Cheating Time by T. R. Graves Read Free Book Online Page A

big
deal of his flying spittle, but it was the least of my
concerns.
    "Do I think
this is a joke? Really? Do I think
this is a joke?" I laughed, and everything about it was hysterical. Maniacal . "I'm not sure what's
going on. No one's told me. We've been gone for six months. There's
not been one of those days… No, scratch that. There's not been one
of those minutes that I haven't worried about Mom, who is just one
step away from the psych ward, and you… you ." I poked my finger into his chest. "I've been
so worried about you. We've never been apart that long. Didn't it
bother you at all?"
    Jayden's entire body softened. The tough
Surrogate Soldier took a step toward me and looked like he wanted
to pull me into his arms for another hug. The problem for me was
the fact that he didn't say anything. He didn't admit that he'd
missed me at all, and that hurt me in ways I'd not expected. I
stepped backward and away from him and kept rambling.
    "Tonight, my mother woke me in the middle of
the night and told me to get dressed and meet her in the barn.
Since you know so much more than me, you can fill in the blanks.
Why are we going to the barn and why are you, one of President
Barone's most trusted Surrogates , here, the last place on the planet you should be?" I asked loud
enough to scare the night crickets into complete and utter
silence.
    Jayden's jaw clenched and his teeth ground.
Whatever relief he'd felt over seeing me earlier had vanished. His
voice might not have been as loud as mine, but it was one that
commanded attention.
    "I don't need to explain myself to you. Your
father trusts me. That. Is. All. That. Matters," he said, and his
last individually uttered words were deadly serious.
    I glanced to the side. Toward the direction
of the barn. My eyes slitted tighter. "How often have you and Dad
been talking?"
    Based on the glare he was sending my way,
his temper matched mine degree for degree.
    "I don't have time for you or your
petulance. Your parents are making sacrifices you'll never
understand. I'm here because your father asked me to come. Now let
me do what he's requested and get you to safety." Jayden closed his
eyes, reminding me of someone counting to ten. Someone trying to control his anger. Then he blew
out an exasperated breath. "We believe there are Surrogates on
their way here. Before they arrive, I need to get you to the barn.
There, your parents will tell you everything they want you to know.
It's their place to do that. Not mine."
    Without another word, I turned, running as
fast as I could toward where I knew my parents were. This time,
Jayden had to work just a little harder to keep up with me.
Secretly, that fact pleased me.



Chapter 4
Beautiful Watchers
Carlie
    Running with Jayden reminded me why
Surrogates Soldiers like Jayden were born and bred to be our
protectors. Jayden was as fast and graceful— and deadly —as a cheetah.
    The difference between Jayden and every
other soldier I'd ever met was he was the worst kind of pain in my
ass.
    And he didn't miss me at
all.
    He pushed, taunted, demeaned, demoralized,
and belittled me. Basically, he did whatever it took to manipulate
me into following his orders and pushing myself to be more than I
thought I could ever be and to do more than I thought I could ever
do.
    Everything, that is, but
ask sweetly.
    For the longest time, I'd resented him and
the way he'd tested me nonstop, but I'd never blamed him. He was a
Soldier first and foremost. Like all Surrogates he'd been created
from the sperm of a man who'd been labeled as superior and the egg
of an equally dominant woman.
    No one knew exactly who appointed Surrogate
Creators, the government officials charged with selecting people
perfect enough to parent the flawless Surrogate Soldiers who were
bred—through in vitro fertilization and surrogate mothers—to
protect Aspect Nation. We only knew that such people existed
because there were thousands of young soldiers roaming the nation,
meaning someone