Stripped Away

Book two of the Shadow Destroyers - Stripped Away - starts out with the prologue taking place before the first book in the series (with events that were hinted at during Unbreakable). From there, everything is the aftermath.

Braxton and Quinn are both Shadow Destroyers. Braxton is a by-the-book kind of guy with the gift of telepathy, and well, Quinn knows how to kick some ass, no rule book necessary. Although Quinn does have one weakness, one that Brax is quickly becoming alert to... she's claustrophobic.

Welcome to my world, sweetheart!

Her gift is heightened senses and speed, and strangely enough, she's been the one person whose thoughts Braxton can't breach. But that's changing.

I liked this one a lot more than the first. A chick with blue striped hair, with a Mountain Dew addiction, and a liking for Nickelback... Then a guy that likes his techy gadgets, playing on his computer, and fixing up his Mustang... The one downfall to both? They watch Dawson's Creek. Gods help me!

Braxton saw Darcy sketch something on the notebook she’d flipped open in front of her.

He leaned forward to see across the table. “What’s that?”

“A fish,” she silently answered back, the muscle in her cheek twitching as though she fought a smile. She pushed the notepad in between her and Quinn.

Quinn looked at the page and rolled her eyes.

Rae crossed her arms. “Am I missing something this morning?”

Neither Darcy nor Quinn was fast enough to hide the drawing before Rae snapped it up. She arched a perfectly sculpted brow. “What’s this?”

“Looks like a fish,” Braxton put in, trying to figure out the significance. He couldn’t decide if Quinn avoided looking in his direction because of what was said in the locker room earlier or if it had something to do with Darcy’s sketch.

Rae pursed her lips, waiting. “Bored?”

“She’s into astrology,” Quinn explained.

Darcy bobbed her head a little too vigorously. “Quinn’s a Pisces.”

Braxton leaned back in his chair and wondered what the two of them were up to. “She’s an Aries, actually.”

“My mistake.” Darcy quickly picked up one of the printouts Rae had handed out when they’d all sat down.

Drew, who’d been lounging half asleep in his seat across from Quinn, leaned up to see the picture Rae held. “Looks like Mr. Murphy to me.” He covered his mouth on a yawn.

“Mr. Murphy?” Rae asked before Braxton could get the same question out.

“Yeah,” Drew answered sleepily, oblivious to the death glare aimed at him from across the table. “Quinn’s goldfish. I think this one is the twelfth incarnation.”

Rae looked stupefied. Darcy—mildly embarrassed. Quinn slumped in her chair.

Braxton surprised them all by bursting out laughing.