Free Avenger by Su Halfwerk Page A

Pru’s state of affairs has more to do with spirit hunting than you think. Besides, there’s a strong connection to the people from whom I seek revenge. Pru will remain my business until she’s safe.”

Chapter Twelve
    “You’ve given me quite a scare,” Luke said in a husky voice, his hand entwined with Pru’s. His shoulders lifted every time he drew a breath, as though he did it with difficulty.
    She watched him silently as he spoke to her body. Judging by the warm sensations that swarmed her now and the feelings he induced in her every time she went through him, Pru guessed his touch would be warm. She yearned for him to hold her close and never let go.
    Luke ran his fingers through his hair. “I guess you can tell I’m not good at this.” He sighed. “But I’m trying to bring you back to me.” His last word ended on a hitch. He cleared his throat.
    So, he did feel more towards her.
    Wait, come back to him from where? She remembered being in the alley with him in the afternoon then she experienced a moment of absolute lightness as though her spectral existence was losing weight, she even witnessed her hand disappearing. After a blink, she was back here, in her hospital room. She glanced through the window searchingly. Some time must’ve passed in between because the moon was out now.
    “I called your mom and she’s on her way with your aunt and her husband. Being married to an influential man like Andrew Taylor could come in handy in your current predicament.”
    Pru frowned. Why hadn’t he done that before? Perhaps he hadn’t thought of it. She hadn’t.
    His head tilted to the ceiling, he said with a wistful note in his voice, “God, why can’t life be simple like before? He lowered his head. “Did you know I was sweet on you then?”
    “What about now?” she whispered, drawing closer to him.
    Luke was about to lean forward and froze. He shot to his feet and turned. His pensive smile stretched until it lit the room with its brightness. He started towards her, his hands stretched out until he held her, or actually embraced her outline. Pru closed her eyes, delighted with his contented sigh. She loved feeling him, loved being around him, loved the emotions he evoked in her. Pru snapped her eyes wide open.
    I love him!
    He pulled back, his gaze roaming all over her face.
    That arresting smile, charming dimple, and those dark penetrating eyes obliterated all pretense of belligerence, only her teen crush remained. If it weren’t for his shady dealings on the side, she would’ve responded to his silent longing all those years back. Pru’s grandfather was an alcoholic and her mother was a drug addict while pregnant with her, she grew up abhorring substance abuse of any form. Since Luke promoted it, she couldn’t get past that.
    Shaking off those allusive musings, she said cheerfully, “I’m baack.”
    At hearing her voice, he moved back and shifted his weight. “I’m glad you’re back. Your cardiac arrest almost gave me one.”
    She blinked. “My heart stopped?” So far, worst-case scenario she’d come up with was being in a coma for a long time. Now she must adjust her expectations of the length of her lifespan.
    “The doctor mentioned that diabetic comas like yours can go either way. Your blood sugar dropped even further, which may have rendered your heart like a revving engine in a car that isn’t moving. It overloaded itself and stopped.”
    Pru raised her hand, frowning. “Hold on a second. I’m not diabetic.”
    Luke went around to the chart attached to her bed. He flipped to the second page. “According to this, you are.”
    Pru read the page she never saw before. Her blood sugar was tested every few hours, and it was low. “Those blood tests,” she said and ran a hand through her hair. “I’ve seen the nurse check my blood frequently. I never thought it was for this.”
    “Pru, there’s no thinking about it. You do have a very low level of blood sugar.” He pointed to a