Read The Torn, Book One of the Holding Kate Series for Free Online Page A

in, Pinky. We’ll row.” Trip handed me an oar and helped Pinky into the center of the boat. He motioned for me to take the front and he climbed into the back. I turned around to judge the distance between us and felt very uncomfortable with just those few feet separating me from him. I glanced around, but saw no signs of a sphere, so we paddled quickly to the center of the lake.
    The rest of the team had already reached the gazebo, evidenced by all the boats tied to it, but only one person stood at the center of the gazebo instead of the eleven that should have been there.
    “Hey, where is everybody?” Pinky leaned forward and murmured in my ear.
    I shook my head and then threw the rope to Donnie who moved to the edge of the opening of the gazebo. As we neared, I saw a head disappear into the center of the gazebo.
    “There’s a trap door,” I called over my shoulder.
    Donnie helped Pinky out of the boat, then Trip and I clambered out behind her. Trip locked his hand around mine as we descended into a narrow stairwell that wound down into darkness. The stairs were made of cement at the surface, but dropped into carved stone steps as we entered an underground cavern.
    I quaked with each step as we faded down into the darkness. We wound through rough-hewn corridors, descending all the while. Each step into the blackness became more and more difficult. I hugged Trip’s back as he followed Pinky into the inky black depths. The only sensory input was the warmth of Trip’s body with his hand in mine and the scuffle of foot steps ahead of us and Donnie’s behind.
    The walls closed in tighter and tighter and cool wet trickles dripped onto the tops of our heads. The pressure of tons and tons of lake water threatened to bury us in the deep recesses of this dank dwelling.
    “Trip,” I whimpered, when it became too much to bear.
    He whipped me in front of him and wrapped his arms around me and whispered in my ear. “Steady, there, Katie girl. Not much further.”
    The warmth of his cheek pressed against mine and the solid and strong arms that cradled me stayed the panic, but caused an entirely different physical urgency. I clung to him as fear and desire flashed through me.
    What was the deal with me? I wasn’t this girl who kisses boys she just met and falls head over heels in love with strangers. I didn’t even believe in love anymore, not after what Daddy did to Momma. Even the connection I felt to Pinky and Caitlyn seemed unreal. Four hours ago we were strangers. Now they felt more like family. Weird!
    But here I was with this gorgeous, protective boy wrapped around me in a dark chamber, whispering sweet words in my ear and—was that?—Yep, kissing my hair and cheek. Chills slid down my arms and fire coiled in my middle. This was getting too intense. I was going to jump his bones if he didn’t let up.
    “What the—” Pinky’s string of expletives pierced the moment and we all laughed nervously.
    I used the moment to put some distance between me and Trip. It felt wrong being out of his arms, like I left a part of me with him.
    Uh No! You didn’t just say that.
    I heard his huff of disappointment, or maybe it was a sigh of relief.
    “We are almost there, jumpers. Just stay close.” Mel’s voice echoed back to us from somewhere far below. “Donnie?” She called.
    “Yeah, here.”
    “Is everyone in?”
    “Yep, I am bringing up the rear.”
    The floor seemed to level out and I sensed we had all gathered in a larger room. There was a scratching noise, and then a torch flared to life in Mel’s hand throwing dancing shadows on the walls around us.
    I pressed into Trip’s side and looked hungrily into his face. The shadows exaggerated his angles and I swear he looked like some kind of avenging angel. He eagerly wrapped his arms around me as if he couldn’t stand the vacancy I left him with.
    I glanced across the circle of familiar faces and noted Caitlyn was holding hands with Navarro. I arched a brow at her