Redeemed Read Online Free Page B

seven months ago.”
    “That’s nice—that you all could convene for a vacation together.” Even hearing the words “The Gathering” made her flinch. Four and a half years ago at that very festivity she’d been kidnapped by Damon. Although she had repressed many days between then and now, some purposefully, some from a drug-induced haze, she remembered that day like it was yesterday. The details were never far from her mind.
    “Are you okay?” Kathleen set a hand on Ashley’s bicep, drawing her back to the present.
    “Yes.” She shook her memories away.
    Kenzie lifted a bottle of wine. “Can I pour you a drink?”
    Ashley shook her head. “No, thanks.” She never touched alcohol. Anything that altered her mind or dampened her senses in any way made her run the other direction.
    “There’s soda and bottled water in the fridge if you want anything.” Kathleen nodded toward the refrigerator.
    The doorbell rang, making Ashley jump inside her skin. She closed her eyes for a moment to give herself a pep talk.
    It’s another guest. Get ahold of yourself . Josh had said there would be nine people total so that left one more to arrive after Ashley.
    She turned toward the living room, following Kenzie and Kathleen.
    She didn’t remember Evan, but she knew him to be the last person who would arrive. He was the private investigator who located her months ago, apparently after searching in many states over a long period of time. She owed him a thank you for all he’d done. At the time, she’d been so concerned about pissing off Damon, she’d paid no attention to the man who’d remained outside the apartment while Samantha, Josh, and Nathan helped her gather her meager belongings and scurry from the apartment before Damon could return.
    A deep jovial voice came from the entry as Ashley rounded the corner. It calmed her for some reason she couldn’t explain. Perhaps the idea a PI was attending the party would help her nerves. Surely he would be useful in an emergency.
    The front door shut with a loud snick and Kathleen and Kenzie parted, giving Ashley her first glimpse at her savior.
    The instant she laid eyes on him, she froze. Built like a linebacker with brown wavy hair, he filled the room. But that wasn’t what sucked the air from her lungs. As he turned toward her, her suspicions were confirmed. Deep brown eyes penetrated her from across the room. They wrinkled at the corners as he smiled in her direction.
    All the shit she’d been through for the last several years, all the lies she’d been fed from Damon about being his mate, all the stories she’d heard from friends and family about what it felt like to meet one’s mate—it all made sense in a heartbeat.
    Evan Harmon was her mate.

Chapter Five
    Evan stood very still as he let his mate soak in the information he knew was bombarding her. He hated that he’d arrived already one up on her. It wasn’t fair. But it also wasn’t avoidable. He’d made the decision to let the cat out of the bag, and there was no going back.
    She was gorgeous. Her blonde hair hung in rivulets below her shoulders. It shown in the light and bounced when she stepped. He breathed a sigh of relief that it was fuller and healthier than the lank locks he’d seen on her the only other time he’d stared in her direction.
    She’d been too skinny and sickly that day. Tonight she was better nourished from months of eating well and living without the drugs. Her green eyes blinked at him, pools of water he could see through—no longer dark and sunken.
    Her cheeks pinkened as he watched, the glow making him smile.
    “Evan?” Josh took his arm.
    “Yeah. I’m sorry.” The secret was out. There was no way anyone in the room wouldn’t catch the subtle nuances that declared two people to be mates.
    “For what?” Josh stepped to the side into Evan’s line of sight. Thankfully, he didn’t block Ashley, whose eyes still gazed into Evan’s. She hadn’t flinched.
    Silence. Everyone