Coldhearted (9781311888433) by Melanie Matthews Read Free Book Online

though.”
    “ Yeah, she is. You’re not
really going to that abandoned sanatorium, are you? I mean, it’s
probably locked. They’ll be breaking-and-entering.”
    Huh. I didn’t think of that.
    “ Well, I’ll ask her,” Edie
said. “If that’s the case, then no, I won’t go. I don’t want a
criminal record. But…I’m sure that’s not the case.”
    “ Still…I don’t want you
getting into trouble.”
    They’d made it to the student parking lot.
Now they were standing next to his pickup.
    But Edie didn’t let go of his arm. “I’m glad
you’re concerned for me, but I’m sure it’s okay. I don’t think
Jules is willing to risk her future, either, over whether or not
there are ghosts in an old, mental hospital.”
    Mason wobbled his head.
“Well, you don’t know Jules. We’ve grown up together.
She’s…passionate about the supernatural. Always has been. I had no
idea she was one of those thrill-seeking, ghost hunters, though.”
He paused, and then continued, “She thinks there are aliens too.
She’s obsessed with The
X-Files .”
    Edie chuckled. “Well, it was a good show. She
doesn’t sound so bad.”
    Mason shifted his arm, forcing Edie to let
go, but then he caught her hand, holding it gently. “If you do go
there, let me know. I’ll go with you.”
    Edie raised an eyebrow. “Really? But you’re
not a believer.”
    “ Neither are you,
right?”
    Edie hesitated, and then said, “Right.”
    Mason squeezed her hand. “I want to be there
with you, just in case there’s trouble, natural, or…dare I say,
supernatural,” he said in a dramatic tone.
    Edie giggled, despite the very real fear that
they may encounter a nasty ghost. She felt anchored to Mason, and
she knew that as long as she had him in her life, everything would
be fine.
    “ C’mon,” he continued with a
smile. “I’m starving.”
    He opened the passenger door and helped Edie
up into the cab. She adjusted her seatbelt on, and then watched him
walk around the front of the truck to the driver’s side, enjoying
the view. But she was forced to look away, distracted by a dark
shadow in the distance that seemed to be watching her. Then it
detached itself from the school’s bricked wall and vanished around
a corner, like a fleeing wraith. Edie let out a yelp when Mason
slammed his door shut. She’d forgotten about him, immersed in
fear.
    “ Sorry,” he apologized. “I’m
not used to having passengers. I didn’t realize how loud I could
be.”
    Edie shook her head. “It’s okay. I just
thought…”
    “ What?” he asked, and then
turned over the engine.
    The truck roared to life, sounding strong. No
one would’ve ever guessed that hours earlier it’d died for no
apparent reason.
    “ Nothing.” She forced a
smile. “Let’s eat. I’m hungry too.”
    “ Edie.” Mason clasped her
hand. “What’s wrong?”
    Edie sighed. “I thought I
saw…someone…watching me. That’s all.”
    Mason smiled. Is he making fun of me?
    “ Edie…of course people are
going to stare at you. For one, you’re famous, and two, well…you’re
bound to have admirers.” He let go of her hand, reached up, and
tucked a stray strand of blonde hair behind her ear. His fingers
were hot against her skin. Yet…she shivered, watching her breath
escape. “Cold?” Without waiting for her reply, Mason turned up the
heat.
    “ Thanks,” she said, forcing
another smile.
    He gave her a genuine smile back, oblivious
to her deception. They headed out of the parking lot, and then onto
the main road, leading away from the school. It wasn’t the frosty
weather that’d made Edie shiver. Mason’s touch was hot enough to
heat her throughout the winter. No, it was the other touch that
she’d felt: the unseen touch.
    A cold, bony finger had traced a line under
her jaw from ear to ear, slitting her throat.
     
     

Chapter 6

     
    Edie was wearing Mason’s scarf protectively
around her neck.
    He’d had one inside his truck. It smelled
like his