Read Flawed for Free Online Page B

political criminals didn’t move.
    “You have a visitor this evening.”
    As Aalexis studied the prisoners standing at attention between their bunks, their gazes sliced toward Aalexis and Xaver with confusion. None looked for long.
    She remembered the names Rein had called when he’d writhed on the floor from the furnace she’d created in his mind, but was unsure if any had survived the raid or what they looked like. Their emotions would give them away, though. Their inability to hide their weaknesses.
    Pathetic creatures.
    Stepping forward, Aalexis examined one prisoner, then the next. Each time one dared to meet her eyes, he’d quickly look away, like a submissive dog.
    Her eyes stopped at one male with unkempt dark hair peppered with grey. He didn’t look away like the rest, but stared at her with fascination, as if he recognized her. His sand-brown eyes were wide, and his lips pursed together. When he noticed Aalexis watching him, he quickly averted his gaze.
    Trying to ignore the odor, Aalexis went and stood directly in front of him. “Woody?”
    Although he stared straight ahead, his mouth twinged, subtly, right around the corners.
    “Jordan?”
    A shadow crossed his face and a line formed over his nose.
    There was only one name left. “Doc.”
    His eyes flicked down and back up, and she watched his Adam’s apple move as he swallowed. He didn’t acknowledge her, though.
    Within the next moment, the prisoner hung from Xaver’s grasp. The others next to the male flinched away.
    “My sister requires an answer,” Xaver said with no nuance in his voice or face, as if a person wasn’t dangling from his fingertips at all.
    Eyes bulging, he clutched pathetically at Xaver’s hands. “Yes,” he croaked.
    “You know Ellyssa?” she asked, although she knew the answer.
    As expected, the male named Doc attempted a nod.
    Xaver released him.
    “You will come with me,” she said, and walked away.

5
    By the time the SUV slowed and turned, Ellyssa’s clothing stuck to her skin, her hair damp. Being stuck between Woody and Rein was unbearable; their bodies were like radiators. If Trista didn’t pull over soon, she was going to melt.
    A few uncomfortable bounces down the road later, she received her wish. Muffled voices shouted.
    Rein and Woody stiffened; their tension rolled into Ellyssa. Knowing she was at the mercy of strangers, she fought the instinct to kick out the cushion and escape.
    The window hummed as it rolled down. Trista said, “Open up, would you?”
    Rein relaxed, pulling her closer. “It’s someone she knows,” he whispered, his breath brushing against her ear. His words didn’t calm her instincts.
    Indecipherable words were spoken. The SUV edged forward, then came to a stop. Heart thundering in Ellyssa’s ears, Trista opened the driver’s side door.
    “Where have you been?” a muffled male, the tone familiar.
    Trista didn’t answer. Instead, she grunted as she wiggled the cushion free.
    Light spilled through, blurring Ellyssa’s sight. She flinched, blinked a few times and opened her eyes to Trista’s triumphant smile.
    “I told you I’d find them,” she said, stepping back.
    Two familiar faces poked their heads inside the car. Wearing overalls over a thick, blue sweater, Tim’s eyebrow-less eyes were the size of saucers, and Sarah, dressed in a long coat as yellow as the sunflowers Ellyssa remembered in her kitchen, nodded. Her youthful eyes sparkled, defying the wrinkles embedded around her mouth and eyes.
    “Oh, my lord,” the older female said. “I can’t believe it. You were right, Trista. Here, you three, get out, get out.” She playfully hit Tim on the shoulder, waking him from his stupor. “Would you move?”
    Tim blinked and shook his head, casting light reflections across his bald head. “Yeah, sure.” He stepped back. “I can’t believe it. You really did find them.”
    “I told you.”
    Grunting, Woody pulled himself over the side, landed on the floorboard and