Sanctuary by Pauline Creeden Read Free Book Online

seventh floor and had invited Hugh and Clarissa to his Christmas party last year. The glazed eyes made Scott almost unrecognizable. Hugh shuddered. Scott’s face was red and bloated. Patches of hair laced in the fingers that pressed against the glass. His mouth opened in a constant scream, his tongue black and swollen.
    Hugh backed up a step and bumped into Fred.
    “Ugly, ain’t it?”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “They have been like this for almost twenty minutes now. The news hadn’t even reported it yet.”
    “Huh?”
    “Them people that got bit are sick or somethin’. I dunno. But they’re screaming, moaning, and attacking each other and other people. You see? It was for your safety that I ain’t letting you outside.”
    Fred walked around to the other side of Hugh and started pushing him back toward the elevators. “As long as they stay out there, and we stay in here, everything’s hunky-dory.”
    Hugh allowed himself to be herded, still in shock, still speechless. He glanced over his shoulder. Scott James had left several bloody handprints on the door, but he was gone.
    When they had reached the elevator, Fred took his nasty hand off of Hugh and waved it in his face. “See ya later, Teach.”
    And the elevator doors swished shut.

     
     

     
     
     
    CLARISSA NUZZLED BRAD’S EAR AN D put her hand in his back pocket. Putting on his best charismatic smile, Brad Harris put an arm around her waist and stepped up to the coffee shop counter. He nodded a greeting to the barista. “Hey, can I get two Grande Caramel Lattes?”
    With a giggle Clarissa whispered in his ear, “Extra whipped cream.”
    Her breath caused tingles down the back of his neck. He repeated her request. The barista rolled her eyes and turned around to make their coffees.
    Brad chuckled. He relished the freedom of being in a city where no one knew him. While Clarissa’s senator father was back in Williamsburg, she and Brad got to know each other better while staying in the Capitol Hill townhouse.
    When the barista returned with the two coffees, Brad reached for his wallet but hesitated, fully expecting not to pay.
    “I got it, Babe.” Clarissa growled into his ear and placed a twenty on the counter.
    Without a word, the barista took the twenty and went to the register. Brad released Clarissa and took the two coffees to a table by the window. The Starbucks sat nearly empty. Long ago, it might have been strange on a Thursday morning at 9:15, but not with a large, impervious, silver disk hanging in the sky over the Washington Monument. The pale sunlight poured yellow upon the city outside the window, making the midsummer feel like late fall.
    “Keep the change.” Clarissa giggled.
    Brad snorted his derision while his back was turned to Clarissa. He set the coffees down on the table and held the chair for her. She touched his shoulder in thanks.
    “What should we do today?” he asked.
    Her brown, doe eyes blinked as Clarissa gently bit her bottom lip. After a moment, she asked, “What would you like to do today?”
    Great. Dodging again. Did this girl have no personality? He was already growing sick of this conversation. Playing the lovesick younger brother had taken its toll when he had worked to seduce her from Hugh. Now it was about time to shift gears. He knew women, and if he didn’t take control of this relationship, she would.
    “Well, this town is empty and boring. I know a guy who does tattoos and piercings if you want to try something new.”
    Clarissa’s face flushed, and she dropped her wide eyes. It was obvious. Daddy’s little girl was clean skinned and ‘normal.’  It shook her up to suggest piercings or tattoos.
    She finally muttered, “I don’t know.”
    “A belly button ring might be sexy or maybe a cute little tattoo on your hipbone.”
    Clarissa furrowed her brow a little and tilted her head. “I don’t know.”
    “You’re not scared are you?”
    “Doesn’t it hurt?”
    Playing with the ring