Скачать книгу

shrug and fake an innocent expression. “Me?”

      She scrunches her pixie face. “Smart guys make me so hot, but unfortunately, you do nothing for me. I’ve known you too long.”

      “Abby,” I say with a bit of impatience. “Are we gonna wrap this up or not?”

      “Eric said he owed you, so I volunteered to play mule.”

      “That was extremely generous of you.” My instincts flare. She wants something.

      “Yes, it is. But that is beside the point because now, sir, you owe me.”

      I shake my head before she finishes talking. “Wrong. You volunteered to mule my money. I don’t owe you shit.”

      Abby laughs and my mouth dries out. Where the hell is she heading? “We didn’t only talk about you, silly. Eric had a lot to say about two college kids who tipped off the police in order to create chaos so they could pull a gun on Eric and jack him.”

      I focus on keeping my expression from changing. Abby doesn’t give info because she likes to talk. She’s fishing.

      “How much did he lose?”

      “Five thousand dollars, and let me tell you, Eric is not happy.”

      I’m sure he’s not. Jacked in his own territory and he lost money. I’m sure Eric is on the warpath. “So if Eric got jacked then why is he willing to pay me?”

      “You know Eric—he doesn’t believe in banks or investing, which is a shame with the amount of money he brings in. One of these days someone’s going to shoot him in the head and find his secret cubbyhole full of cash.”

      Part of me wonders if Abby will be the one to do it. I let out a sigh. I took it too far. Abby’s all business with selling drugs, but she’s not a killer. At least not yet.

      Abby continues, “You saved some of his guys tonight by spotting the cops. He wanted to make sure he paid his debt to you.”

      “Not that I don’t find you interesting, but give me my money.”

      “I like you better when you’re around cars. You’re less tense then. Anyhow.” She rubs the wad of cash between her fingers. “I think I’m going to hold on to this cash as a reward for keeping my mouth shut.”

      “Give me my fucking money, Abby.” I’m tired of her games.

      “All right, but you should know that Eric was not only interested in the whereabouts of those two college boys, but also in a particular blonde we both just saw leave. You looked cute together—you and the blonde. I’m sure Eric would pay royally to know you were up on the girl.”

      A roar fills my ears as every muscle tenses. No one is going anywhere near Rachel.

      No one.

      Chapter 16

      Rachel

      HE NEVER CALLED. I WAITED. And he still never called. What I have a hard time comprehending is why I grieve for something that obviously was never mine to begin with.

      A few tables away, my brothers laugh. Each of them holds a bottled beer. In order to hide our youngest brothers’ involvement in underage drinking, Gavin and Jack stand in front of West and Ethan. Cold air drifts into the bottom of the large white tent housing the hundreds of guests and chills my ankles. The overhead heaters keep me warm, but the alcohol keeps my brothers warmer.

      A votive candle floats in a crystal bowl full of water and translucent rocks. My hand hovers over the single flickering flame. Every white-cloth-covered table contains one of these centerpieces. I’d bet I’m the only guest wondering how close I can place my hand to the flame before I get burned.

      Seated at the table farthest from the couples slow-dancing in front of the stage, I cross one leg over the other. It’s a continual fidget meant to keep my limbs from falling asleep, and each time I move, I smooth out the material of my golden gown as if wrinkles will be the death of me. I think I look kinda pretty tonight, which is why every time I glimpse my reflection in the mirror my eyes water. I wanted Isaiah to see me this way.

      “Would you like to dance?”

      My heart beats twice and I glance up, hoping and praying that somehow Isaiah has found me, even though I’m at an exclusive New Year’s Eve party at the Lieutenant Mayor’s house. I mean, it’s possible. At least it’s possible in the daydreams I’ve had since I sat at this corner table over an hour ago. I force a wannabe smile when I find Brian Toddsworth staring down at me. A month ago, I would have loved for him to ask me to dance. Today... Why didn’t Isaiah call?

      Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

      Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

      Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

      Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAgEBLAEsAAD/4SCfRXhpZgAATU0AKgAAAAgABwESAAMAAAABAAEAAAEaAAUA AAABAAAAYgEbAAUAAAABAAAAagEoAAMAAAABAAIAAAExAAIAAAAcAAAAcgEyAAIAAAAUAAAAjodp AAQAAAABAAAApAAAANAALcbAAAAnEAAtxsAAACcQQWRvYmUgUGhvdG9zaG9wIENTMyBXaW5kb3dz ADIwMTQ6MDM6MDYgMTY6NDY6MzMAAAAAA6ABAAMAAAABAAEAAKACAAQAAAABAAAGQKADAAQAAAAB AAAKAAAAAAAAAAAGAQMAAwAAAAEABgAAARoABQAAAAEAAAEeARsABQAAAAEAAAEmASgAAwAAAAEA AgAAAgEABAAAAAEAAAEuAgIABAAAAAEAAB9pAAAAAAAAAEgAAAABAAAASAAAAAH/2P/gABBKRklG AAECAABIAEgAAP/tAAxBZG9iZV9DTQAB/+4ADkFkb2JlAGSAAAAAAf/bAIQADAgICAkIDAkJDBEL CgsRFQ8MDA8VGBMTFRMTGBEMDAwMDAwRDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAENCwsN Dg0QDg4QFA4ODhQUDg4ODhQRDAwMDAwREQwMDAwMDBEMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwM DAwM/8AAEQgAoABkAwEiAAIRAQMRAf/dAAQAB//EAT8AAAEFAQEBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAMAAQIEBQYH CAkKCwEAAQUBAQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAQACAwQFBgcICQoLEAABBAEDAgQCBQcGCAUDDDMBAAIRAwQh EjEFQVFhEyJxgTIGFJGhsUIjJBVSwWIzNHKC0UMHJZJT8OHxY3M1FqKygyZEk1RkRcKjdDYX0lXi ZfKzhMPTdePzRieUpIW0lcTU5PSltcXV5fVWZnaGlqa2xtbm9jdHV2d3h5ent8fX5/cRAAICAQIE BAMEBQYHBwYFNQEAAhEDITESBEFRYXEiEwUygZEUobFCI8FS0fAzJGLhcoKSQ1MVY3M08SUGFqKy gwcmNcLSRJNUoxdkRVU2dGXi8rOEw9N14/NGlKSFtJXE1OT0pbXF1eX1VmZ2hpamtsbW5vYnN0dX Z3eHl6e3x//aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8ArZuKyprX1ggAie8Ee5j/APOQLsc59bBfjNyHAgC1wjn/AKK0 cyxoa5sEx9KNBr+8qt9zXt2Mfpp4gEAR/wB9WZEk1+bqEBHfXjVYxxamtNm0t3gQ1p427R+b/IXJ U/VPqNrrGjb7fomefDbE/wDT9NdQrnTntBsb3MH5cKSOSWMHh691kscZkcQ2fO8/pObgPDMiuCZg jUGFp9AfjU5LX2OFYNZDXOMAuMbg53+d9JdtmdNrzARYZa6BscJGmo/lLD679TszGYzIxaXMZd/g 4LAQdfUo9T+t9BPGcTjUtO56MfscEuKOvYdXH6nVTl5uRdVbU1rKW7LJ0fZz6cu/wmz2+xdDh4Y6 pRXfsdQawH0v0LmmNDXYw/Qd/wBP/RrBZ9WuuGRZWysNEl+7X7m7/wDqVas6Hf0rpbep5GRZTfdb 6WJXQ4tExvtuucdu6qto/N/PsSlRAAkL2FepUbBJMTR3vR9B6d0/p3Q8chobU7Ifvuc7/CWkfQa0 ub7P+CY5cp1PAzcW91mU71/WcXfamTse53udz/NP/wCDeqbOpdRIrf1DIry8Y+0w2TW3QOs9OwDe 3d/Pe31Vt4N+M66zDcxrA72uYz+bcOwdWZY36Tf0laZjlLCTI+vi+Y9ftTkxxygAHhrbs4ux3EJx WQtS/pxoufV9IN1aT3B1Ch9lV8SBAI1BFhomJBIO40c30z4dklpfZh5pJWin/9DN6vm+nU+8CfSA OwzqSRu+j/1Sp9OzXZVJc4QRMn5mR/Z9qH16wtxHMcDL3hvwIO47v81YWDm24+9o1MyWu7x9B/8A 31UowuDflOph62Z0H+vxVjFYW2NfoQO/YAiP625YVfXaA529p2kjVo7R7ncuctGjKqsIdRY1zm+6 WmSP9dyZKJpeJA9XpMUNN9Je5zWB7C97PpBu4bns0d7mNXYfWXreL0np7bbGtuyL3irCocJD7iNz P6tdbf0tln7n/CemuCpvNVbbMwvaxsE+gx1tpH7zam/4RVPrLl4PXvs9dF1uOMNodTXaH/aNgLh6 thua3ZZbZ/q/YjglwCQr5tOJZmhxygf3dad9nR7qmUjJdv8AWaXC1g0BHksr639PvsdSMYFz+mYr bQ0wQ9t7i632fnWV+lW2xv8AhK3/APBq30XJ6vTUyjeM2kt+hkaWNb/JyWD6X7u9n/XFQ6vk9Xx/ rC7qlO19dra6LOnOOzdUxoYz0L3H0nZP0rWKPGKkdRdaf90vmSQLGnWvwcjp2Kx1WQyvaG2N3taT IZY0xLXOH8y72Kv1F5pt+2Y5IDWNc1ngdrNu7/g2e6u//hKl1lOJius/aVDXGl7XG+raWyJ9J9/o 6ejfT/N9Qxv/AFEue6107Ix8i1lYmysB9EcEvmyqtrf9E6L2f9brZ/hFJGQMtfxWyHp0/B6LFtr6 n0/GzmRucCHx4guH/VNUvswntoqfQg3FuPSwGtFNLWPYDMWgm14/qtfY+pbQZJVjlz6TH92Rr+6f U1eYHrB/eAP1+VzvsuvCS1vQG2YSU7E//9HnvrXSyoV66+oSB3gtJd/mw

Скачать книгу