Flawed by J. L. Spelbring Read Free Book Online Page B

get a clear scan of his true intentions. She released his thoughts and went to Rein.
    “Let him go,” Ellyssa said.
    Rein glanced at her, his eyes circles; wildness raged within the green. Red splotched his face as well. A slew of cussing saturated the room.
    “Let him go, Rein. If he is a spy, I can get information from him.”
    Rein stopped knocking the captain’s head but didn’t let go of his neck. His knuckles were bleached white from the death grip he held. “It—It’s him,” he stuttered, his words pained and angry. “He helped her.”
    The her Rein referred to was the now-deceased Detective Angela Petersen, The Center’s Schutzpolizei . Ellyssa’s father, Dr. Hirch, had sent Angela to find Ellyssa when she’d escaped from under his control. It was the detective who’d delivered Rein to Dr. Hirch, and ultimately into the hands of Ellyssa’s sister, Aalexis.
    Rein’s lips curled into a snarl as he turned back toward the captain, their noses almost touching.
    Thump .
    Plaster dust fell. A bluish grey tinted the captain’s face.
    “Stop it!” Trista screamed, still trying to break free from Woody.
    Ellyssa didn’t need to read Rein’s mind to know what he was thinking. The pain and suffering he’d experienced under Aalexis’ influence had been torturous. She herself had felt the faux fire lick through her veins as her sister manipulated his pain receptors. Even with Ellyssa’s genetically enhanced capabilities and high threshold for pain, the intensity had crumpled her to the ground like a ragdoll. Frankly, it surprised her that Rein, a normal human, had been able to withstand such agony.
    “I know. I understand,” Ellyssa said. Calmly, she reached up and stroked Rein’s face. “I can get to the root of this if you let him go. If you give me the chance.”
    For a moment, Rein acted like he wasn’t going to listen to her, the tips of his fingers hidden in the flesh of Dyllon’s neck. Then, he let out a breath and, slowly, he nodded. One by one, Rein’s fingers relaxed. Blood rushed back into his knuckles, turning them pink.
    Hacking, Captain Jones slid down the wall to his knees. “I…” he croaked.
    Ellyssa knelt before him, her face clear of emotion. “I know who you are,” she stated.
    The captain looked at her, understanding filtering into his eyes.
    “I need you to calm down.”
    He acknowledged her words, but his expression, and the way his eyes darted around, showed lack of ability.
    Ellyssa looked up at Rein, whose face was still flushed in fury, then at Woody. He held Trista by her upper arm; she no longer struggled, her blue eyes locked on Ellyssa. Back by the French doors, holding hands, Tim and Sarah stood.
    They were all watching her.
    “I want you to understand,” she said, facing Dyllon, “as of right now, no one will hurt you. But you must relax.”
    Hand around his neck, breath ragged, Dyllon stared at her, apparently confused. He glanced at Trista, pleadingly, as if he expected her to save him.
    Ellyssa shook her head. “Do you understand?”
    He nodded and exhaled a raspy breath.
    She looked into his eyes, the bluish-green peeking around the edges of dilated pupils. “Calm,” Ellyssa said in a soothing voice.
    Surprisingly, the captain did. His pupils constricted slightly, and the anxiety on his face dimmed. As Dyllon sucked in a ragged breath, Ellyssa swung her mental door open. Images and emotions filed in, one fading into another, a blend of past and present.
    First, instant recognition of Rein when he’d barreled in the room. Rein grabbing him off the chair and slamming him repeatedly against the wall. Fear, confusion and betrayal. Trista had assured him he’d be accepted.
    The captain was infatuated with Trista. Blonde hair and blue eyes, Trista could blend so easily into society. Yet, Trista was part of the Renegade camp. If Dyllon hadn’t helped her, Trista would’ve been amongst the exterminated, captured or lying dead in a pool of blood back at the