Read Online Gin and Toxic (Swan Song) by Audrey Cole - Free Book Online Page B

here alone?” Drew asks. He takes a seat at Ralph’s desk, leaning back and lighting a cigarette. The room is darker for a moment as all of the light seems to be sucked into the end of his match. Then it flares as he puffs in, the embers igniting, the light dying as he exhales sharply. “Or if I’d left her in the hall to fend for herself? Is that what he’d like?”
    “He’d like to have taken care of her himself.” Mickey says bitingly.
    “Then he should have been here, shouldn’t he?”
    Drew’s tone puts an end to the conversation. It’s the kind of tone that threatens to put an end to everything else in the world if it so chooses. His dark outline sits menacingly across the room, the faint glow from the end of his cigarette standing out against the dark, looking tame in comparison to the heat from his gaze.
    “Well the all clear has been sounded.” Mickey says, heading for the door. “Let’s move.”
    He waits for us at the door and I’m impressed with his stance. He’s looking dispassionately at Drew. As though he’s not squaring off with a nightmare.
    “Gladly.” I mutter, heading quickly for the door.
    As I pass Mickey he leans in and whispers, “I ain’t gonna tell him.”
    I don’t acknowledge that I’ve heard him. But I have. Loud and clear.