Dead Endz by Kristen Middleton Read Free Book Online Page B

either.
    Struggling not to laugh himself, he watched from his hiding spot, which was under a booth in the back corner of the bar. Because the lighting was so poor, he could see them but they couldn’t see him. There were four of them who’d arrived at the casino, three men and the blond woman. Before they’d actually broken the boards to get in, he’d taken Luke downstairs, hiding him in a cabinet. Thankfully the kid was a beanpole and was able to twist his body to fit inside.
    “Wonder whose Jeep that is in the parking lot?” muttered Charlie as he rubbed his goatee.
    “I’m sure it was abandoned some time ago. Listen,” said Belinda in her low scratchy voice. “Why don’t you try and find some food. I’m going upstairs to take a nap.”
    “Here,” said Charlie, handing her a bottle of whiskey. “This will help you relax. I’ll be up later.”
    “You dirty boy,” cackled Belinda. “Trying to get me liquored up so you can get a piece, huh?”
    Charlie laughed. “I wasn’t thinking about that but now that you mention it,” he said, slapping her bony rear. “I’ll be up sooner than later.”
    She reached into her shirt and scratched her armpit. “You’d better be quick, I need my beauty sleep,” she said.
    She left and he thought it would take more than one night to fix that mess.
    “So,” said the third guy with a long white scar on his face. “We gonna hit up some more stores before everyone else cleans them out? Shit, I don’t know about you but if Belinda runs out of her Marlboros, I don’t want to be among the living.”
    “Screw that shit,” said Charlie. “I’m done driving all over town just to find gas stations that have already been looted. I’ve got something easier and better in mind. Belinda’s cousin Tony’s staying at some swanky hotel with his posse and they’ve got something big cooking. I want in.”
    “The mobster? What’s the deal?”
    “All I know is that if we can round up some bitches for them, we’ll have more dope than we know what to do with. It’s coming straight from Colombia, too.”
    “You’re shitting me,” laughed Bones. “I never thought I’d get my hands on premium shit again.”
    “No kidding,” answered Charlie. ‘You can’t find blow on the streets anymore, only fucking zombies.”
    “So where are we supposed to find these broads?” asked Bones.
    “Well, that’s why they need us. These women need to be alive and fairly good looking which is, as you know, VERY hard to come by.”
    “What they doing with them? Trading for drugs?”
    Charlie shrugged. “Maybe. Anyway, you got to figure that eventually this zombie shit will be over and life will go on. Drugs will be in demand again and Tony probably wants to be on top of his game.”
    “Okay,” said Bones. “I’m in. Shit, got nothing better to do, anyway. Why don’t you go tuck Belinda into bed and then we’ll go hunting. If there are any bitches left in Atlanta, we’ll hunt them down.”
     
     

Chapter Eleven
     
     
     
    She didn’t know what hurt the most, the pain in her stomach or face. At least her nose had finally quit bleeding.
    “Just remember what I told you, bitch. We own you now. Got that? We own you. So you’d better keep your mouth shut and show me some respect,” he spat with a murderous glare.
    Paige stared at Marco with mutual hatred, the tool who’d tried to feeling her up after she’d all but passed out from the wine he’d offered her. She’d initially rejected it, but her thirst had gotten the better of her.
    “Just one glass won’t kill you,” he’d said with an innocent smile. “Then we’ll see what we can do about finding your family and friends, doll.”
    The white wine hadn’t been half bad and she’d guzzled the glass quickly. When he’d offered her a second glass, she’d obliged, feeling warm and fuzzy.
    “It’d be a shame for this Moscato to go to waste. It’s a good year, too.”  
    “Just one more,” she’d slurred.
    When