Read Magic Rising for Free Online Page B

out and take her.
    Deirdre shivered and looked around, feeling paranoid. Being in any public place now made her feel strange, exposed. She needed to get out of there and she knew where she had to go back, even if she’d sworn to never return. She had to discover what was left of that hell and what connection remained to her.
    The painted path from the locker room to the exit went by the punching bag. She wasn’t dressed for boxing, and didn’t even have her gloves out. Stress filled her though and the temptation grew overwhelming. As she walked by, she kicked up, swinging her foot against the bag and knocking it hard into the wall behind. Two chains on the front broke loose and the bag swung awkwardly back and forth from the remaining chain.
    “Deirdre?” Chad walked up wearing his standard Hannah’s Gym t-shirt and sweats. “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing.”
    “You only break my equipment when something is wrong.”
    Hannah’s Gym was named after the owner Chad Griff’s daughter, Hannah. The name threw people. Everyone expected a female to be the owner. Few asked why he’d done it. After a sparring match with Chad, Deirdre had. Chad used to be an addict, one of those heroine fools ready to beg, borrow, or steal for a fix. Then his girlfriend got pregnant. He never shot up again. Two years later he borrowed enough money to start this gym and named it after the girl who had saved his life. Hannah was sixteen now, the gym fourteen.
    “Sorry. I’ll pay for the damage.” She started to the door.
    “I don’t want you to pay for the damage; I want to know what’s bothering you.”
    Deirdre felt his hand on her shoulder and stopped walking. Most people would’ve earned her venom for touching her, but Chad was different. She respected him.
    “How about some coffee? I just started a pot brewing.”
    She turned and silently followed him through the gym to the rear section where a heavy glass door led to a set of offices. He held the door open for her, then proceeded to the back where he kept his office.
    “So what’s going on?” He poured two coffee cups and put one in front of her.
    “It’s complicated.” She sat in the vinyl chair to the side of his desk, wishing she hadn’t come in here. She should’ve dealt with Farmer, not given into the temptation of prolonging her trip to her old school.
    “Everything is complicated with you.”
    The hot black liquid was compelling. She usually drank nothing but water, but Chad’s special blend was an enticement she couldn’t resist. Trying to ignore him, she blew into the cup.
    “Talk Deirdre or I’ll drive you nuts asking questions.”
    “That’s the last thing I need.” She let out a long breath, wondering where to begin. Most people had a simple childhood, not like hers. Her past didn’t consist of ex-boyfriends or family sagas around a rebellious streak. “Somebody’s nosing into my business and I don’t know what to do about him.”
    “Is it a friend or foe?” Chad looked grim, keeping his eyes on her.
    “Foe. An asshole cop.”
    “It isn’t your boyfriend, is it?”
    “No and Noah isn’t my boyfriend.” She pulled a piece of lint off her pants, trying to find something to look at instead of Chad. “I don’t like people digging around about me. There’s a Detective Ryan Farmer who has made me his pet project.”
    Chad raised an eyebrow. “So, do what you always do when you don’t like a situation. Investigate and handle the problem.” He studied her closer. “There’s something different about this one, isn’t there? It’s too personal and you can’t take it.”
    She hated when he knew her motivations. “I can take anything. I was already planning to look into this.” Deirdre sipped the coffee and scalded her tongue. She took a few breaths through her mouth, trying to ease the burn.
    “Are you in some kind of trouble?”
    She hadn’t thought about it. The idea that Farmer could hurt her seemed ridiculous after everything she’d