Read Jason (Kings of Guardian #4) for Free Online Page B
Authors: Kris Michaels
still didn’t pay well enough for Cal and Helena to live within the city limits. Thankfully, Cal was permitted to keep his residence in the outskirts of Garden City next door to Faith and Reece.
Faith took a calming breath and let herself into her doublewide trailer. She quieted Tippy, who automatically turned into a whirlwind of energy when anyone entered the front door.
She got her baby into some clean Hulk pajamas and gave him some children’s Tylenol for his fever. Apple juice and graham crackers on the Captain America TV tray sat at the ready in case he could stomach anything. Faith made him comfortable on the big sectional in the front room and turned on the cartoon channel.
She peeked out the blinds, checking for movement down the street. The motorcycle had definitely been a Harley. The deep, throaty growl of the engine was unmistakable. She’d grown up around the bikes. She knew the sound.
She paced nervously for a couple minutes before she sat down and pulled Reece onto her lap. He snuggled close and closed his eyes. Faith ran her hand through his dark brown hair. There was nothing she wouldn’t do to protect her baby from that life. She cast a glance down the hall to the closet that held their suitcases. Theo had bolted a safe to the floor of the closet and put in a fake wall so it wouldn’t be noticed. Every penny she’d ever saved and the gun her brother had taught her to use was in that safe. No, those sadistic bastards would never get their hands on her or Reece.
Faith leaned back and let the cushions surround them. Tippy jumped up onto the couch and lay down beside Faith, laying his head on Reece’s leg. She patted the dog’s head and closed her eyes, chastising herself for overreacting.
A soft knock on the door woke Faith. She glanced down at her sleeping son and blinked, trying to push sleep from her consciousness. Carefully, she shifted and laid Reece onto the couch before she crossed the room and peeked out the blinds. Helena stood on the porch and was lifting her hand to knock again. Faith opened the door and put her finger over her lips.
“Shh… Reece is sick.”
“Oh. That explains why you’re home so early.” Helena returned the hushed whisper.
“Yeah. Come in.”
Faith shut the door behind her and they moved into the kitchen so they could talk. “What’s wrong with Boo?”
“The daycare thinks it’s the flu. He’s got a low-grade fever and he threw up at the center. Max is covering for me for the rest of the week.”
“He didn’t give you any problems about that, did he?” Helena went to the refrigerator and pulled out the ever-available pitcher of sweet tea. She lifted it and nodded toward Faith. Faith retrieved two glasses and watched Helena pour the southern staple.
“No, he is such a beautiful person. I’m off until Monday.”
“You going to put off Superman?”
Faith lifted the glass halfway to her lips and froze. She’d forgotten about Mr. King. Damn. No, she wasn’t going to go out tonight. Not with Reece sick and not after hearing that damn motorcycle.
“I’ll call him and explain. He said he’d be in town until we spoke. I hate to make him spend another night in a hotel, but hopefully he’ll understand.”
“If he doesn’t, you can tell him to hit the road.” Helena was a no-nonsense kind of woman. That’s why they got along so well.
“I have his card.” Faith went to the refrigerator and moved a magnet, freeing the thick card stock. She flipped it over and pulled out her cell phone.
“Don’t forget to block your number.” Helena sat at the island countertop that served as Faith’s dining table.
“I always do.” Faith hit *67 and dialed Mr. King’s number.
The phone rang three times before he answered it. “Good afternoon, Ms. Collins.”
Faith cut her surprised glance to Helena. “I blocked my number, how did you know it was me?”
“As I told you, I work for Guardian Security. We have all the cool gadgets.”
“Oh.”
Faith took a calming breath and let herself into her doublewide trailer. She quieted Tippy, who automatically turned into a whirlwind of energy when anyone entered the front door.
She got her baby into some clean Hulk pajamas and gave him some children’s Tylenol for his fever. Apple juice and graham crackers on the Captain America TV tray sat at the ready in case he could stomach anything. Faith made him comfortable on the big sectional in the front room and turned on the cartoon channel.
She peeked out the blinds, checking for movement down the street. The motorcycle had definitely been a Harley. The deep, throaty growl of the engine was unmistakable. She’d grown up around the bikes. She knew the sound.
She paced nervously for a couple minutes before she sat down and pulled Reece onto her lap. He snuggled close and closed his eyes. Faith ran her hand through his dark brown hair. There was nothing she wouldn’t do to protect her baby from that life. She cast a glance down the hall to the closet that held their suitcases. Theo had bolted a safe to the floor of the closet and put in a fake wall so it wouldn’t be noticed. Every penny she’d ever saved and the gun her brother had taught her to use was in that safe. No, those sadistic bastards would never get their hands on her or Reece.
Faith leaned back and let the cushions surround them. Tippy jumped up onto the couch and lay down beside Faith, laying his head on Reece’s leg. She patted the dog’s head and closed her eyes, chastising herself for overreacting.
A soft knock on the door woke Faith. She glanced down at her sleeping son and blinked, trying to push sleep from her consciousness. Carefully, she shifted and laid Reece onto the couch before she crossed the room and peeked out the blinds. Helena stood on the porch and was lifting her hand to knock again. Faith opened the door and put her finger over her lips.
“Shh… Reece is sick.”
“Oh. That explains why you’re home so early.” Helena returned the hushed whisper.
“Yeah. Come in.”
Faith shut the door behind her and they moved into the kitchen so they could talk. “What’s wrong with Boo?”
“The daycare thinks it’s the flu. He’s got a low-grade fever and he threw up at the center. Max is covering for me for the rest of the week.”
“He didn’t give you any problems about that, did he?” Helena went to the refrigerator and pulled out the ever-available pitcher of sweet tea. She lifted it and nodded toward Faith. Faith retrieved two glasses and watched Helena pour the southern staple.
“No, he is such a beautiful person. I’m off until Monday.”
“You going to put off Superman?”
Faith lifted the glass halfway to her lips and froze. She’d forgotten about Mr. King. Damn. No, she wasn’t going to go out tonight. Not with Reece sick and not after hearing that damn motorcycle.
“I’ll call him and explain. He said he’d be in town until we spoke. I hate to make him spend another night in a hotel, but hopefully he’ll understand.”
“If he doesn’t, you can tell him to hit the road.” Helena was a no-nonsense kind of woman. That’s why they got along so well.
“I have his card.” Faith went to the refrigerator and moved a magnet, freeing the thick card stock. She flipped it over and pulled out her cell phone.
“Don’t forget to block your number.” Helena sat at the island countertop that served as Faith’s dining table.
“I always do.” Faith hit *67 and dialed Mr. King’s number.
The phone rang three times before he answered it. “Good afternoon, Ms. Collins.”
Faith cut her surprised glance to Helena. “I blocked my number, how did you know it was me?”
“As I told you, I work for Guardian Security. We have all the cool gadgets.”
“Oh.”