Scorched by Mari Mancusi Page A

barricaded by police tape. They told me there was a break-in and someone had been shot and killed.” His voice trembled. “My first thought was it had been you.”
    Trinity closed her eyes. It certainly could have been, had it not been for Connor. “Where are you now?” she asked.
    “I’m still at the Denny’s across the street. The police told me to stay put so they could send someone over. Evidently there are some government agents in town who want to question me about the break-in. The police are trying to get a hold of them now but they’re not answering their phones.”
    No. They were a little tied up at the moment, Trinity thought grimly. “Listen to me, Grandpa,” she said in a tight voice. “Something’s happened. I can’t explain over the phone, but I need you to get out of there. Use the back door if you have to. Pretend you’re going to the bathroom or something. Whatever you have to do—just leave.”
    There was silence on the other end of the line. “Trinity…you’re scaring me. What’s going on? Where are you? Why shouldn’t I wait for the agents?”
    “Just trust me, okay?” she begged. “I’ll meet you by exit 13 off the old interstate. When you get there, I’ll explain everything.”
    There was another pause. She could almost hear his objecting thoughts over the phone and waited impatiently for him to voice them. But instead, he said at last, “Okay, fine. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
    She let out a sigh of relief, then hung up the phone, turning back to Connor. “He’s okay,” she breathed, relating her grandpa’s story. “But we have to go meet him.”
    “I’ll go,” he said, scrambling up from the couch and grabbing his coat. “You stay here.”
    “I should come too,” she protested. But as she attempted to rise to her feet, a strange weakness overtook her and she found herself falling back onto the couch, her head spinning and her stomach churning all over again. She looked up at Connor in confusion.
    “The Nether,” he explained grimly. “It’ll kick the fleck out of you every time. You’ll need a couple hours to feel like yourself again.” He paused, then added, “It’s probably better if you wait here anyway. We can’t afford for you to be recognized, and someone needs to stay here and guard the egg. It’ll be quicker and safer for me to go grab him and bring him back here. No one knows who I am.”
    “But—” she protested weakly. “I should—”
    “Listen to me, Trinity,” he commanded, cutting off her protests. “This is the kind of thing I’ve trained for. What I was sent here to do. I promise you I will take care of your grandpa. I won’t let anything happen to him.” He patted the gun to his side. “No matter what.”
    She chewed her lower lip, wanting to argue. But in her heart she knew he was right. He was the soldier, the professional. He’d proven himself an ally and she had to trust him now.
    “Okay,” she relented. “But be careful. I don’t want anything to happen to…” she drew in a breath, “…either of you.”
    Their eyes met, his steady and glowing, hers anxious, hesitant, but full of sudden longing. As her heart hammered in her ears, he leaned down, closing the gap between them.
    His kiss was soft, gentle—a wisp of a butterfly’s wings against her lips. And yet it left a trail of blazing fire in its wake. And, more importantly, a promise.
    “I’ll bring him back,” he declared as he pulled away, piercing her with his glowing eyes. “I swear to you I’ll bring him back safe and sound. No matter what.”
    “Please do,” she murmured, as she watched him walk out the door. “He’s all I have left.”
    Not anymore, corrected the now all-too-familiar voice, tripping across her consciousness like a whisper. I’m here now. And we are destined…

Chapter Fourteen
    Connor headed out the front door, preparing for the trip back to the interstate. As he plodded down the front steps, he found himself glancing