Free When Temptation Burns: A Shadow Keepers Novel (Shadow Keepers 6) by J.K. Beck Page A

didn’t.
    “Honestly, Daddy, you’ve thrown me for a little bit of a loop here. I mean, you’re not serious, are you? The boogeyman?”
    For a second, she thought he was going to tell her that’s exactly what he meant. Then he shook his head and gave her that half smile. “There’s evil inside thatman, Andy. I used to think there’s good inside everyone, but it’s not true. Some folks are born evil and some take it in like wine. And those that do, well, they’ll always try and spread their evil ministry.”
    “I’m not turning to the dark side, Daddy. The Force is strong within me.”
    “I’m not joking.”
    She sat back, chagrined. “I know you’re not, but I’m okay. Really I am. I’m stronger than you think.”
    He moved from his chair to sit beside her, then took her hand, the way he had when she was little. “I know how strong you are. Without your strength I would have collapsed after the Lord took your mother. But sometimes strength isn’t enough. Remember, even if you fight against evil, it’s fighting, too. And it’s strong.” He sighed. “We all have to fight in our own way. Just remember, with everything I do, my first goal is to protect you.”
    She thought about the latest story she was working on—one that could potentially be big enough for a book—and wondered how her dad would feel about it. A fanatical group whose members believed that supernatural creatures walked among us—the kind that would make Creevey look like a kitten. It wasn’t a story he’d like her to be on, but it also wasn’t one she could give up. She hated keeping secrets from her dad, but she didn’t want him to worry. And, yeah, she didn’t want to have to justify herself.
    “When you were writing articles about the film industry, I didn’t worry,” he continued. “But this—”
    “I couldn’t handle being shuttled through any more press junkets.” She’d spent a year as a staff reporter for an LA-based entertainment rag. She’d gone from press event to press event, just one in the crowd coveringnothing of substance. She’d been bored out of her mind, and she wasn’t about to go back to it. “But I’ll ask around,” she lied. “Maybe there’s a meatier story out there. Maybe I can write about some Hollywood hunk’s secret love child. I’m sure that’s never been done before.”
    To his credit, her father laughed, then hugged her. “Just be careful. Even if he is behind bars, he still scares me.”
    “Me, too,” she said, meaning it. It was that fear that had driven her to the story, made her want to understand what made Creevey tick. Because if she understood him then—then what? Then she could avoid it? Then she could bring her mother back?
    She didn’t know, and she supposed it didn’t matter. It was what she wanted to do, and it was a hell of a lot more interesting than covering the premiere of
Friday the 13th Part Eighty-Three
.
    “Speaking of Hollywood,” he said, “why don’t you stay for a movie. Something fun. How about
The Music Man
?”
    She rolled her eyes. “How about
Die Hard
?”
    “Deal.”
    “Great. I’ll make the popcorn—oh!” She flashed an apologetic smile. “I can’t. I signed up to help at the teen center tonight.” Though her father’s ministry didn’t advertise its involvement, the ministry sponsored a recreation center for teens in Santa Monica. The idea was to give kids a safe place to hang out, and since the goal was to attract as many of them as possible, the religious component wasn’t flaunted. Andy didn’t get too involved with her father’s church-related activities, but the Pacific Teen Center was something she felt strongly about. Shevolunteered as much as she could, spending time with the kids, letting them know that she was there if they wanted to talk about anything at all.
    “I’ll take a rain check,” her dad said. “Be sure to give Kevin a call tonight, though. He’s called twice looking for you.”
    “Here?