A Protector's Second Chance (Unit Matched #2) by Mary Smith, Rebecca Cartee Read Free Book Online Page A

nodded chewing on a fry. “The King didn’t want the Princess alone, and since Graham does not have anyone.” His face dropped.
    ““What? What are you not saying?” My heart was pounding. “Where’s Thaddeus? And why is it taking two Controllers to calm Xaviera?” I figured he would be punished, but I didn’t think he would be sent away. He was Xaviera Matched.
    Oliver sighed and I could tell he was battling between what he could reveal.
    “Several days before you were handed your punishment, the Queen called me over to their house. Gia was having trouble keeping the Princess calm, and she thought that there was another problem. I went over there and was able to figure out that Princess Xaviera was pregnant. The Queen asked me to keep it hushed for the time being.”
    My mouth was dry. Xaviera was having a baby.
    “The same day you were punished, so was Thaddeus. He’s in New Orleans working on project and can’t return for three months. He’s only allowed to talk his mom, and it’s only about updates of the baby. That’s why Graham doesn’t have anyone. That’s why I’ve been helping, too. The baby is very strong.”
    I closed my eyes and felt the hot tears scald my face. I remembered a few days before my punishment, when Dad had me by the throat against the wall; he was yelling that I’d ruined the Royal bloodline. I didn’t understand what he was talking about, and now I did.
    “Amaya?”
    “I have to leave.” I bolted from my chair and ran out of the restaurant.
    I didn’t stop. I kept going all the way down the block. I pushed as hard as I could for almost a half-mile before the Escalade jumped the curb and blocked my path.
    “What are you doing?” Oliver’s face was a mix of emotions.
    “Let me be, Oliver. Let me just leave. I’ve ruined so many people’s lives.” I cried harder.
    “Amaya.”
    I stopped him. “No, it’s true. This beautiful, precious baby is going to grow up without a father, because of me. Xaviera is alone, and it’s because of me. I’m so worthless. What have I done?” My knees buckled.
    Oliver caught me. “You’re not worthless, Amaya.”
    “I’ve ruined so many lives. I knew the Rules. I did and look what happens when you break them.” I grasped his neck tightly and cried harder.
    I cried for Xaviera. How scared she must be. How much stress she was under. On top of that, I knew Thaddeus loved Xaviera. You could see it every time he was around her. Now, he’ll never know his child, and his life with Xaviera is over.
    “Come on; let’s get back to the cabin.” Oliver picked me up in his arms and placed me in the car.

Chapter 18
    Day 41 of 90
     
    I lay in bed unable to cry anymore. I was able to get some sleep, but it was only because my body and my mind were exhausted.
    Oliver had brought me lunch, but I didn’t touch it. I couldn’t eat knowing what horrible things were happening in Unit because of me.
    I rolled out of bed and washed my face. The redness of my eyes stood out around my green pupils. I’ve never cried this much in my life, not even when my parents were beating the crap out of me.
    I took my tray downstairs and put it in the kitchen. I saw Oliver working on the computers and I walked over to the table that still had all of my journals on it. I sat down on the chair closest to them. I looked at them all. My fears, my secrets, my dreams, they were all housed on those pages.
    “I was eight when I started writing down my thoughts.” The words left my mouth before I knew it. Oliver turned and looked at me.
    “It was where I could say anything I wanted.” I shrugged. “My parents never knew about it. If they had,” I stopped. I didn’t want to think about what would have happened.
    “I wrote all the time.” I continued. “It was therapeutic for me.”
    “Why so young?” Oliver’s question made my heart stop for a second.
    “Did you read any of them?” I ignored his question.
    “No.”
    I stared at all the black and white