,” she told him solemnly.
“Touching my hair.”
    He immediately stopped. “I’m sorry.”
    “It doesn’t hurt.” She looked at him for a
moment. “Thank you. For tonight.”
    “I’m glad you called. I’ll check on you
tomorrow.” He hesitated. “Remember what they said about after
effects. If you have problems later….”
    “I’ll tell someone,” she promised.
    “Good.” There was an awkward pause.
“Goodnight.”
    “Night.” She stared at the door, then headed
for her room. She was so very tired.
     
     

CHAPTER 4
     
    Azor went to the bar after he dropped Brandy
off and had a quiet word with the bartender. He never had to issue
any threats—the cold look in his eyes spoke for him. The bartender
swore he hadn’t doctored the drink. He also told him the club’s
owners rented rooms occasionally and gave him a contact number.
    Azor promised he’d be in touch. The barkeep
didn’t look thrilled to hear it.
    Renting rooms was hardly an offense. The
owners could claim it was for patrons who were too intoxicated to
drive, but it was a weak sell, since there were plenty of cabs
willing to ferry drunks.
    He had a look at one of the rooms in
question. It was tiny and bare of everything but a bed, toilet and
sink. There was nothing to incriminate Darren Topek, though. He
hadn’t thought there would be.
    A few people remembered Brandy pushing her
way out, but nothing else. By the time he was through it was
getting late—or early—and the place was thinning out.
    Though he didn’t yet have a warrant, Azor
wasn’t the kind of man to let that slow him down. He found Darren
Topek’s address and parked two blocks away, in front of bakery.