Read Online Cheat (Karma Inc. Book 1) by Gillian Zane - Free Book Online Page A

to bed. I had worked my normal shift and then had picked up extra detail work. I was bone tired. I didn’t want to go to a bar.
    “I’m tired, Lauren. Can’t we do this tomorrow? I don’t have work tomorrow.”
    “Even better, you can sleep in. Come on, Cassandra, it’s been weeks since we’ve hung out.”
    “You want me to call Pete?” Giving in, but wanting our other friend Pete for a buffer. Lauren tended to get wild if Pete wasn’t there. Her face had gone cold though.
    “No. Just you and me.”

    * * *
    F ingers snapped in front of my face. Drake. I jerked and his eyes narrowed. The memory had been intense.
    “I said I need to talk to you,” he said under his breath.
    “Sure.” I took a deep breath and walked over to Bishop.
    “Going on break,” I said and he looked over my shoulder at Drake.
    “Who’s the thug?” he asked.
    “A friend. I’ll be back in a bit,” I cut him off and exited the bar. Drake followed me into the back hallway where the manager’s office was located. I didn’t want to be in tight quarters with him, but it was either this or go outside.
    “How’d you know I worked here?” I asked the moment we were alone.
    “On the face book that you don’t know how to use. I think you posted, ‘lurve my new job! Come see me at The Spotted Calf, bitches, ex, oh, ex, oh, Cee.’” I grimaced, even though I should be laughing at his use of the word lurve. I hadn’t posted that, seems someone was maintaining my cover. That fucked up my other cover with Drake though. When had my death become so complicated?
    “Okay, fine, why did you come here, then?” I knew I wasn’t winning this battle. I had to find another way to find out about my life. Getting Drake involved in this had been a mistake.
    “I came to find out what the hell is really going on with you?”
    “Look, nothing. I made a mistake. Keep the deposit. I don’t want you to look into it anymore, Drake. Pretend like I never walked into your office. Forget I even exist.”
    “Now that would be quite impossible, Ms. Hail. I couldn't forget that you exist. You have me intrigued. You’re quite a mystery. And I like a good mystery.” He grabbed for my arm when I tried to walk away. I needed to get away from Drake Greco and fast. I wasn’t supposed to be a mystery. I was supposed to be a bartender who was looking for her missing friend.
    “I’m not a mystery. I’m just a stupid bartender.” I tried to wrench out of his grip but he was too strong. He was so close and my silly body was equal parts scared and intrigued. I liked a mystery too, and Drake Greco was as mysterious as they came.
    He leaned in and I thought he was going to kiss me.
    I wanted him to. No, I didn’t. He couldn’t kiss me. I froze, my body going ramrod straight.
    He didn’t kiss me. He drew in a deep breath, as if he was inhaling me. He was sniffing me. The brute was sniffing me like a dog.
    “You’re scared to death, but a little turned on.” He drew back and looked at me with the first hints of a smile I’d seen on his face.
    “Fuck you. I don’t know what you want with me, just go away, Drake. I shouldn’t have hired you. I just didn’t know where else to turn, but you’re nothing but a big bully. You probably see bad guys all the time and you’re making me out to be some criminal. I’m not, I’m only a girl, looking for her friend.” The tears that dripped from my eyes were real. I thought he would be able to figure things out for me. But it looks like this door was slamming in my face.
    It was impossible for me to discover anything about my own life. And now the guy I had hired was being too inquisitive. I wondered if I could get someone else to look into it. Like, just some regular person. Maybe Bishop? But then I would have to explain to him why I couldn’t do it myself.
    Drake was staring at me with a confused look on his face. The tears were now pouring down my face in earnest. I was frustrated and a little bit scared. When I