Read Strength (Mark of Nexus #1) for Free Online

He stood up and leaned against his dresser. “But you’ve been acting really touchy about this whole Wallace thing. Is there something you’re not telling us?”
    “Do you live inside a Lifetime movie, Aiden?” I snapped, crossing the room. “I swear, I can’t say anything around here. If you guys won’t deal with this, I will.”
    Josh jerked his head back to look at me, like I’d completely lost it. “What are you going to do?”
    “Watch.” I gave the door handle a jerk and stormed into the common area. My fist shook as I raised it, giving the wood grain a sharp rap. C’mon, c’mon. Just let me get this over with.
    One minute passed and then another. I shifted my weight and knocked again, listening to the muffled groans from within. Wallace wasn’t making this any easier.
    Aiden cracked his door open and peered out with a grave expression. “I get it, Rena. You don’t have to take it this far.”
    “I’m not doing this for your benefit.” I pounded on the door, and we both jumped as something made a loud crack.
    He heaved a sigh, glancing at the other door. “Well, it seems like he’d rather be left alone.”
    I stared at the door, slowly lowering my arm. How could I retreat after making such a bold declaration? Why couldn’t Wallace just open the door and assure me it was all a big misunderstanding?
    With a half-defeated sigh, I plunked down on the sofa wedged in the corner. “I’ll just wait until this”—I gestured toward the door—“passes.”
    Aiden sighed again, slipping past the door to sit beside me. “It’ll be another twenty or thirty minutes. You might need some company.”
    I looked at him out of the corner of my eye and felt my lips pull back in an unexpected smile. “Thank you.”

Chapter Six
     
    After the screaming subsided and the noises stopped, I took a deep breath and pounded on the door again—mentally preparing myself for another bout of waiting. It wasn’t like I had anywhere to go. Gabby was still occupying the room downstairs. I had all the time in the world.
    Not that he’d ever answer the freakin’ door.
    I was about to retreat to my spot on the sofa, when the door jerked open with a barely-perceptible whoosh of air. My hair fanned at the abrupt vacuum, and I swallowed, feeling everything I’d planned to say disappear with a single glance. “Wallace…”
    It looked like he’d just escaped a brutal assault, leaving half of his face swollen, red, and glistening with sweat—his left eyelid lowered at half-mast. “What?” he snapped, swiping the back of his wrist under his nose.
    “I…I…” My voice jumped an octave. “Are you okay?”
    His narrowed, unfocused gaze met mine. “I’m fine.”
    He didn’t look fine. He looked dead.
    “I just thought I heard something and wanted to check on you.” My adrenaline fed off of his fearsome exterior, burning my legs with the desire to run. It was like meeting the manifestation of our fears for the first time. He seemed so different from last night. “I-Is there someone with you?”
    His austere features darkened, and he shifted from one side to the other. “Sure you wanna ask the crazy guy?”
    Ouch. Okay, I deserved that.
    He gripped the doorknob and tilted his chin, looking past me. “How about you?”
    I turned as Aiden paled and backed away.
    “N-No,” he sputtered. “I-I mean you’re not crazy. You’re just…” He rubbed his hands on his pants. “Sorry, she just gets worried about…stuff.” Swallowing hard, he jerked his head toward his own door in a gesture for us to go. “We’ll leave you alone now.”
    My heart raced. I was petrified, but my mind was reeling with possibilities. If I left, I’d have to forego what little ground I had already gained. Was it worth it? I couldn’t just spout idealistic lectures and then punk out when it came down to it, could I?
    “Look, I just wanted to see if you were okay.” Also, please don’t hurt us.
    “Well, you’ve done your good deed for