Untrained Eye Read Free Page A

personal space. “You think I wanted to see your face
slashed open? You think it was easy for me to see you give up.”
    “I did not—”
    “You did. You quit on me, you quit on her.” Frei gripped hold of
her arm once more. “If you ever do it again, I’ll put a bullet in you myself.”
    Renee managed to open the door before Frei barged her through it.
Frei didn’t get angry. She was stoic, quiet. She didn’t have a temper.
    “I didn’t mean to hurt you,” she whispered her way.
    “No, the only person you were thinking about was yourself.” Frei
nodded to Aeron who stood staring out of the window. “You’re lucky she’s got a
good heart.”
    Renee felt the familiar wish to run and cuddle Aeron. Her stomach
wriggling with nerves at the sight of her. Her heart ached that Aeron would
never understand why. “And you?”
    Frei gave a curt nod to Aeron as she glanced their way. “You’re
the one who just told me I didn’t have a heart.” She strode over to
Aeron. “The doctor said we can take you back to base now.”
    “He did?” Aeron sounded groggy, croaky. She sounded scared.
    Renee shoved her hands in her pockets to keep her emotions in
check. Aeron didn’t need anyone touching her. It would be better when they got
her away from all the sensations.
    “They won’t tell me what happened,” Aeron said.
    Frei opened her mouth. “They—”
    “Said it was a virus.” Renee shot a glare Frei’s way. She had been
out of line but Frei had all the tact of a bulldozer. “Couple of days and
you’ll feel better.”
    Aeron turned to meet her eyes. Big brown soulful eyes that looked
so very lost and lonely. Renee pulled down her sleeve and held out her hand.
“Let’s get you somewhere nice and quiet, okay?”
    Aeron nodded, looking every bit the twenty-something she was.
    Frei pulled out a pair of latex gloves from her pocket. “Long
story but just in case you touch anything.” She shrugged at Aeron’s wide-eyed
look. “It’s a hospital. Helps if you don’t pass out every two seconds.”
    Frei’s words sounded as cold as ever but Aeron held her gaze for a
moment. A gentle smile spread across her beautiful face. “Thanks. I don’t want
to repeat earlier.”
    After she slid on the gloves, Renee took her hand, Frei adjusting
her stride to Aeron’s labored pace. Her father had suffered from heart problems
before Aeron had healed him. Maybe there was something genetic?
    Renee would check with Lilia when they got back.
    “Did they get the guy?” Aeron mumbled as they walked her down the
long busy corridor.
    Renee nodded. “He had someone down there. They freed her. You
saved her life.”
    Aeron smiled. Her tall, strong frame seemed to relax with the
information. “Good to know.”
    They took her into the elevator and Frei pressed the button for
the roof. Aeron glanced at her and Renee felt her squeeze her hand. “You okay
there?”
    “Why we going up?” Her voice wobbled like she was afraid.
    “We’re flying you back.” Frei raised an eyebrow at her. “You have
issues with it?”
    Aeron squeezed Renee’s hand again. “I ain’t ever been in an
aircraft before. I mean . . . will it take off?”
    Renee and Frei exchanged a glance.
    “What do you mean?” Renee asked, keeping her voice gentle, hoping
her tone would soothe her.
    “Well, I mean . . . Look at me . . . is it gonna carry me?”
    Renee couldn’t help herself, she wrapped an
arm around Aeron’s waist and squeezed. “Our ride is a lynx. It’s a rotary wing
aircraft.”
    Aeron glanced at Frei and Renee smiled.
    “It’s a utility helicopter. A tactical troop and stores carrier,
air-borne command and casualty evacuation.” She could feel Aeron’s fear turn to
curiosity so she kept going. “It takes two crew members and has an eight man
capacity. Maximum speed is 201 miles per hour and it’ll fly for 328 miles.”
    “That don’t make much sense to me,” Aeron mumbled.
    Renee turned her so she could look up into big brown