The Tainted (The Tainted Series Book 1) by Anna Hill Read Free Book Online

return.
    “When I lost my father, I made a promise to myself that I would help others who were like me. I would tell them where they came from, who they really were, and, most importantly, show them they were loved.
    “I began searching through foster care records for reports on orphans with no family who showed signs of being, well, different. Some were easier to find than others. For instance, there’s Owen,” Maverick laughed slightly. “He can manipulate and control plants and his file was littered with instances where he’d used his gift in all too public settings. You can see how that might be alarming to others.
    “I would locate the ones I’d found and confront them. I’d tell them who they really were and, if they wanted, invite them to join me.”
    “Join you? Are you creating an army?” Rebecca raised an eyebrow.
    “No.” Maverick had hesitated slightly before answering. It had barely been noticeable, yet Rebecca had the distinct feeling his answer hadn’t been entirely truthful.
    “I should have said,” he continued, in spite of Rebecca’s questioning stare, “that the ones I found who’d never been adopted, who stood no chance of finding a happy home, I brought away with me. There were many others who had found loving homes and happy lives who chose to remain. I still stay in contact with them, in case I’m ever in need of their help.”
    Maverick paused for a moment and narrowed his eyes at her. It wasn’t in a menacing way, more like he was amused by something. “You, though, you were different. It was almost as if you found me .”
    Rebecca’s heart again started to beat rapidly, but this time it wasn’t from anxiety. She suddenly felt extremely self-conscious and pulled her hair back behind her ear, using that as an excuse to look away from Maverick.
    “I’d come back to our safe house after a long trip out east,” he continued, “and was about to fall asleep when I noticed a file on my desk. But I hadn’t left any file out. In fact, at the time, I didn’t have any new cases I was looking into.
    “I asked the rest of my crew if they’d placed it on my desk, but none of them had seen it before or knew anything about it. So, intrigued, I went ahead and read through the file. It was filled with copies of your records.
    “At first, I dismissed you as nothing more than an immature punk.” Maverick suddenly had to dodge as Rebecca swung a well-aimed punch at his shoulder.
    He laughed as he sat upright again, “You have to admit you were a bit of a brat. In all my searching, I’d never heard of someone being moved around that many times. I’m surprised they didn’t just throw you in juvie!”
    Rebecca crossed her arms and frowned at Maverick, but didn’t say anything. She knew full well she’d been a handful back then. Still, even though she wasn’t going to defend herself, it didn’t mean she approved of Maverick calling her a brat.
    “Sorry, I take it back,” he winked at her and laughed lightly. “Anyway, as I was saying, I threw your file away and thought nothings else about it, until the next day when it was somehow sitting neatly on my desk again. I threw it away five times, and each time it was back again the next morning, waiting for me on my desk. At that point, I realized this wasn’t going to stop until I found you.
    “I watched you for a while.”
    “Wait, you what?” Rebecca cut him off and leaned away from him, feeling slightly creeped out.
    Maverick laughed again, “Calm down Becs, it’s not like I snuck into your room and watched you changing or something. I do this with all the new cases. I have to make sure they’re one of us before I confront them.”
    Rebecca leaned back in, but she still felt a bit strange about the fact that he’d been watching her. There were several rather embarrassing things she remembered doing when she thought no one else was around, and she prayed he hadn’t seen any of them.
    “You showed all the signs of being a