Games of Zeus 02- Silent Echoes by Aimee Laine Read Free Book Online

inside of another one of these places, especially for yet another trumped-up charge.”
    “Didn’t they test the blood to find it wasn’t all his? If there was that much of it, it can’t have been, right?” Tripp asked.
    Taylor remembered that question being her own at the time. “He’d planned ahead. He drew his own blood and stored it in a garage fridge. Then, when he needed it, he made one hell of a mess and scattered to the wind.” Her nails dug into her palms.
    “What was his name?”
    “Tanner Meadows.”
    A visible shiver ran through Ian as one made its way down Taylor’s body. She forced herself to calm.
    “Why were you in Alabama in the first place?” Tripp asked.
    “School. I wanted to start over. Yes, even just at twenty, I wanted change. Get away from Mom and Dad. Used my middle name while I was there … or for part of the time. Never expected to get involved with a psycho.”
    “I believe you,” Tripp said.
    “What?” Her lips refused to curve. “Not that I—I mean, I’m grateful you do. But—no. Never mind.” She waved her combined hands in the air.
    “Stop.” The forcefulness of Tripp’s tone had her freezing, hands mid-air. Even Ian’s blank expression had moved to wide eyes.
    “Did I say something wrong?” Taylor’s gaze flitted between Ian and Tripp.
    “Let me see your hand. Lay it on the table,” Tripp said.
    Taylor lowered them—a bit at a time—until they both lay flat against the tabletop.
    Tripp and Ian both leaned forward.
    “May thirty-first,” Tripp said.
    • • •
    Ian couldn’t believe it. He knew exactly why Tripp had stopped Taylor, had her put her hands down, but not why he repeated the date—six weeks from then.
    “What’s going on?” Taylor asked.
    “Your finger.” Tripp pointed to her hand. “Where’d you get that tattoo?”
    Taylor rubbed at the blue lines snaking around the top bone of her right ring finger. Her hands shook while she continued to twist and turn as if the ink were a ring—and she could pull it off. “It’s not a tattoo. It’s been there all my life.”
    Yup. Knew it.
    Tripp turned to Ian. Ian to Tripp. Both adjusted back to her.
    “Tell me about it,” Tripp said.
    Yes, please do.
    “Why? How is this related?”
    Yeah, I’m with her. How is this related?
    “It’s not. Just humor me.”
    Taylor took a deep breath. “Okay. When I was little, this looked like a vein wrapped around my finger funny. My parents took me to doctors and everything, trying to find out what it was. They just all said to leave it be unless it changed.”
    “And did it?” Tripp asked.
    Nope.
    “A few times. Usually, when it gets itchy, it’s doing something. It’s a little darker right now than usual, but it’s not abnormal … to me, at least. I think I’ve gotten used to that weirdness in my life.”
    Hers changed? Why? How? Ian leaned and shifted until he met Taylor’s gaze again, but he said nothing, per Tripp’s orders.
    “You normally wear a ring around that finger, don’t you?” Tripp asked.
    How did he remember that? Ian slipped his own hands beneath the table, twisting the class ring he kept on his own right ring finger.
    “Yeah, my grandpa’s. He gave it to me before he passed away. I hate that they took it last night.”
    “Understandable,” Tripp said. “Why do you cover it up?”
    Taylor inclined her head and closed her eyes. “Because when you’re sixteen, and your best friend tells you that having a tattoo on your finger is going to send you to hell, it kinda gets old. So, I covered it and have gotten used to it being there. Plus, I like Grandpa’s ring, and that’s the only finger it fits on.” She gave a small shrug. “He gave me my first hammer. Taught me how to drive a nail. How to work with people and how to listen to them.” Taylor pressed at her eyelids. “I miss him.”
    Her pain washed into Ian, making his heart flip flop and bringing up an urge to reach out to her.
    Tripp turned to Ian. “Put it