Free Time Thief (The Anomaly Trilogy) by Anna Hackett Page B

go.”
    Bay glanced at Matt. He was…empty. It was like all the charming personality had leeched away. “What did you do to him?”
    Mara flicked Matt a glance. “We really don’t have enough time for me to explain.”
    Bay backed up a step. She’d trusted Mara…to a point. But now… “I’m not budging until you tell me what you did.”
    The redhead thrust her hands on her hips. “You think you’re the only one with power?”
    The floor shifted beneath Bay. She glanced around the room. Matt was motionless but the clock on the far wall ticked, the onions sizzled in the pan. “You aren’t a time thief.”
    “Nope. Time’s not my thing.”
    “What is your thing?”
    “You can trust me, Bay.” Mara held out a hand. “I’ve only ever looked out for you. I’m trying to save you now.”
    “Mara, quit stalling.”
    Her friend huffed out a breath. “I’m a mind raider.”
    “What?” Bay gripped the counter to stay upright. “I thought time thieves were…rare, unique. A mutated gene.”
    “Well, the mutated gene is mostly right. So is rare. But you aren’t unique. There are others with different abilities.”
    Others. Bay couldn’t comprehend. “How?”
    “Because of the Institute for Military Scientific Research.”
    Bay shook her head. “Never heard of it.”
    “Hitler’s group of Frankensteins. They performed human medical experiments during World War II.”
    God . Bay had always thought she was a random twist of nature, not a lab experiment. “What’s a mind raider?”
    Mara sighed. “I can stop people’s thoughts.”
    And she could do it without concentrating. She was carrying on a conversation, barely even looking at the man she’d neutered. “And then what?”
    “Well, then they’re pliant, willing to do as I ask.”
    “It isn’t…permanent?”
    “No. Once I let go, they’re fine. Just like time once you stop stealing it. Some suffer a headache afterward. That’s the worst of it.”
    “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    Mara moved closer. “I was afraid you’d run.”
    Bay held her hands up. “Did you know what I was when you offered me a place to stay?”
    A shadow passed through Mara’s dark green eyes.
    “Don’t lie to me, Mara. It sounds like you’ve done enough of that already.”
    The other woman held up one long-fingered hand. “By omission only. I knew you’d run. Yes, I knew what you were. And that Gabriel Leven was hunting you.”
    “Jesus.” Bay pressed her palms to the smooth granite. “Why?”
    “Why’d I single you out? Because I’d save anyone targeted by Leven and you needed help.”
    It was never that simple. Bay’s gaze collided with her friend’s. Ex-friend .
    “And you still need it.” Mara held out a hand again. “I know somewhere safe we can go.”
    “She isn’t going anywhere with you.”
    Sean stepped into the kitchen, his gun aimed at Mara’s heart.
    ***
    Sean kept his gaze and his SIG trained on the tall, flame-haired woman.
    He’d seen Bay’s pale face and Matt’s blank stare. Something bad was going on and he wouldn’t let his friend or his woman get hurt.
    “Bay, back away from her.”
    The redhead took a step forward. Her compelling green eyes bored into him like a jackhammer and dizziness washed over him.
    All the energy started draining from his body. His arm lowered, his gun clattering to the floor.
    Not again.
    No. No. He’d been helpless once before. He couldn’t be helpless again.
    He looked for Bay. His lungs constricted, he couldn’t breathe. He thought he smelled sand, felt the heat of the desert and heard the quiet murmurs of his men. The jokes they’d made right before the time thief had killed them.
    Bay’s moss eyes dominated his view. She cupped his cheeks.
    “It’s okay, Sean. Hang on, I’ll look after you.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Mara, don’t do this.”
    His vision blurred. He could just make out the clock on the wall.
    The next instant, everything came into focus again. Bay was in his