Read Online The Silent Sounds of Chaos by Kristina Circelli - Free Book Online Page A

infinity symbol stitched at the right shoulder. He always assumed it was the club’s logo, especially since other people knew it as Joe’s, though the symbol was nowhere to be found on the club’s sign or building. “He gave it to me. Said to come see him when I was ready.”
    Chix grinned at that, revealing two rows of crooked white teeth. “Did he now? Come on in then, kid. Let’s see what good old Joe has to say about that.”
    Breathing deep, Finn stepped out of the cold and into the black hole of Infinity. Instantly he was swallowed in a world of red—red lights, red walls, red chair just inside the back door. As he followed the large man down the hall, he felt Snow pricking at the corners of his mind, trying to find out what he was doing, but he pushed her back.
    She didn’t need to know about this.

 
     
     
    HE STOOD ON the other side of a massive wooden desk. The sides and surface were scarred with age and abuse despite the sleek and smooth coating, the wood faded, the top bare save for a lamp, pack of cigarettes, and laptop. And behind the desk were two men, one sitting in a large leather chair, the other standing at his side with his arms crossed.
    The one who stood was a man Finn hadn’t spoken to in almost three years, but saw here and there around town. Once he’d watched from a distance as the man stomped out of his trailer only a few weeks after catching him on the couch with his mother. Finn never forgot his name—Joe—though he had forgotten how intimidating the man was. Tall, narrowed brown eyes, with huge shoulders and a broad, scowling face accented by a scar along his jaw, Joe was every bit the kind of angry bad guy people expected to be in Club Infinity.
    But Joe was nothing compared to the calm and collected man in a tailored black suit who sat before him. He was older, old enough to be his grandfather, with gray hair perfectly styled in slicked-back strands and eyes so blue Finn felt like he was looking at ice. Indeed, his entire expression was cold, down to the purse of his lips and the rigid set of wide shoulders. He wasn’t a large man, rather slim actually, but his presence exuded confidence, authority … the assurance of certain death should anyone cross his path the wrong way.
    Yes, Finn knew this man too. Everyone knew Charlie.
    “Kid said he’s here to see you, Joe. Said you were expecting him.”
    Finn had forgotten about the bouncer who let him in and was now retreating toward the door. He jumped when the voice sounded behind him, inwardly cursing himself for the slight. If they noticed, they didn’t comment, instead merely staring at the boy in the oversized leather jacket wearing an expression that tried a little too hard to be tough.
    Joe broke the silence after the bouncer left the office, closing the door behind him. “So that’s where my jacket ran off to.”
    The greeting confused and disappointed Finn. He dropped his backpack to the floor and crossed his arms, torn between being offended or pissed off that Joe was looking at him like he was just another kid on the street. “You saying you don’t remember me?”
    Joe laughed. It was a hoarse sound, grating, every bit as rough as the man it belonged to. “Yeah, yeah. I remember you. Kid with balls of steel,” he replied with a dismissive shrug. “How’s your momma?”
    Finn’s jaw clenched at the question and humiliation burned his cheeks. It was no secret to anyone in the room that his mom had more than one encounter with Joe. Just as it was no secret she had more than one encounter with most of the men in town. Even though he’d learned to turn the other cheek to people’s snarky comments, it still burned when they threw her choices in his face. It wasn’t his fault she spread her legs as soon as someone came to the door with coke in their hands.
    “Fine.” His eventual response was clipped and bitter.
    Joe only laughed again. “Don’t get mad at me, punk. I ain’t the one offering the whole town