Free Love Is Fear by Caroline Hanson Page A

afoot and he needs you to pull it off. He’s going to find a way to make sure you help him. See you soon. Get a tan for me.”
    And with a snap of her fingers, she was gone.
    Chapter  9
     
    Jack waited for the elevator, staring fixedly at the orange light on the up button. What the hell was he going to do about Val? She'd almost died. And then she’d called for Lucas like that fucker was oxygen. As though Lucas was her entire world. Would she die for him?
    He remembered. Waiting in her hotel room for her to show up, the slow build-up of panic as he wondered where the hell she was. He’d seen Lucas before. Once. When his parents had died. He’d been there, at his parents’ hotel before Marion killed everyone.
    To see Lucas again, his body wrapped around Valerie protectively and...casually. As though he'd held her before and would do so again. The tension between them had been there. Heavy and hot.
    “ Penny for your thoughts.” The words were sultry, right next to his ear, raising every hair on the back of his neck. He knew that voice. His heart kicked out a staccato rhythm. His hand fisted, like he was gripping a stake.
    “ Why are you here, Rachel?” A rough growl, a threat of violence leaking out.
    The elevator chirped and opened, but he stood there frozen, waiting for her to respond. She sauntered past him, her arm brushing his as she went into the elevator, leaning against the brass rail as if she’d wait all night for him. She was like a cat: she appeared calm but if she'd had a tail it would be swishing.
    He met her gaze, warm and knowing. He felt it reach through him, like a hand around his shaft. The day would come and he’d kill her. On his life, he swore he’d kill her the moment he didn’t need her anymore.
    She was a monster but she would play nicely with him if he wanted her too.
    I don’t .
    Forcefully, he willed his body to relax ,  and followed her into the elevator. The doors shut behind them and she reached past him, pushing the stop button so the elevator wouldn't rise or open. It was just the two of them now, trapped in the enclosed space. He moved to the opposite side, putting distance between them.
    It made her smile, as if she was happy at the thought that he wanted to put space between them. As though he might not trust himself with her. This irritated him, but he didn't let it show. She could think whatever she wanted. He didn't need to stand close enough to be killed for no other reason than pride.
    “ I’ve been sent on a humanitarian mission,” Rachel said.
    He raised an eyebrow.
    “ You’re human… I’m here…a mission. Humanitarian. No? Not funny? Yeah, you’re right. It was stupid,” she said dismissively.
    He felt his jaw lock down tight, and was surprised his teeth didn’t break in half. She was always so casual with him. As if she didn’t think he could kill her.  As if she doesn’t care.
    “ I’m here to give Val some info. Lucas sent me to make sure she was alright.”
    Jack felt himself stand a little straighter, come to attention. “Why wouldn’t she be?” Did Lucas know Val had almost drowned? How?
    “ Because she almost drowned when you two were snorkeling.”
    Fuck.  “She called him?” Jack said.
    “ No. If it makes it better she hasn’t talked to him, but if it makes it worse, she doesn’t need to. They have a telepathic connection. So he knew she was on the verge of death.”
    “ Why? How?”
    She made a strange expression, almost like a grimace. “Blood. His. She drank a lot of it a while back.”
    Her words overwhelmed him, made him want to give up and just slink to the ground in defeat. How the fuck could he save her or help her when this was going on? Why hadn’t she told him?
    “ What’s he want with her?” he croaked, trying to keep the pain and betrayal locked tight.
    “ Why are you asking me? Go ask your girlfriend.”
    He bit back the automatic response— she’s not my girlfriend .
    Rachel gave a slow nod as she looked