Angel (A Companion Book to Monster) (Impossible #1.5) by Julia Sykes Read Free Book Online Page A

might interpret it as an insult, and then he might go after her again.  And to be honest, my shoulder was hurting like a bitch, and I didn’t really feel like having to fight him right now.  “Yes, doc,” I said the nickname mockingly.  Although a part of me felt guilty for talking down to her, the indignant expression on her face was adorable.  Like an angry little kitten.  I had to suppress a smile.
    I did my best to ignore the tension that infused the air around the three of us: Bradley’s barely-contained aggression, Claudia’s resentment, and my own frustration at the whole shitty situation.  So I tucked into my sandwich, watching my friend out of the corner of my eye for any signs of the madman inside of him bursting forth.  And praying that Claudia wouldn’t say anything snippy about her sorry excuse for a meal.  I almost told Bradley off for not giving her enough food – the woman was tiny enough as it was – but it wasn’t worth disrupting the tenuous balance that we had attained for the moment.
    When Claudia opened her mouth to speak, I held my breath, worried that her angry words would ignite the tension in the room like a powder keg.
    “Ummm…” She said hesitantly, turning her eyes on me rather than Bradley.  I was surprised to see a touch of shame in them.  “Can I take a shower?”  She asked me, meekly.  Well, this was certainly a change.  I instantly softened towards her.  I knew that she had been uncomfortable enough in her own dirty clothes to resort to wearing mine.  Clearly, Bradley and I hadn’t put enough thought into the practicalities of having her live with us.
    “Of course,” I said.  “Sorry, I should have thought of that.”  I couldn’t help taking in the sight of her in my t-shirt and sweats, and I again felt that strange sense of satisfaction at the sight.  I was even more pleased when she blushed under my scrutiny.  God, that was a beautiful color.  As much as I would like to see her in my clothes every day, I guessed that it wouldn’t be all that pleasant for her.  I wanted to make her more comfortable with us, to make her feel less like a prisoner.  Getting some personal effects for her might make her feel more like she had a place of her own here.  “I guess you’ll be needing new clothes, too,” I said after a moment.
    Her mouth twisted down in distaste, but she quickly schooled her expression to amiability.  “Yeah,” she replied genially, “that would be nice.”
    She let out a small, resigned sigh and shot a look at me, a curious mix of emotions dancing in her eyes.  There was a hint of appreciation intermingled with resentment.  When she noticed that I was studying her, she gave me a small, sweet smile, blinking away whatever it was that I had seen.  I held her in my gaze, trying to penetrate her affable mask.  What was she thinking?  But she was too good, too practiced at hiding her feelings.  I wanted to press her, but I decided that I had pushed her enough already; I always seemed to fuck things up when I gave in to my curiosity about her and pried.
    I shrugged, leaving her to her secrets.
    “You think you could do me another favor, buddy?”  I addressed Bradley.  He glowered at me, knowing what I was about to ask.
    “I am not going shopping for her,” he said staunchly.
    Okay, I was pissed.  Did he really expect her to stay here forever without any possessions of her own?  She wasn’t a prisoner.  Well, maybe she was, but that didn’t mean that we had to treat her like one.  But I knew that telling Bradley off would just make things worse, and we were in enough of a clusterfuck as it was.  “I know that your sense of style is equivalent to a blind old schoolteacher’s who shops at the Family Dollar,” I joked, “but it’s not like I’m asking you to go on a reality show to be America’s Next Top Stylist.” 
    Bradley didn’t so much as crack a smile.  Either he seriously had his panties in a bunch or I was