Free The Belial Ring (The Belial Series 3) by R.D. Brady Page A

luckily, the tracker on Laney’s phone was still working.”
    Laney pulled her cell from her pocket. “You were tracking me?”
    Rocky glanced back, guilt in her eyes. “Yes.”
    Something about Rocky ’s demeanor was off. Laney felt cold. She spoke slowly. “Rocky, how long have you been tracking me?”
    Rocky took a deep breath. “For five years.”

    CHAPTER 19
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    L aney felt as if she were in free-fall. Rocky had been watching her for five years. What on earth was going on? Laney spoke slowly. “Rocky, we’ve only know each other for four.”
    “ I know. I’m sorry. I was sent to Syracuse to keep an eye on you.”
    Hurt and confusion fought for dominance inside Laney. Hurt won. “You befriended me . . . to keep an eye on me?”
    Rocky ’s words rushed out. “No. It was never like that. I mean, I was supposed to keep an eye on you. I didn’t need to become friends with you to accomplish that. But once we met, we had so much in common. Becoming friends was inevitable.”
    Laney sat back , dumbfounded. She couldn’t form a thought.
    But Jake could. “Who are you working for?”
    Rocky shook her head. “I can’t tell you that. Not yet. She wants to tell you herself. We’re going to see her now.”
    “ How did you end up working for her?” Henry asked.
    Rocky glanced back at Laney. “You know my childhood wasn’t easy. My current employer, she got me and my mom out of a bad situation. Found my mom a good job, sent me to college. Made me feel like I was worth something. That I could do something.”
    Disbelief spread through Laney. “And in exchange, you just had to lie to me.”
    Rocky winced like she ’d been hit. “No. It wasn’t like that. She explained to me what the stakes were—that there was more happening in this world than most people realized. I chose to help.”
    “ And what exactly were you supposed to do?” Laney asked. “Watch me?”
    “ No. It was never like that,” Rocky said. “I was just supposed to be around if you needed help. She told me that in all likelihood, I would never have to do anything. And then we became friends. And it became a moot point. If you needed help, of course I would help.”
    Rocky pulled off the road into a field. A helicopter was waiting. She put the car in park. “I know it’s asking a lot. But I need you to trust me—just a little longer. Talk to my employer. Then you’ll understand everything.”
    “ And if we choose not to trust you?” Jake asked.
    Rocky looked straight at Laney. “Then I’ve been instructed to give you my car and let you go.”
    Rocky ’s words hung in the air.
    Laney took a deep breath. “Henry? What do you think?”
    She could see the calculation in Henry’s eyes. “I say we trust her just a little more. After we meet her employer, we can decide what to do.”
    “ Jake?” Laney asked.
    Jake took her hand. “I’d like to say let’s take the car and run. But something’s happening right now and we’re completely in the dark. We need answers. This may be a way to get some.”
    Laney let out a breath. “Okay, Rocky. Let’s go.”

    CHAPTER 20
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    T wenty minutes later, they were flying over an undeveloped part of Pennsylvania. At least, Laney thought they were still in the state. She sat in the back of chopper with Jake and Rocky. Henry sat up front with the pilot.
    Laney stared out the window at the ground below . Jake sat between her and Rocky. She hadn’t wanted to sit next to Rocky. She wasn’t sure what to say to her, what to make of all of this.
    “ Laney?” Rocky’s voice was nervous, her concern obvious.
    Laney looked over. She knew Rocky was worried about their friendship, but honestly, she couldn’t deal with that yet. She was still reeling from Rocky’s unexpected arrival. The discussion about their friendship could wait. For now, there were some other issues she wanted to discuss.
    “ Last year, when I was attacked at my house,