Read Online Gunning For Angels (Fallen Angels Book 1) by C. Mack Lewis - Free Book Online

She sat in the client chair.
    Jack remained leaning on the desk, waiting.
    Eve raised her eyebrows, “Jeni did hire you?”
    “Confidential.” Jack nodded toward the cash, “What’s that for?”
    “Ten thousand dollars. I want you to drop my sister’s case.”
    “What you want, you get – is that it?”
    She raised her eyebrows in an amused “of course.”
    “Why?” Jack rapped out.
    “I’d prefer not to explain myself,” Eve said haughtily.
    “I’d prefer you did,” Jack retorted.
    Eve examined him, sizing him up. “Does it matter?”
    Jack raised his eyebrows in his own version of an amused “hell yes.”
    Eve stood, haughty as a queen. “My fee includes you keeping your nose out of my business.”
    “My job includes putting my nose where I damned well please,” Jack shot back.
    Eve’s eyes flashed with indignation. She quickly recovered. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Fox.”
    “Never said I’d take the case.” Jack ignored her outstretched hand.
    She stood, stubborn, hand outstretched.
    Reluctantly, Jack took her hand. At the touch of her fingertips, heat surged through him. Startled, he glanced at their hands and back up to her face.
    She smiled, her eyes glinting with…
    Triumph?
    She turned and, in a moment, was gone.
    Jack leaned against the desk, the air going out of him fast. He looked around the room, which suddenly felt empty.
    His thoughts on Eve, he was reminded of the stories his grandmother had told him as a child. Stories of the werepanther – a magical creature masquerading as human.
    Rachel entered, her eyes probing his.
    He felt too bereft to speak. He might was well be twelve and standing at the bars of the cage – alone.  
    “Well?” Rachel said, curious. 
    He looked at her blankly.
    “What’s wrong with you?” she asked.
    Jack pushed himself off the desk, and paced.
    Rachel’s eyes caught sight of the cash and she gave a low whistle. “Who do we have to kill?”
    Jack scowled. “Get me everything you can on Eve Hargrove – the whole family.”
    Rachel hurried out.
    Jack walked to the window. Looking down, he saw Eve crossing the street, moving with fluid grace toward a gleaming red Ferrari that two boys were examining with admiring eyes. She slid gracefully behind the wheel. She glanced up, catching and holding Jack’s eyes. 
    Jack pulled back from the window, feeling like a damned fool.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
     
    A king should die on his feet.
     
    – Louis XVIII
     
     
     
    Bud lay in the hospital bed, listening to the man in the next bed moan in his sleep. His moans were rhythmic and steady, like Chinese water torture. If the guy missed a moan, Bud found himself tensing, holding his breath in anticipation of the next moan.
    I have to get out of here!
    Bud sensed more than heard the approach of Bunnie. As she got closer, he could hear the telltale Z-Coil heel strike and the pausing of voices in the wake of the Bunnie avalanche, which he knew so well and welcomed. Bud relaxed and forgot the moaning behind the curtain that separated their beds.
    “What the hell, Bud?” Bunnie jerked aside the curtain. “You been havin’ heart pain and didn’t tell me?”
    The sleeping moaner woke with a snort.
    Bunnie hit the curtain. “Keep it down over there! You’re not the only hea rt attack on the ward.”
    “I’m okay,” Bud smiled weakly.
    “Like hell you are!” Bunnie said angrily, lifting an electrode line. “How come Chip has to call me from school – tell me you’re in the hospital? How come he knows before me ?”
    Behind her, Chip entered the room. He froze with the terrified expression of easy prey.
    Bunnie paused, sniffed the air as if sensing his presence.  
    Bud subtly gestured for Chip to leave.
    “Bud Orlean, you are about as subtle as a shithouse on fire!” Bunnie spun around. She gave a cry of joy, sprang forward and grabbed Chip in a bone-crunching hug. “Chip-ster! I thought Bud was waving off a doc he didn’t want me to talk