Free Nick: Justice Series by Kathi S. Barton

has the mind of a much older teenager.”
    “He’s just testing his waters. Poor young man.” Nick leaned against the wall and waited for her to tell him what she knew. “Addie is being hunted. I’m sure the buzzard told you that, but what you might want to know is who your stepfather is hooked up with. It’s Joel Delaney.”
    “Why does that name…I think I’ve heard the name before, haven’t I? The dead man from the other day, right?” She nodded and told him to think hard. “I haven’t been able to do that for a few days now. I know I should rest, but there…Addison is here, and I’m scared out of my mind that I’ll hurt her.”
    “It’s what your stepfather wants you to think. And Delaney, he was killed in Evangeline Simon-English’s home.” Nick nodded, then when it hit him he stood up straight. “Yes. One and the same. And this man, this Delaney person, he’s got it in his head that Addie belongs to him. No matter what the circumstances of their lives.”
    “And now he’s hooked up with my stepfather. Christ.” She only tisked at him, and Nick told her he was sorry. “They can’t come here, not on this property or in the house. Steele did something to it, and now only the ones we invite will be able to come here.”
    “Delaney might be able to. She is his, or at least he believes so. And I’m afraid that he might be able to bring Dane here as well.” He was going to talk to Steele about that. There was something there that might help them, he was sure of it. “You should also know that the Wooten woman is on the run now. The police have put out a manhunt for her, but I don’t think they’re having a great deal of luck finding her. I’m working on that too with Steele and his mother, Beth.”
    Nick never understood all the things that Steele could do, but recently, since meeting and marrying Kari, his powers had been coming out more and more. Like the protection around the house. Before any and all ghosts could come here. Now only a few could enter, and those were usually very old and related somehow to the ghosts already here. And since Beth had started to help them out with smaller things, he’d noticed that there were more and more ghosts that hung around the yard too. He looked at Connie when she cleared her throat.
    “I’ve called in a few favors to have them keep an eye out for them, but you know that sometimes it’s hard to get what you need across to some of the dead.” Nick knew that as well. They had a hard time adjusting to being in a state that rendered them incapable of doing the things they used to do. “But I am working on it. It’s frustrating, but I’m working on it.”
    “Does Steele know all this?” She told him he did. As did Kari. “I should maybe leave here, don’t you think? I mean, the type of anger that my stepfather has, it might be too much for Steele to deal with. Especially with his baby on the way.”
    “Nonsense. You’re going to stay here or I’ll have to be very upset with you.” She looked at the closed door to the room that Addie was in. “She’s waking. And so you know, there is no knowledge that she has any powers beyond talking to you in her dreams. I’m not sure what she can do, but she’s stronger than she was before. A great deal.”
    Nick entered the room by opening the door. He wasn’t sure what she was talking about, but knew that in time he’d get it. Exhaustion was taking its toll on him. Connie had moved through the door and while he was used to it, sometimes he had to pause and remember that she was gone too. Addie was staring at him when he looked at her.
    “Hello.” Her nod had him going closer to the bed. “We’ve moved you here instead of the hospital because of some information that we got that your…that someone is looking for you.” Connie told him to stop being so clinical and ask her how she was. “I’m sorry. Are you hurting? I can get you something for the pain if you—”
    “You’re Nicholas