Free Plagued: Book 1 by Eden Crowne Page A

said at once.
    “Yes, a baby . Big news to me as well. She's almost four months pregnant according to the doctor. Your sister only had some superficial wounds. The impact of the blast, however, threw her into premature labor. She was close to hemorrhaging. That's under control now. If there's one thing University Hospital does better than any place else, it's control blood loss. They're giving her transfusions from the blood I stockpiled at the blood bank.”
    Sky felt her lip tremble again. “I miss you so much. I wish you were here.”
    “Me too, Sky. I'll try to get leave in the next couple of weeks.”
    “Promise?”
    “I'll do my best. I love you so much.”
    “I love you, too.”
    They signed off and Eloise hugged Sky tightly. “Don't blame yourself.”
    “It's not just that. On the mission. Something happened.”
    “What?”
    The man in the armor said not to tell anyone or she'd be putting them in danger. She looked at her aunt's face, full of concern and love. She'd done enough damage to her family for one day.
    “Nothing. I mean. Everything exploded and Chase was hurt.”
    “The things they make you kids go through. I hate it.”

Chapter 8
    Blue Blood
    Sky's visit to Kara in the hospital Saturday morning had not gone well.
    Propped up on pillows with several tubes snaking in and out of her arm, her face pale under the cuts and bruises, Kara did not even pretend to be happy to see her. Apparently someone had told her the rumor Sky and Chase somehow triggered the explosion at the cineplex. Even though no one knew if that really was the case.
    “You're a disgrace to Tactical,” was pretty much how the conversation went. “Reckless, juvenile behavior,” was part of it, and, “Go back to the park and play pirates if you can't act like an adult!” made up the rest.
    They didn't even talk about the baby. Sky was still trying to process that bombshell. Kara as a mom was not something she could picture. Poor kid. Sky quickly left and Kara did not try to stop her. Jake Chen, Kara's live-in boyfriend and the baby daddy, would be there soon anyway. He'd gotten leave today to visit, Eloise said when she dropped Sky off on the way to work.
    Jake was a good guy. Kara had known him since high school and Tactical training. He was still a lieutenant, which Sky thought might be slightly awkward on duty. Having to salute the person you were used to seeing naked and all.
    The cloud cover was low and gray and it looked like rain later in the day. Sky buttoned her navy, fleece-line parka all the way to the top and stuck her hands deep in the pockets as she walked to Redwood Shopping Center, kicking through the fallen leaves of yellow and brown. It was less than half a mile from the hospital, an easy walk. She was wondering how Kara acted with Jake. She must be a different person around him, enough so to get her pregnant at least.
    She gave a pile of wet leaves an especially hard kick scattering them in the air and directly onto the legs of an oncoming person. She'd been so intent on her anger at Kara, she hadn't noticed anyone else.
    She looked up, an apology already on the tip of her tongue, and just stopped, pretty much paralyzed by every female hormone in her teenage body from doing anything but stare.
    A boy, no, not a boy. – a young man stood in front of her. He was beautiful. Renaissance painting, classic beautiful. Big, dark green eyes, full lips that any girl would kill for, high cheekbones that could slice their way into your heart. Tall and slim with long legs, narrow hips, and broad shoulders. He would have been too pretty if not for his nose. It was slightly skewed, giving him a sort of roguish look.
    Leaning down, he brushed off the leaves clinging to his trousers. “That must have been a very naughty pile of leaves.” He had a deep voice and the way he spoke in his rich British accent made her...she didn't exactly know what it made her feel, but she wanted to feel it some more.
    “I'm so sorry.”