Free Veil of Justice, Shadows of Justice Book 3 by Regan Black Page A

be happy.
    Neither was she, but for different reasons.
The car could be repaired, but Nathan? She wasn't so sure.
    Last night's smart virus comments tumbled
around in her head, but she didn't have any better answers now.
    "Morning," he said, drawing her
attention.
    "Morning," she repeated, sliding back behind
the wheel. He looked like hell. The urge to soothe and comfort
wasn't exactly foreign, he was just so beat up she didn't know
where to start. "Good to hear your voice still works."
    His fingers twitched, but his hands stayed
loose at his sides.
    Reaching over, she brushed the hair out of
his face, and hoped her expression stayed neutral. His hair was
stringy and dull, bearing little resemblance to the rich, close
cropped brown she remembered. When his eyes rolled to hers, she
knew she winced. Couldn't help it. The whites were completely red
from burst capillaries.
    She might've cried if she hadn't been afraid
that once the floodgates were open she'd never get them shut
again.
    "The Mustang café is fresh out of food." That
got a small smile. He was too skinny, his physique eroded after
months existing on high stress and low nutrition. "You look
horrible."
    "Gee, thanks." His eyes drifted away from her
to the limited view through the leaf debris she'd scattered on the
windshield. "Do we have water?"
    She found a bottle on the floorboard and
carefully poured a few sips into his mouth. "Did the rest
help?"
    "Some. I've found a few weak spots, but the
effect is hanging on longer than it should."
    She offered more water. "If you can't move,
how'd you make such a mess of the ambulance?"
    "Memory. Same way I drove the car."
    That had been nothing short of amazing. And
terrifying. "Is it possible to remember your way out of paralysis?"
She hoped so, because even in a weakened state, he was too much for
her to manage alone.
    He didn't answer and she didn’t press. Rest
would probably do him more good. Unless what she interpreted as
weary was the effect of the drug. God! Couldn't anything be
clear?
    His condition went beyond her scope of
knowledge. Neither of them could've expected this. A glance was
enough to know it wasn't a simple matter of a few good meals and
some exercise. One more part of her plan shot to pieces. He needed
help, but she didn't know where to find it.
    She pushed out of the car and paced. The
movement helped her think.
    Petra was out since anything she knew might
get passed inadvertently to Kristoff. Her own childhood home was
compromised – even if Nathan could make a trip that far.
    She looked heavenward, praying for…what?
Help? Or just a big lightning bolt to end the dilemma? She just
didn't know which dilemma, Nathan's or her own. Refusing to venture
down that mental mine field, she moved to the trunk to find the
extra license plates.
    Maybe if she stayed off the main highways,
they could make a little progress today. She wanted them out of
here, wanted him safe so he could rehab his body and spirit. She
wanted to get on with her own goals of vengeance and mercy.
    Mostly she wanted to get away from the
heartbreaking sight of him. It shamed her and would infuriate him
if he knew, but she could hardly hold back the waves of pity. She
couldn't imagine the price he'd paid for a mission that might never
get resolved.
    She popped the trunk and rummaged around.
After last night's wild ride, nothing was where she'd originally
packed it. Just as she found what she wanted, a weight fell onto
her back, nearly dumping her into the trunk.
    She twisted around, one arm up in defense,
the other cocked, ready to strike. She pulled the punch when she
recognized Nathan. "What the hell are you doing?" she asked,
reaching out to support him.
    His hands braced on the open trunk lid, his
legs trembled against hers. His lips parted, but the words were in
her head rather than her ears. " Remembering how to
walk ."
    His mouth twitched and she realized he was
trying to remember how to smile. "Did it work?"
    She let her head