The Protectors Series Bundle (A superhero romance anthology)

  The Protectors Series Bundle

  by

  Nana Malone

  Copyright 2012

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  The Protectors Series Bundle

  COPYRIGHT © 2012 by Nana Malone

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without

  written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  Contact Information: nana@nanamaloneromance.com

  Cover Art by Kimberly Killion

  Published in the United States of America

  Dedication

  To Siaki, may you grow up into a strong, sassy woman.

  Table of Contents

  Betrayed (A Reluctant Protector Prequel)

  Reluctant Protector

  Forsaken Protector

  Other Books by Nana Malone

  About Nana Malone

  Betrayed (A Protectors Prequel)

  The Protectors Series

  Cassie’s Prequel

  by

  Nana Malone

  Copyright 2012

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  Betrayed (A Protectors Prequel)

  COPYRIGHT © 2012 by Nana Malone

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without

  written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  Contact Information: nana@nanamaloneromance.com

  Cover Art by Kimberly Killion

  Published in the United States of America

  Chapter One

  Cassie Reeser knew secrets were dangerous things. And she was hiding a doozy . Though, it wasn’t like she could tell anyone and not be committed. Running up to someone and saying “Hey, I’ve got super powers!” would get her fitted for a tight, white jacket. And not the kind made by Betsy Johnson. So she kept her little secret to herself. But if there was one person she would have trusted with her secret, it would have been her best friend, Mallory.

  “Cassie, you have to come to the winter wonderland party tonight. I need you as my wing woman.”

  Cassie eyed her friend and shook her head. With her flaming red hair and exuberant energy, not to mention her penchant for wearing green, it was hard not to think of her friend as a Leprechaun. “Mal, you know the rules. Peter won’t let me anywhere near this party.” Her older brother, Peter gave a whole new meaning to overprotective. Mallory pouted. “But you haven’t even asked him yet. Besides, it’s a school event. He can’t say no to a school event, right?”

  Cassie carefully counted the canned goods in the box she’d packed before setting it to the side. Volunteering for the school’s food drive was one of the highlights of her week. Because she was usually so ill, her brother had worked out an arrangement for her to be partially homeschooled while participating in activities as her health improved. The arrangement worked well for the most part, but Peter was always so worried about her health. The constant hovering was overbearing. But she’d been cured for months. Now he was terrified someone would find out their secret and take her from him. At least that was the lie du jour. A part of her wondered if he wasn’t busy trying to replicate their little miracle.

  Cassie watched the group of teenagers milling about surreptitiously. Volunteering was the one outside activity her brother allowed. Growing up she’d been in and out of hospitals due to congenital heart failure. Now that she was cured, he let her out on occasion, but under the caveat that she was careful of the people she met. As she loaded canned food into separate crates for vegetable, meats and dried grains, she tried to relax and enjoy herself, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her.

  Likely for good reason too. Peter’s bodyguards were ever present. Oh sure, her brother called the big Brit her private nurse, but she knew what he really was. With his East London cockney accent and his bruiser’s nose, he looked like a thug. Besides, there was no godly reason for a nurse to be that big. Reynolds was the size of a refrigerator and about as menacing as a monster with his scars. But as bodyguards went, he was nicer than some of the others she’d had. He even talked to her sometimes, seeming to understand her constant loneliness. She needed a bodyguard even less than she needed a nurse. Pound for pound she might actually be as strong as Reynolds. Peter had never tested her full strength. It was a byproduct of the drug cocktail he’d worked up to help her get better.

  Along with the strength came acute hearing and enhanced eyesight. Sometimes if she tried really hard, she could read thoughts, but that was rare, and only if the other person was projecting them. Once or twice she’d managed to put a thought into the mind of the family maid, but that had been entirely by accident, and not only had she been unable to replicate it, the sheer effort had put her in bed for days.

  She slid a glance to the hulking behemoth of a man who sat awkwardly on a folding chair by the entrance to the school gym. Why she needed a body guard at Millings Academy was beyond her. The posh private school had a campus to rival any Ivy League. But Reynolds was just more proof that there was no arguing with her brother. He was so anal about her security. He’d let her get her driver’s license, but he insisted she had to use drivers.

  “School event or not, we both know I’m lucky I get to do some extracurricular at all.”

  Mallory rolled her eyes. She, more than anyone else, knew Cassie’s struggles. The few times Cassie had been allowed a sleepover at Mallory’s, Peter had personally inspected Mallory’s house for contagions and God only knows what else. Mallory’s mother had taken it in stride. She’d been friends with Cassie and Peter’s mother. She’d seen Cassie at her worst, when she was so sick in the hospital the doctors hadn’t thought she’d make it through the night. Cassie shuddered. Her congenital heart failure had meant spending more time in hospital beds than she had in her own. But thanks to her father and brother’s research she’d gotten better. Much better. She flexed her hands and wondered at their strength. Just a year before, the idea of picking up a box of canned goods would have been impossible. Now she could out-lift some of the boys who volunteered.

  “Okay, look, what if I have mom call him. Sometimes he listens to her. After all, she’s almost like an aunt to him.”

  Mallory was like a dog with a bone. She never gave up on anything she wanted. Cassie chuckled. “Yeah okay, if you think it’ll do any good. But honestly it’s not that big of a deal to me. I got to see you today and he’s letting me come to your birthday party at the end of the month, I’d rather not push my luck.”

  Mallory tugged on her arm. ”You don’t understand. You have to come. I need moral support.”

  Cassie narrowed her eyes at her friend. “Why are you pressing this? Why do I have to come? It’s just a school party and you think they’re lame anyway.”

  Mallory scoffed. “Well maybe I’ve had a change of heart.”

  “Bull. Spill, Mallory.”

  An errant thought popped into Cassie’s head at that moment. Bryan Porter. She resisted the urge to whip around and find him in the crowded gymnasiu
m. She’d had a crush on him since middle school when he’d moved here.

  Mallory squirmed under Cassie’s gaze. “Okay, look. I promised I wouldn’t tell you, okay? Bryan’s totally in to you and wanted to see if I could convince you to come.”

  Heat spiked Cassie’s skin and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Still, she resisted the urge to turn and look for him. “I really doubt Bryan Porter wants me to come tonight. Honestly, Mal, using my crush to lure me to a party is just low.” She smirked. “And might totally work.” Maybe, just maybe, Peter would let her go tonight.

  Mallory grinned. “You have to try Cassie. He so totally has a thing for you.”

  Cassie flushed and her skin prickled with heat. “I—uhm—I don’t think so.” There was no way on earth Bryan, with his tall good looks, was paying her any attention. Like all the romantic comedies she liked to watch, he was movie-star good-looking for a teenager. His hair was dark and his eyes even darker. He had the constantly brooding look down pat.

  “Would I lie to you, Cass? Besides you’re totally gorgeous with your black hair and those eyes of yours. Do you know how many girls go hunting for contacts to match your pale green color? And let’s not forget the skin to die for and those never-have –to-study brains. Not to mention you’re cool enough to be my bestie. Why wouldn’t he like you?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Lots of reasons. He doesn’t even know me.” Not to mention she was a total freak. But what Mallory said rang true. Sometimes she’d catch him staring at her. And every time, a single thought would pop into her mind. So pretty. But not like she thought he was pretty, more dangerous looking really. Pretty was too feminine an adjective for him. But more like he thought she was pretty. Like he was thinking the thought so hard it was written all over his face.

  Mallory giggled. “Something tells me that’s about to change.”

  Cassie frowned. “Huh?” But her friend had already skipped off. Bewildered, Cassie blinked. “Mal—l”

  “Uhm, hey, Cassie.”

  Cassie whirled around, nearly dropping a can of green beans and a box of spaghetti. Bryan stood behind her in all his lanky glory and she swallowed hard. She tried to force her mouth to work, but that would mean her brain needed to kick in first.

  “H-hi, Bryan.” He smiled and Cassie’s knees wobbled. Okay, all she had to do was play it cool. This was the exact reason she told her brother she needed to go to real school, so she wouldn’t be so incredibly awkward.

  “So are you coming to the party? Mallory said she’d get you there.”

  Cassie shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. “I’m going to try --” She watched as his expression dimmed then amended her statement. “I—uhm, might be a little late.” His eyes lit up again and Cassie sighed. She wanted to go tonight. Maybe a miracle was possible. Stranger things had happened.

  Bryan smiled crookedly, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he shoved his hands into his jeans. “Cool. Maybe we could even take a ride on my bike or something after?”

  Bike? As in motorcycle? She would not pass out from joy and elation. She would keep her cool. Aiming for nonchalance, she said, “Yeah maybe.” Every instinct inside her said yes. Absolutely. But of course she immediately thought of Peter. There was no way he’d let her out of the house.

  Please please please come. God, I hope she says yes. Cassie looked up at his wide eyes and his raised, expectant brows and the slight smile on his lips. Like he was eagerly awaiting her answer. He hadn’t spoken, but she ‘d heard his voice in her head. She shook her head, trying to clear it.

  God she’s so pretty. Please say yes. Either he was projecting his thoughts or it was getting easier for her to read people. His lips definitely hadn’t moved. Cassie bit her lip and forced herself to nod. “Uhm. I’ll try. My brother’s really strict. But maybe I can convince him.”

  He beamed a grin at her and rocked back on his heels. “Totally cool. If you want, I can have my dad call him and let him know it’ll be safe and stuff.” He eyed the exit where Reynolds was dutifully posted.

  “That’s great. But let me take care of it.”

  His smile faltered a little bit. “Okay. But I hope you make it. If not, I’ll just see you next Wednesday, I guess.”

  “Sure. “ She beamed a smile at him. At least she’d left him an opening.

  Chapter Two

  “You’re not going anywhere, Cassie.”

  Cassie glared at her brother from her vantage point on her large canopy bed. “Peter, you can’t just keep me here like a prisoner. I haven’t done anything wrong. I just want to go out and be around people like a normal person. It’s the school’s Winter Celebration. I’ll be safe and careful. And of course, I’ll have my nurse with me.” She ground the word nurse to make sure Peter understood she knew Reynolds’ true purpose.

  As his tall frame loomed over her, Peter’s voice was cool and his pale green eyes , a mirror to her own, were icy. “You want to go see a boy I don’t approve of and see that friend of yours,” he spat. “But I’m saying you can’t go.” When she widened her eyes, he added. “Do you really think there is anything that slips by me? I know everything. The freedom you have now is because I allow it. When I say you’re not going anywhere, you’re not going anywhere.”

  Feeling mutinous, Cassie crossed her arms over her chest. She wondered where the hell her brother had gone. Peter had always been in her corner. But since their father’s death, he’d changed. This was not the Peter she knew. As a child they’d been so close. He’d vowed to take care of her and find a cure for her heart disease. And he’d found a cure all right. She was stronger. Better. Healed. But at what cost? The brother she’d loved unconditionally was gone. He’d been replaced by her jailer. Her room was every teenager’s dream with a fifty inch television, the latest Bose speakers and her fancy laptop sitting on the coolest of contemporary furnishings. Her walls were covered in posters and pictures of various movie stars. Didn’t matter how nice her room was. It was still a prison.

  Cassie shook her head. “This isn’t fair Peter. I just want a little bit of freedom. How is this bad? It’s a school-sponsored event.”

  Peter scowled. “After everything you’ve been through and what I’ve saved you from. How can you be so selfish? You know the kind of people who would take you away from me?”

  Cassie’s head snapped back as if he’d slapped her. “Peter, I’m only asking to go out. I’m grateful for what you’ve done for me, but you can’t keep me locked up forever.”

  He strode into her space forcing her to back up several feet. Snarling, he leaned in. “You will do as you’re told, Cassie. That’s the end of it.” You will not endanger my investment.

  Her heart hammered as she stared up at her brother. Just like at the school, she’d heard him clear as crystal in her head. Something was happening. Her mind reading ability was getting stronger. She knew she shouldn’t, but she forced her mind to focus once more just to make sure she wasn’t losing her mind. “Peter, I just want to know why.” The resulting thick silence was as if a heavy fog had settled in around her. Again his lips didn’t move but his thoughts floated into her mind as if they had. Because you’re much too valuable to have running around at parties. Symcore will do anything to have you and you’re not ready yet. I will not have you endangering what I’ve worked towards.

  When Peter did speak, his voice was weighted with icicles. “We’re done talking about this.” As he strode to her door, he paused. “And don’t bother trying to sneak out, Cassie. I’ve been a teenager. You run, and I’ll come after you. Reynolds will stay outside your door and the alarms will be on.

  “Peter—“

  “Yes, Cassie.” He turned to face her.

  “I’ll stay here tonight. But this is wrong. You know it and so do I. Dad wouldn’t have wanted me to hide in here. He wouldn’t recognize you if he saw you now.” She dragged in a breath. “You might have cured me, but I know it’s somehow for your own benefit and not for mine.”

  “You
and your conspiracy theories.” He turned to Reynolds. “Make sure she stays in tonight. This weekend we’ll move her to the labs.”

  The labs? What the hell? Her treatments had stopped months ago. She was better. Peter stalked into the en suite bathroom and came back thirty seconds later with a glass of water and something in this hand.

  Cassie glared at her brother as he dropped two pills into her hand and handed her the glass of water. He could force her to take them, but he couldn’t force her to enjoy it. The pills hit her tongue with a soft click as they knocked together. Next came the cool water sluicing down her throat.

  Peter gave her a satisfied nod as he watched her throat constrict in a swallowing motion. “Cassie, you’ll learn that this is all in your best interest. This is important for your future and mine. I’m protecting you. Eventually you’ll see that.”

  Deliberately, she turned away from him and faced her window. All she could see was the pitch of night, but she knew right outside her window, was a fifteen foot hedge, a guard and two Dobermans who were trained to kill. Lucky for her, she spent enough time feeding them meat that they were unlikely to hurt her, but that wasn’t a chance she was willing to take. No. She wouldn’t be going out that way. It was too risky and there was no telling what Peter would do if she got caught. No one would be safe.

  She heard the soft click of her bedroom door and quickly spat out the nasty pills into her hand. Reaching under her bed, she’ pulled out a Red Bull that Mallory had left behind on her last visit and chugged the whole thing. The super sweet, tart flavor made her wrinkle her nose, but the caffeine would counteract the sleeping agent in the pills. For months, Peter had been forcing them down her throat. Sometimes she had to swallow them. Sometimes, like today, she was able to quickly tuck them into the side of her mouth. Other times thrown them up. It had been three months since she’d willingly taken them. At the very least Peter was up to no good, at the worst, he was up to something sinister. No matter what, he wasn’t the Peter she knew. Cassie wasn’t going to play nice anymore.