Hard Ink 2 - Hard as You Can - Laura Kaye,
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
//-->DedicationTo the Fearsome Foursome, for so many reasons.To AB, for all the margin smilies and squees.To JRW, for making me cry in a public place and giving me one of the best moments of my life.To Brian, for making it possible once again.Thank you from the bottom of my heart.ContentsDedicationChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16Chapter 17Chapter 18Chapter 19Chapter 20Chapter 21Chapter 22Chapter 23AcknowledgmentsAnnouncement page toHard to Hold On ToAnnouncement page toHard to Come ByAbout the AuthorAlso by Laura KayeCopyrightAbout the PublisherChapter1Crystal Dean hurried out of the private party room and let the fake smile drop off her face. Damnbachelor party. A lot of times, the groom-to-be was totally embarrassed by his buddies’ surprisestrip-club party, so things stayed low-key. No such luck tonight. Instead, her guest of honor was sorowdy, handsy, and intent on sampling the wares that she wished she could warn this slimeball’sfiancée to run fast and hard in the other direction.Not that Crystal was an authority on making good choices. Or else she wouldn’t be working atConfessions, the strip club where her sorry excuse for a life had landed her as a waitress. Although, itwasn’t like she’d had much of a choice. At least her wares weren’t up for sampling . . . anymore. Andshe didn’t strip or give “private shows” in the back rooms.No, Crystal’s boyfriend had shielded her from all that. And, anyway, Bruno was too possessive toshare her with anyone else. At least there was some benefit to his control-freak tendencies.Hurrying down the dim, private hallway that threaded between the party rooms, Crystal ran througha mental checklist of what she needed to do. Another round of drinks for this party. Deliver theappetizers for her other party. Check in with Bruno to see if he was ready for dinner—The door to the back parking lot wrenched open and a group of men—some who worked for herboss, Jimmy Church, the head of Baltimore’s most notorious gang, and a few she hadn’t seen before—poured into the narrow space. Crystal stepped back into the shadows, hoping to avoid their notice.Decked out in a suit and tie that must’ve strained the resources of even a men’s big and tall shop,Armand Lewis, or Big Al, guided the men down the other end of the hall toward Mr. Church’s privatelounge. The big guy was an Apostle, a senior gang member who had paid his dues, earned theoperation some serious money, and proven his loyalty in a whole host of ways you just didn’t want toknow about.With their dark slacks and jackets, nothing about the newcomers’ appearance was particularlynoteworthy, but they exuded an air of authority and self-assurance Crystal recognized. And theunusually subdued demeanor of Al’s men proved she wasn’t the only one.She’d place good money she didn’t have that these were the “guests” everyone had been preparingfor and whispering about the past few days. Tensions had been tight as a rip cord around here. Crystaldidn’t know who they were or what their business with Church might be, and she didn’t want toknow. Ignorance—real or feigned—was a survival skill she’d honed early.Thank God they hadn’t seen her. She didn’t want any part of whatever they were about.Crystal was mid-sigh-of-relief when more men pushed through the door. Two of Church’s goonsstruggled to get a barely conscious—and badly injured—man through the opening and into the hallright in front of her. Each of the guys held one of the man’s arms over his shoulders, while the man’sfeet attempted to keep up but mostly couldn’t. The poor man’s head rolled on his shoulders, revealingbruised, delirious eyes and a busted lip. Dried blood left a trail all down the front of his dingy T-shirt, probably from that lip, or maybe his nose. And she really didn’t want to know what the bundleof bloody gauze around his hand hid.Goon Number One looked her way and did a double take when he noticed her standing there.“Bring some food. Room at the bottom of the stairs.” Without another word, they dragged the guy
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]