Read Online Bullets Are My Business (9781101616413) by Josh K. Stevens - Free Book Online Page A

with?”
    I realize that he can’t read my thoughts. Dammit. I do my best to nod.
    â€œThe gal you were with is fine. She’s inside.” The door opens and Jacks pulls me through and into my apartment. He drags me to the bed and sets me down on my back. I don’t want to get blood on my bed. It’s a bitch to clean up and I don’t want to get a new bed. I’ve finally gotten this one worn in. It’s bad enough I got blood in my car. I try to get up. Jacks lays a hand on my chest and pushes me back down. I try a second time, but Jacks holds me in place.
    â€œBlood . . . sheets,” I gurgle.
    Jacks puts a hand over my mouth. “Shut up. That girl—What’s your name, kid?”
    The response comes from somewhere overseas. “Megan.”
    â€œMegan already put some towels down,” Jacks tells me. “You won’t get any blood on your blankets.” It’s a good friend who can make sense out of incomprehensible babble. Maybe he can read my mind after all. My head lolls to the side. The gray is starting to creep back into my sight. I’m seeing tunnel vision. I feel like I’m going to vomit.
    â€œDickhead, don’t you go on me now.” Jacks taps my cheek a few times. I move my head back upright. Jacks holds it steady and looks into my eyes. “The doc I use is out of state. Do you know any doctors?”
    I search through the Rolodex of my fading mind. I don’t know any doctors. I hate doctors. I shake my head. Jacks tightens his jaw. “Do you know anyone at all in the health care field?”
    My rattled brain catches on something. “I know a ph. . .” I choke up on some blood. I clear my throat. “I know a phl . . .” The blood chokes me up again.
    â€œWhat the fuck is a phl?” Jacks asks. I can hear his anger level rising. Patience was never one of Jacks’s strong points. I grit my teeth and dig into my brain with everything I’ve got.
    â€œ. . . botomist,” I manage. I close my eyes, thankful that the word is out of my body. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
    â€œWhat?” Jacks says, I can feel his body shift as he turns his head. He’s now speaking to Megan. “Did he just say botanist?” Beneath my eyelids, I roll my eyes.
    â€œIsn’t that a plant doctor?” Megan asks softly. I can’t help but think that these two are idiots. They’re probably thinking the same thing about me. At least I have an excuse.
    Jacks turns back to me. “How the hell is a botanist going to help you?”
    I shake my head, wishing I could slap Jacks in the face. I clear my throat again and take the most excruciatingly deep breath I can muster. I try to yell, but it comes out as a gurgle. “Phlebotomist.”
    â€œShit,” Jacks mumbles. “That makes more sense.”
    â€œIs that going to help?” Megan asks.
    I open my eyes a crack and see Jacks nodding. “It’s going to have to do.” He reaches into my pocket and grabs my phone. I want to ask him if he’s getting fresh, but I just don’t have the energy to be a smart-ass. He flips my phone open. “Okay, what’s his name?”
    I groan. What is this,
The
64 Million Dollar Pyramid
? How many questions is he going to ask me?
    â€œAsshole, what is his name?” I draw a blank. I’m fading faster than I expected. What’s his name? This is like a high school exam I didn’t have time to study for. The dog ate my homework. I clear my head and try to picture the phlebotomist. What is his name? As a squiggly lined picture makes its way into my head, I realize why this is so hard. It’s not a guy, it’s a dame.
    â€œBuh . . .”
    That’s all I can remember right now. Even if I could remember more, I feel that’s all I can eek out. It’s slowly coming into my consciousness. I can hear my phone beeping as Jacks scrolls through the