Emma didn’t reach for the cards on her table. She just stared at the girl, and said, “I see a family that’s waiting for you. You need to go home to them.”
The girl’s chin jerked. “Wh-what if they won’t have me?”
“You’d be surprised at what they’d have.” Darkness was coming, the night slowly creeping to take over the day. Emma knew that she would have to leave Jackson Square soon. Her time was almost up.
The others around her were already packing up their booths for the day. Psychics. Artists. Musicians. They were a mixed group, one that assembled every day as the sun came out, to capture the attention of the tourists in New Orleans.
Emma wasn’t psychic. She wasn’t gifted when it came to music or art. But she did have one talent that she used to keep her alive and well fed—Emma had a talent for reading people.
For noticing what others would too easily miss. Too easily ignore.
“You’re running from someone,” Emma said flatly. The girl had already glanced over her left shoulder at least four times while they’d been talking. Fear was a living, breathing thing, clinging to the girl like a shroud.
Emma knew what it was like to run. Sometimes, it seemed as if she’d always been running from someone or something.
“Will he find me?” the girl asked as she leaned forward.
Emma almost reached for the girl’s hand because she wanted to comfort her. Almost. “Go back to your family.” The girl was a runaway. She’d bet her life on it.
The young blond blanched. “What if it’s the family you fear?”
At those words, Emma stiffened.
“Aren’t you supposed to tell me that everything will be all right?” the girl asked. She stood then, and her voice rose, breaking with fear. “Aren’t you supposed to tell me that I’ll go to college, marry my dream man, and live happily ever after?”
Others turned their way because the girl was nearly shouting.
“Aren’t you?” the girl demanded.
Emma shook her head. She didn’t believe in happily ever after. “Go to the police.” She said this softly, her words a direct contrast to the girl’s angry tone. “You’re in danger.” There were bruises on the girl’s wrists, bruises peeking out from beneath the long sleeves of her shirt. A long-sleeved shirt in August, in New Orleans? Oh, no, that wasn’t right. What other bruises are you trying to hide?
The girl stumbled back. “Help me.” Now her voice was a desperate whisper.
Emma stood, as well. “I’ll go with you—” Emma began.
But the girl had glanced over her shoulder once more. The blonde’s too-thin body stiffened, and she gasped. Then she was turning and running away. Shoving through the tourists crowding the busy square. Running as if her very life depended on it.
Because maybe, just maybe, it did.
Emma called out after her, but the girl didn’t stop.
Let her go, let her go.
But Emma found herself rushing after the girl, going as fast as she could. But New Orleans, oh, New Orleans, it could be such a tricky bitch, with its narrow streets and secret paths. Emma couldn’t find the blonde. She turned to the left and to the right, and she just saw men and women laughing, celebrating. Voices were all around her. So many people.
And there was no sign of the terrified blond girl.
Emma paused, and pressed her hand to the brick wall on her right as she fought to catch her breath.
But the wall was . . . wet. She lifted her hand, and in the faint light, she could see the red stain that covered her palm. A red that was—
Blood.
About the Author
Award-winning author CYNTHIA EDEN writes dark tales of paranormal romance and romantic suspense. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader bestseller. Cynthia is also a two-time finalist for the RITA® Award (she was a finalist both in the romantic suspense category and in the paranormal romance category). Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written more than thirty novels and novellas. She lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast.
www.cynthiaeden.com
www.avonromance.com
www.facebook.com/avonromance
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By Cynthia Eden
The LOST series
BROKEN
TWISTED
SHATTERED
PRAISE FOR CYNTHIA EDEN
AND HER NOVELS
BROKEN
“Sexy, mysterious, and full of heart-pounding suspense!”
Laura Kaye, New York Times bestselling author
“I dare you not to love a Cynthia Eden book!”
Larissa Ione, New York Times bestselling author
“Fast-paced, smart, sexy and emotionally wrenching—everything I love about a Cynthia Eden book!”
HelenKay Dimon
“Cynthia Eden writes smart, sexy and gripping suspense. Hang on tight while she takes you on a wild ride.”
Cindy Gerard, New York Times bestselling author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Excerpt from Broken copyright © 2015 by Cindy Roussos
Excerpt from Twisted copyright © 2015 by Cindy Roussos
SHATTERED. Copyright © 2015 by Cindy Roussos. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
EPub Edition NOVEMBER 2015 ISBN: 9780062349675
Print Edition ISBN: 9780062349668
FIRST EDITION
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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