First Kiss: The Ghost Bird Series: #10 (The Academy Ghost Bird Series) (57 page)

Read First Kiss: The Ghost Bird Series: #10 (The Academy Ghost Bird Series) Online

Authors: C. L. Stone

Tags: #Teen & Young Adult, #Mysteries & Thrillers, #Mystery & Detective, #Romantic, #Romance, #Contemporary, #Spies

“I’ll get this over with,” I said, suddenly determined. My father wouldn’t stay on. He didn’t dare. His job called him out on business trips for long periods of time. “He’s just here to pay a bill and to check up on us. He’ll leave again.”

“Let’s hope so,” Kota said. He continued to hold my hand and found his phone with the other. He turned it on, checking the cameras. “I see him,” he said. “He’s in his bedroom, making the bed.”

“Okay,” I said and turned to look at them. “I’m going. He’s probably just here for the weekend. He’ll be gone on Monday. I can probably even sneak out during the day for walks like before. So I only need to show up sometime in the afternoon and sleep there.”

“We’ll send someone in,” Kota said, ignoring his phone now and looking back toward the house. “We’ll keep an eye on it and find a good time to head up. Someone will be in the attic at all times.”

“We shouldn’t need to go that far,” Victor said. “You said he wouldn’t hurt her.”

“It’s not about him,” Kota said and returned his eyes to me. “Do you want us to?”

I swallowed, of course, I did, although that was a risk. “Don’t if it’s not safe,” I said. “Don’t let anyone get caught.”

He nodded sharply.

That was it. Decision made. Despite heading back, I wouldn’t be alone.

I was never alone.

I left them, and crossed the bridge, still feeling their warm touches in my palms and on my shoulders. I tried to keep that memory with me. I ducked my head and kept going.

When I was halfway across the yard, I heard a short whistle. I panicked, worried someone inside would hear, and I stopped, turning back.

Kota had stepped out, waving to me.

I started to turn back. Was something wrong? I stood in the yard, puzzled, trying to figure out if he was telling me to hurry up, or to go back. With the vague way he was waving at me, I couldn’t figure out his meaning.

“Sang!” Marie’s voice came at me like a punch in the back. I spun around again, hoping Kota would retreat.

Marie sprinted halfway to me. She was barefoot, wearing jeans and a sweater and was urging me toward her. “Come quick.”

Was that what Kota had been warning me about?

It was too late to turn back now. I hurried to her. I was back.

ABOUT C. L. STONE

Certification

  • Marvelour of Wonder
  • Active Participant of Scary Situations
  • Official Member of F.A.M.E.

Experience

Spent an extraordinary number of years with absolutely no control over the capping of imagination, fun, and curiosity. Willingly takes part in impossible problems only to come up with the most ludicrous solution. Due to unfortunate circumstances, will no longer experience feeling on a small spot on my left calf.

 

Skills

Secret Keeper | Occasion Riser | Barefoot Walker Strange Acceptance | Magic Maker | Restless Reckless | Gravity Defiant | Fairy Tale Reader | Story Maker-Upper | Amusingly Baffled | Comprehensive Curiousness | Usually Unbelievable

Table of Contents

The Recovery

Inside the Heart of a Doctor

Preparation

Secret Gifts

The Sound of Snowfall

Secrets Too Fragile

A Visit to the Past

Christmas Morning

Kota’s Fears

Gift Mountain

On the Way

Hunting Island

Unexpected Guests

A Camp at Night

Night in a Tent

The Stars, The Beach, The Waves, The Shore

The Academy, INside

New Recruit

The Hike

Following the Trail

Off Path

On With The Hike

Just Trying to Get Away

Taking a Walk

A Rift Among Friends

Camp Continues

What the Academy Can Do

Trust Your Family

An Uncomfortable Heart

Secrets Revealed

The Last Day of Camp

The Council

Return

All Laid Bare

~ A ~

The Return

Other books

Blue Water High by Shelley Birse
AslansDesire-ARE-epub by JenniferKacey
The Science of Language by Chomsky, Noam
Shadow Blizzard by Alexey Pehov
Innocence by Peter Robinson
North to the Salt Fork by Ralph Compton
Merry Christmas, Paige by MacKenzie McKade
Four Degrees Celsius by Kerry Karram
A Chance at Destiny by London, Lilah K.