For the thousandth time she wondered what had happened to
make him push her away the way he had.
?Hi,? she said, h
er voice cracking like she?d just woken from a full
night?s sleep. ?How?d you get here??
?Cassie got a glimpse of Creon?s attack, but she didn?t know
where it was going to take place because all she could see was darkness.
I took a guess,? he said, brushing her hair back from her face
and placing a long lock behind her shoulder. ?Sorry I was late.?
?Don?t sweat it,? she said, her voice still shaking with fear. She
took a deep breath to steady herself and pulled herself together.
?You messed him up pretty good. I?ve never seen Creon bolt from
a fight like that before,? Lucas said with admiration.
?I just softened him up for you.? She couldn?t resist smiling at
him, even though she knew she?d spend hours rethinking and regretting
it. ?Did I miss anything while I was out??
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?Just a trip from there to here,? he said, pointing over his
shoulder then to the counter. ?And a quick call to Jason for
backup.?
?Lennie!? Claire shrieked frantically as she barged through the
front door. She gasped at the knocked-over furniture in the foyer.
?In here. Don?t freak out, I?m all right,? Helen called out to Claire.
Then she saw Lucas?s questioning look. ?It?s okay, she knows some
of it,? she told him. She pushed him back so she could jump down
off the counter. Claire came in first, followed by Jason, who looked
like he was ready to strangle her.
?Sorry, Luke. I was at her place looking for Helen when you
called. I tried to come alone but Five-Two latched on to my arm
and wouldn?t let me go without her,? Jason growled, nearly tearing