Free Phoenix: Book One of The Stardust Series by Autumn Reed, Julia Clarke Page A

of inspecting Knox’s bare skin for more tattoos. Instead, I
forced myself to focus on the dark leather bracelet that rested on one wrist.
He sat in a relaxed posture, one ankle rested on the opposite knee, focused on
his phone.
    Suddenly he looked up,
catching me before I could look away. Embarrassed, I quickly looked down,
acting absorbed in my hands. Chase finally came to join us in the living room.
Before he sat down, Chase asked, “Need anything, Haley?”
    I shook my head and
smiled. “I’m good, thanks.” Under my breath I added, “Unless you guys want to
give me some answers.”
    Knox glowered at me.
“Answers, huh?” I opened my mouth, surprised he heard my comment. I pressed my
lips together tightly, unsure what to do. I felt like a boxer dancing around
the ring, waiting for my opponent to throw the first punch.

 
    Gloves Off
     
    Knox continued to watch
me, forcing me to return his fiery stare. The air caught in my chest; his
striking green eyes were captivating and gazed back at me with an intensity
that was unnerving. They were framed on top by broad, arching eyebrows while
dark circles cast shadows from fatigue. Distracted momentarily, he caught me
off guard with his question. “Why did you run away last night?” His tone was
aggressive and I gulped.
    Without thinking, I
responded. “Why do you think?” My tone came off more defensive than I wanted,
but I felt like I was being attacked. I glared at him. “How would you feel if
you had lost your home in a fire, didn’t know where your family was, and had
been taken to a cabin in the woods by strangers?”
    Chase shot me a
reassuring smile. I wanted to get off to a good start, but Knox was making it
difficult. I sighed and decided to ask a basic question. “How do you know each
other?”
    Knox answered. “We all
work together.” Wow, you’re really giving me a lot to go on here.
    He narrowed his eyes.
“Where did you learn that move you pulled on me last night?” Chase sputtered,
almost spitting out the water he was sipping.
    I felt intimidated by
Knox, but there was no way I was going to give him the satisfaction of knowing
it. “My dad taught me.” If he was going to give me short answers, I was going
to give him the same in return. My turn. “What were you all doing in the
area and at my house? You obviously don’t live in this cabin, so I’m guessing
you’re not from around here.”
    Chase stayed silent as
if waiting for Knox to answer. Knox’s face was unreadable and while I couldn’t
be sure he was the leader, both Ethan and Chase seemed to defer to him. Whether
through fear, respect, or both, I could see why they may hesitate to contest
Knox’s authority.
    “You’re right,” Knox
responded, “We’re not from here. The three of us live in Santa Cruz and were in
the area for our job.” He paused, making me wonder if he was going to stop
after that measly explanation. Crossing my arms, I fought the scowl forming on
my face.
    After a few long
moments, Knox continued. “We work in private security and do private
investigation on the side. We came to Coleville on assignment . . . and
that’s where you come in.” He paused again. “Haley, we were hired to find your
dad.”
    My pulse started
racing. Was he admitting that they were responsible for everything that had
happened? Did the guys lead the criminals straight to Dad? I couldn’t help but
feel disappointed that Chase, Knox, and Ethan were involved in some way. It was
the only explanation that made sense and suddenly I wanted to lash out at them.
    Chase interrupted. “We
were hired to find your dad, but we had nothing to do with the explosion at
your house or your Dad’s disappearance. We don’t know what happened. We want to
help you, and we want to figure out what’s going on.”
    I watched Chase’s face
as he talked. His blue eyes appeared clear and honest. He seemed so sincere, it
was almost impossible not to give in and completely trust him then and