My Immortal by Erin McCarthy Read Free Book Online Page A

cheerful, Marley suddenly wondered if she was making a huge mistake. It slammed into her consciousness that she was being remarkably trusting. No one knew where she was. They were completely alone on God only knew how many acres. Damien could kill her, toss her in the swamp, and she’d never be found. Maybe that was precisely what he had done with Lizzie. The thought about made her heart stop.
    She couldn’t believe that the idea of Damien being guilty had never occurred to her before. But it did now, with a glaring Technicolor horror film hugeness, and she came to a complete halt in the doorway. This was a stupid girl move waiting to happen.
    “You’ve stopped walking,” he commented from behind her. “In case you hadn’t noticed.”
    “I just had a thought…” That he might be a murderer. Marley couldn’t think how to finish the sentence in a way that wouldn’t raise his suspicions. She just stood there, heart pounding, grappling with her purse. She’d feel better if she had her cell phone in her hand. Instead of her phone, her fingers landed on the snapshot of her with Lizzie.
    “Here’s the picture.” She turned around and shoved it at him.
    His eyebrows went up. “That was your thought?”
    “Well, yes, and also…” Turning had been a mistake. She was way too close to him, close enough that she could see a faint caramel-colored stubble on his chin, like he’d forgotten to shave. She could smell him, hear his breathing. He was so incredibly attractive, so sexy, so…arousing, and yet he could be sick, twisted, violent, evil, for all she knew.
    “Yes?”
    He was waiting for an answer and she had no clue what to say.
    “Damien, who’s your friend?” A woman’s voice came from outside, behind Damien.
    Marley relaxed, relieved to have his attention distracted from her.
    Damien, on the other hand, winced when he heard the new arrival. “Rosa. What a surprise.” From the tone of his voice, it wasn’t a happy one.
    A head of black curly hair popped out from behind his shoulders. The woman had deep dark eyes, coffee-colored skin, and an uncertain ethnicity, her features exotic and striking. She was smiling. “Hi. I’m Rosa.” She slid around Damien, putting her hands on his elbows and squeezing through a nothing of a space when he didn’t move out of her way.
    “I’m Marley. Nice to meet you,” she said automatically, as her heart rate attempted to return to normal. Damien couldn’t murder her with someone else present. She didn’t think. God, this had been such an idiotic thing to do.
    “So what brings you to this dump?” Rosa asked cheerfully, plopping down onto the sofa and crossing her legs. She was thin, with legs probably longer than Marley’s whole body, and she was wearing a flowing cotton skirt with espadrilles.
    “She’s looking for her sister,” Damien said. “What are you doing here?”
    “We had plans, remember?”
    “No, we didn’t.”
    Rosa smiled, her mouth full of perfect, sparkling white teeth. “Yes, we did. You said you were going to take me car shopping.”
    “Over my dead body.”
    Rosa seemed to think that was funny. She laughed and swung her leg back and forth. “You’re not going to die anytime soon, Damien.”
    “Precisely my point. I’ll see you later, Rosa. Thanks for stopping by.” He gave her a pointed stare.
    Marley stood uncomfortably just inside the door, debating the merits of bolting. She could probably make it to her rental car before he could catch up with her. She patted her pocket for the keys.
    “Fine, I’ll leave since you’re in such a lousy mood.” Rosa sighed and stood up, smoothing her tight scoop-neck shirt across her nonexistent belly. “I hate this painting,” she commented as she straightened the framed piece of art above Damien’s sofa. Rosa took her time crossing the room, a sly little smile on her face.
    “I’m sure I’ll see you around, Marley,” she said. “Maybe we can chat when sourpuss isn’t here to ruin