Free Fallen + Marli & Lalo (Fallen Invasion, #3) by Mia Mitns Page A

to people or humans?”
    “Yes,” he said.  “We’re from a different planet, similar to Earth.  I lived there all my life and can’t even remember what it’s called.”
    Right as I put my hand on Lalo’s shoulder to comfort him, one of the lights in Kallen’s house flipped on.  My heart jumped.  Kallen told me not to go anywhere, especially at night.  If he saw that I was gone, he might snoop around to find out where I went later.  I couldn’t tell him about the visit to the crime site.  That was one of the things that triggered his anxiety about whatever was going on.  I definitely couldn’t tell him about Lalo yet.  He used the term “we” in the truck.  I had to find out whose side he was on.  And find out who made up the sides.
    “Lalo, Kallen might be watching,” I said.
    “Let him,” he said.  “I wouldn’t mind meeting him.  After all, I am your ex-boyfriend or friend right?”
    A corner of my lip curled as I fought to depress a smile.  “Come on,” I said.  “Let’s get your stuff out from your shopping extravaganza.”
    “I have to admit it was fun figuring out what I could get on that budget of yours.”
    “What?” I said and laughed.  “Why don’t you go out there and make your own money to buy some things.”
    “I could set up a company and within three months I’d be a millionaire.  Our technology is actually far more superior to yours.”
    “But can you remember how to work that technology though?”
    Lalo chuckled.  “Good one.”
    I trailed Lalo and closed the door once we got inside the house.  Dropping the shopping bags to my side, I slid up a blind to spy on Kallen.  Less than ten seconds later the light went off.
    “Crap!” I said.  “He knows.”  I abandoned the blind, pivoting to Lalo.
    Lalo didn’t respond.  He was wrapped up in reading the flyer.
    “Lalo,” I said.  “Aren’t you worried about Kallen knowing?  He may hunt you down.”
    “No,” Lalo said.  “Like I said, I’m the ex.  We should be more worried about this.”  Lalo handed me the paper.  It was a brochure, advertising a product for car repair.
    “Are you saying my car needs help?” I said, laughing.
    “Open it.”
    I did.  There was a handwritten note taped to the inside.
    I don’t know who you are, but a woman (a. psychic) found me and told me to tell you.  I was there.  I saw them take my friends.  My friend and I were on our way back from the shelter to visit with our other friends who stayed under the bridge.  For some reason, we didn’t walk the usual way; we went behind the empty buildings.  Before we got to the corner something told me to grab my friend and tell them to be quiet.
    We peaked around the corner of the building.  We saw them!  All ten or so of them!  They were people I’ve never seen.  They were dressed too well to be homeless, in random styles.  All wore hats, covering their eyes.  I searched for the homeless people I knew.  They were on the ground.  They didn’t move.  We didn’t know if they were dead or sleeping.  I hoped they were drugged.  It was better than being dead.
    A muscular man spoke to another, who was also tall.  I heard him say something about carrying them (our friends) back to their town.  He also said he can’t wait until they could leave the town.  They had been there too long.  It was too small.  The towns surrounding were too small.  People found out too much information too quickly.  It wasn’t that far from Dallas anyway.  They would have been better off in Dallas, or a suburb of it.  It was easier to hide with a bunch of people.  The tall one reminded the other that they had work to do in their town.
    A few minutes later, the strange people were finished loading our friends into black SUVs.  And the thing was they lifted our friends like they were a backpack.  It was too easy for them.  Then they drove away.  We saw them get on the interstate, heading east.  We didn’t tell the