Free Redeemed by Becca Jameson Page A

easel, half his mouth lifted in a grin when she glanced up.
    “Look, Josh. I’m not ready, okay? Stop pestering me. I can’t do it. I don’t want to. And I’m not going to.”
    He lifted both hands in surrender. “Okay. I’m just trying to help. I thought maybe if I went with you and we went during the day you might consider leaving the house.”
    “Not yet.” She felt bad for raising her voice. It wasn’t his fault she was such a wuss. “I’m working on it.”
    “I know you are, Ash.” He leaned back and let his head fall against the back of the couch. He seemed to stare at the ceiling.
    She knew he was disappointed, and he meant the best for her, but she couldn’t be what everyone else wanted her to be. Healed. She eased closer and took a seat next to her brother. “It’s so hard, knowing he’s out there somewhere. I keep thinking he’s lying in wait, hiding, waiting for the opportunity to jump out and grab me. I know it’s unreasonable and he probably could care less if he ever saw me again, but that doesn’t erase the fear.”
    “I know, Ash.” He reached for her hand and she let him squeeze her fingers. “Have you heard from The Head Council lately? Do they have any leads on either him or the drugs?”
    “Nope. Not a word. I’m sure they’re working on it, and I doubt they want me hounding them all the time to follow up.”
    “I keep hoping they’ll have a breakthrough soon,” Josh added.
    “I’m sure they have more important things to do than to track down a man who is no longer holding someone hostage. I heard there are other women presumed missing now.”
    Josh jerked his head up and his gaze to hers. “Where did you hear that?”
    “Mom and Dad were discussing it. They didn’t know I was listening.” She narrowed her gaze at him. “You knew it too, didn’t you?”
    “Yeah, but I didn’t want you to worry.”
    “Do you think it’s Damon?”
    Josh shook his head. “No. I think there are other cases that seem similar and may or may not be definitive leads. Please don’t worry, okay?”
    “Who said I was worried?” She smiled. She’d never been more worried in her life. If anyone out there was going through what she went through… She had the urge to vomit.
    Josh stood. “I have to go. I’m meeting Nathan and Samantha for that run.”
    “They aren’t working today?”
    “They are. But we agreed to meet for a long lunch.”
    “And you thought it would be a good idea to drag me along as the third…er, fourth wheel? No thanks, bro. That sounds disgusting.”
    He kissed her forehead and headed for the stairs. “It wouldn’t have been like that and you know it. I’m perfectly capable of acting respectable whenever necessary.”
    “But you’re still relieved I said no on some level. Admit it.”
    “Never.” She watched as he disappeared up the stairs. When he shut the door at the top, she turned to look out the window. The world was white, as white as her canvas. She prayed one day she’d be able to go outside again. She’d give anything to simply smell the outdoors without fear of detection.
    She hadn’t been born a hermit and she was stir-crazy. But not enough to risk going outside.
    Dr. Parman said it was temporary and natural for her to suffer a certain level of agoraphobia after what she’d been through. As long as she didn’t remain trapped in this state of mind forever, it was an acceptable part of her progress.

Chapter Ten
    Evan took a seat at the long conference table. He was the only person on his side of the table, directly across from the five men who made up the elders of the North American Council. He rubbed his hands on his khaki pants, the nicest clothing he had with him on this trip.
    He’d spoken to various shifters who worked in this head branch office, but none of the five men sitting across from him now. In fact, he’d never met any of them before. At least not that he could recall. Perhaps as a child, but not in his adult years.
    Evan