Storm Shades by Olivia Stephens Read Free Book Online Page B

bows his dark head down in deference. The two men couldn’t look more different. Whereas Ashton was tall and blonde, Gus was short with hair so dark it was black. They both have the same tanned skin that makes them look like they’ve spent most of their lives outside, which wouldn’t be far from the truth. Despite not looking alike, they both carry themselves in the same way; they have an easy grace about them.
    “The outsiders, they’re looking for oil.” Gus breathes heavily like he’s been running, rushing to tell Ashton what he’s discovered.
    “I know.” Ash looks down at the samples in his hands, offering them to Gus to smell. The expression on his second’s face tells him that he’s smelled the same thing.
    “They’re going to destroy this place once they realize what our woods and our mountain are sitting on top of. They’re not going to leave it alone until they’ve dug up every last rock and drilled as deep as they can.” Gus’s hazel eyes flash with anger, and they glow, looking almost golden.
    “It won’t come to that, my friend.” Ashton lays his hand on Gus’s shoulder, locking eyes with him and communicating in a way that only their kind can. “No one is going to destroy our home. It is ours and no one else’s, and we will protect it at all cost.” He tightens his grip on Gus’s shoulder, and his friend nods slowly, seemingly satisfied. “Good, now what about the other issue?” Ash picks up some other stones from the trail, plain old rocks without a hint of oil on them.
    “We have eyes on him. Lola and Hector are going to be his shadows until tomorrow night.” Gus watches Ashton, clearly curious over what he’s planning on doing with his little rock collection, but knowing that it isn’t his place to ask.
    “Good, we’ll deal with him then.” Ashton weighs the rocks in his hand thoughtfully.
    “What do you want me to do about the others? The outsiders?” Gus stands up straight, ready for orders. If Ashton is the voice and mind of the group, then Gus is the strong arm.
    “Nothing for now.” Ash lifts his head, taking in the scent of the area. “There’s more rain on its way. They won’t be coming here tomorrow. Plus, if there isn’t any oil, then there’s no reason for them to come back.” Ashton holds up the random rocks he’s been collecting, and Gus nods in understanding.
    “Let’s get out of here before we both get another bah. Race you home.” Ashton starts running before the words are out of his mouth, but Gus knows him well enough that he’s only a step behind. They run through the woods, taking long strides, moving quickly. The sound of animals howling echoes out in the quiet night.
     

CHAPTER SIX
    The rain hammers down for most of the night, and there’s no sign of it letting up for the rest of the day. After what had happened to Sofie the day before, the team doesn’t want to take any chances.
    “A day off?” Sofie says the words as if they’re a foreign concept, which they pretty much are. She’s renowned for hardly taking any holiday unless Darwin actually locks her out of the lab.
    “Well, we can’t do any surveying in this,” Darwin gestures out the window of her hotel room where it’s so dark you would think it was the middle of the night. “Besides, we can’t risk contaminating any of the samples. Anything we collect would just have to be double checked anyway. So yes, a day off. Go and enjoy yourself.” Darwin waves vaguely to demonstrate this ‘enjoying oneself’ that she was supposed to do. He doesn’t let her debate his suggestion, and, as if on cue, his cell starts ringing. He grabs it up irritably until he sees the caller ID and turns his back as he answers it.
    “Bet you anything it’s the office.” Finn doesn’t even look up from the video game he’s been playing—using her television as a screen. He’d managed to hook up a connection from his computer to Sofie’s TV, using his phone as the remote.
    “Remind me