Free Dusk Til Dawn by Kris Norris Page A

her into the car, making her climb over the stick shift as he crammed in behind her, flinging the bag into the backseat again. She grabbed the handle above the window as he revved the engine and shot the car backward, spinning out of the drive before popping it into first and ripping down the street. Her heart hammered in her chest as she finally managed to right herself, her fingers still clamped around the handle. A flicker of movement clawed at the window, only to fade into streaks as Dylan hit the accelerator, leaving the house behind in a blur of swirling rain and the echoing rumble of thunder.

Chapter Five
     
     
    Dylan slid Annie a quick glance as he rounded a corner, the squeal of the tires piercing the sudden silence. Her hair hung in wet strands around her face, the deep brown color making her skin appear paler than usual. Her eyes darted nervously from side to side as she gripped at the handle until her knuckles turned white.
    He bit back a growl as he looked away. He needed to gather back some semblance of control before he pulled Annie into his arms and never let go. Busting into his bedroom to find her trapped against the bathroom door dressed in nothing more than his pants and her bra as that thing hovered within reach had scared him to the bone, and every decision he’d made after that had narrowed into a single purpose—keeping her safe.
    He’d felt something similar before, but never to the point his heart threatened to pound through his chest. She mattered, and in more ways than he ever dreamed possible.
    He took a soothing breath then elbowed her gently, attempting to gain her attention. “Are you okay?”
    She glanced behind her as if expecting to see the ghost following them down the road, before nodding.
    He reached over, cupping her chin with one hand as he slowed the vehicle slightly. “I want to hear you say it, so I know you’re not lying to me. Are you okay?”
    Her chin quivered beneath his touch, and it was all he could do not to pull over the car and gather her in his arms. Bury his face in the sweet smell of floral shampoo and coconut soap. But if Avery was right, they needed to get someplace safer before their friend tried again.
    She huffed out an irritated breath, but didn’t try to move away. “If you call being chased by an…an…an evil ghost okay, then yeah. Couldn’t be better.”
    He couldn’t help but smile at the sarcastic edge to her voice. She could hold her own; he’d grant her that. “That’s more like it.” He brushed his thumb along her jaw before dropping his hand.
    She looked behind them again. “So, do you think it’ll follow us?”
    He hated the hint of fear in her voice, despite her efforts to show him a strong front. “I’d say that’s a safe bet. Avery mentioned something about it feeding off of our energy, though I have no idea what the hell he’s talking about.” He reached into his pocket and handed her his cell. “Do me a favor, and call my brother for me. It’s time the man gave me some straight answers.”
    A visible shivered worked through her body before she looked away, fiddling with his phone. He wondered what was going through her head when she sighed and waved it at him.
    “Sorry, Dylan, but it’s dead.”
    “Come again?” He palmed it in one hand as he tapped the screen. “Fuck. I just talked to him. The damn thing was at ninety percent. How the hell is it dead?”
    “I’ve heard Tempie say that ghosts can use the power from phones and other digital media as a way of recharging. I never put much stock into it, but maybe that thing back there drained it.” She patted her pants, uttering a harsh curse. “Damn it. Mine is still on your bed, along with a digital recorder Avery gave me. I was hoping we could listen to it…maybe gather some evidence.”
    “We can’t worry about that now.” He sighed and placed his cell on the dash. “This is crazy. How can a ghost drain my cellphone? Not that I can’t charge it, but…fuck,