Unbreakable by Kami García Read Free Book Online Page A

never have told her. They barely spoke, and when they did, it always ended in an argument.
    I swallowed hard, fighting to keep my voice steady. “How do you know?”
    Lukas pushed past his brother, walking toward me slowly like he was approaching a frightened animal. “There are always five members of the Legion. A month ago, all five died on the same night. Exactly the same way. Our dad and uncle, your mom—”
    Jared leaned against the side of the van, his hands shoved in his pockets. “You weren’t the only one with a psychotic cat.”
    “You think this is funny?” I snapped.
    “No, I didn’t mean—” Jared’s eyes dropped to the ground.
    “I get that this is a lot to take in, but you need to know the truth,” Lukas said.
    I only nodded.
    “Our place isn’t far.” Lukas led me to the van, and I climbed in without arguing. “It’s not like you can go back to your house.”
    I hesitated for a second. “Wait. What time is it?”
    “Eleven. Why?”
    I was supposed to meet Elle at nine thirty. She would’ve gone by my house when I didn’t show up. I tried to picture exactly how it looked when we left—the door blown off the hinges, windows shattered, knives sticking out of the kitchen walls. Considering the number of people who had been opening their doors when we drove away, the police had probably beaten her there.
    The police meant a call to my aunt, who would have me on the next plane to Boston if I went back.
    If Lukas and Jared were telling the truth, a plane ride wouldn’t stop vengeance spirits from finding me. I couldn’t risk leaving until I knew how to protect myself.
    I turned to Lukas. “I have to make a call. I was supposed to meet my friend, and she’s probably freaking out.”
    He handed me his cell phone. “You can’t say anything about us. We don’t want to deal with the cops.”
    “I just want to tell her that I’m okay.” I dialed Elle’s number, and she picked up on the first ring.
    “Hello?”
    “Elle—”
    “Kennedy? Oh my god! Where are you?” She was talking so fast I could hardly understand her. “Your house is totally trashed and—”
    “Elle? Are you alone?”
    “Yeah, why?” Her usual confidence was gone.
    “You can’t tell anyone I’m on the phone. Do you hear me?”
    “Okay.”
    I took a deep breath and tried to sound calm for her benefit. “Listen. I’m fine. Something happened at my house and these guys helped me.”
    “What
guys
?” she hissed under her breath. “Everyone is looking for you. Your house is a crime scene, and I found Elvis wandering around in the street.”
    “You found him? Is he all right?”
    “Your stupid cat’s fine. He’s in my car.” Her voice rose, hysteria taking over. “But I’m in the parkinglot at the police station. I practically had to tell them everything you ate for the last two days. They think you were abducted.”
    “Hold on.” I hit Mute and turned to Lukas. “The police think someone kidnapped me. Should she tell them I’m okay?”
    “No,” he said quickly. “They’ll ask her a million questions, and she might get nervous and let something slip.”
    I got back on the line. “Elle, you can’t tell anyone you talked to me.”
    She sniffled. “Are you running away? Is this about boarding school? You can move in with me if you don’t want to go.”
    It killed me to scare her like this. “I’m not running away. It has to do with what happened to my mom.”
    “Her heart attack? Sometimes those things just—”
    “She didn’t die of a heart attack.” The words felt different when I said them out loud. Truer.
    For a second, Elle didn’t respond. “What are you talking about?”
    Lukas gestured for me to hurry up.
    “I have to go.”
    “Call me back,” she whispered desperately.
    “I will.” I hung up, wishing she was here and grateful she wasn’t at the same time.
    Jared pulled away from the curb, and Lukas’ journal slipped off the seat. I picked it up and ran my hand over the