The Soul Healer by Melissa Giorgio Read Free Book Online Page B

Moon’s HQ for the rest of my life? Was he going to dissect me, pick at my brain, try to figure out what made me tick? Or, more accurately, what made my hands glow and heal?
    And what if he found nothing? Would he kill my family in retaliation?
    This can’t be it for me , I thought frantically, my gaze sliding toward Evan, who still crouched next to Jonathan, his back to me. Any moment now, Evan would realize what he had done and fix this. He would beat the crap out of Charles and whisk me away—
    And then what? Silver Moon knew about me. They knew about my family, too. I wasn’t safe anymore.
    How ironic. The one who warned me about Silver Moon was the one to betray me in the end. Why?
    “Her parents are moving her back to Manhattan.”
    “Since when?”
    “This week. A few days ago. I don’t remember. Does it matter? I screwed up, man. Now she’s gone, gone, gone.”
    I froze. Of course, of course. Alexandra. Evan wanted me to heal Alexandra.
    “Evan,” I said quietly, watching him stiffen. I made to move toward him, but Charles caught me in his strong grip again. “Evan, this is about Alexandra, isn’t it? You think I can heal her? You betrayed me for her?”
    When he didn’t answer, I got really, really angry. Forget that my life was over, but Charles had threatened my family . This wasn’t some stupid little joke. This was the biggest mistake Evan could have made.
    “Answer me!” I shouted at him. “It’s true, isn’t it? Isn’t it, Evan?”
    “Of course it is!” He whirled around, his blue eyes blazing. “She’s been in a coma for two years! For two years I’ve watched her, unable to do anything.” He jumped to his feet and stalked over, his face uncharacteristically angry. “And then you come along, and you can heal people. How could you expect me to stand by and do nothing, Gabi?”
    “Because,” I growled, “I’m your friend. Or, at least, I was your friend. Not after this, Evan. Not after you got Dad and Chloe involved. I can’t wait to see Rafe deal with you. This time I won’t stop him.”
    The corner of Evan’s lip curled. “Except that’s not going to happen, since he’s not even speaking to you, am I right?”
    My hand flew out, almost on its own accord, slapping Evan hard across the face. I actually wanted to jump him, to show him some of the moves Rafe had taught me in our few training lessons, but Charles yanked me back, putting himself between us. “Enough,” he barked. I almost laughed. Was he trying to protect me?
    Can’t have his precious Soul Healer (still had no clue what that was) harmed, right?
    “We’re wasting time,” Charles continued. He nodded toward Jonathan, now unconscious on the floor. “Deal with this, Evan, and then take care of her family’s memories. Meet us back at Headquarters as soon as you’re done.”
    I expected Evan to protest, since he sucked at taking orders from anyone but himself, but he surprised me by nodding. “Yes, sir.” His cheek was red from my slap, and I felt a small twinge of satisfaction.
    It quickly died when Charles turned his attention to me. “And now, my dear Soul Healer, it’s time for you to sleep.” He lifted a hand.
    “Oh, hell no, not again—”
    The stupid world went black again.
     
    ***
     
    Rafe and I were standing in his apartment, sofas pushed against the wall to give us a clear space for training. He was standing behind me, my back pressed against his chest as his hand curled around mine, showing me the proper way to throw a punch. With him this close, his cologne making me dizzy, I barely heard a word he was saying, but I was desperately trying. Rafe only rewarded me when I actually succeeded.
    I liked when he rewarded me.
    “So you keep your thumb on the outside of your other fingers,” Rafe explained as he showed me what he meant. His fingers were calloused and feather-light against mine, sending little shivers throughout my body. I sucked in a shaky breath, nodding to show him that I