"Joanna Wylde - Serendipity" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wylde Joanna)

Serendipity
┬йJoanna Wylde

Prologue

Able and Mali crouched in the pantry, watching the kitchen through a crack in the
slightly opened door. Mom was out there. She was talking to Jax, the man who had checked
into their hostel yesterday. Something about him made Able nervous, although Mali liked
him a lot.
Of course, what could you expect from a little sister? Mali wasn't old enough to
understand that Jax was dangerous, maybe as dangerous as their father had been. But what
could you expect from a three-year-oldтАжat seven, he knew better.
"What are they talking about?" Mali whispered, biting her thumbnail nervously. Able
sighed in disgust. Mali never seemed to understand anything. It was almost scary how
much she didn't know about the world. If he wasn't around to take care of herтАж
But he would always take care of her, he reminded himself. He was the man of their
family now. Mali and mom needed his protection, something he'd better not forget.
"You have to be quiet and listen," he whispered back. "I'll explain everything later, but
I want to hear what they're saying. If you keep talking we'll miss everything."
Mom was speaking now. She was upset; he could hear it in her voice.
"You know, I'm sick and tired of men who think they need to take care of women," she
said harshly. "I had a husband who took care of me regularly, and I wouldn't wish marriage
on any woman. It's a trap, and Calla's falling into it. It's a trap," she repeated.
Mom was right, Able thought. They had all been trapped with dad. He hurt them. Of
course, Able was able to take dad's licks, but it had been too much for Mali. He looked
down at his sister protectively; remembering what her little face had looked like, all
bruised. He was glad dad was dead. He wished Aunt Calla wasn't leaving. Mom was right.
Marriage was a trap, and Aunt Calla was falling into it. Just thinking about it made the
lump in his stomach swell and burn.
Jax was talking now. The sound of his voice made Able's stomach feel worse, but he
forced himself to listen.
"That's not true," Jax said. "For a SaurellianтАФ"
"Don't give me your crap," Mom replied. Her voice was strong, and Able was proud of
her for standing up to him. She stood and paced across the floor, arms folded in front of
her. "Get out of my kitchen, get out of my hostel. You brought him here; you're responsible
for this. Go back to Saurellia, because I don't ever want to see you again."
Able's expression turned grim and his head started to throb. Not only was Jax a threat
to their mother, it was his fault Aunt Calla was leaving to get married. This was too
muchтАжsomebody had to do something to stop him. The sound of his voice caught Able's
attention again.
"I'll give you some space, Sarai," Jax said. "But I'm not ready to leave Hector Prime
just yet. I'll see you again."
"Don't threaten me," Mom replied, her voice sounding tight and harsh.
"I would never threaten you," Jax said. "And I'll never lie, either. I'm not your ex-
husband, Sarai. I'm a good man, and I won't hurt you."
He left the room, leaving mom alone. Able sat back on his heels trying to think. Mali
watched him carefully, her small face twisted in concern.
"What's wrong, Able?" she asked in her soft, little girl's voice. She plucked at his shirt,
looking for reassurance.
"Well, I think he likes mom, and wants her to go with him like Aunt Calla's going with