Dog Warrior by Wen Spencer Read Free Book Online Page B

dealing,” Daggit said. “How much do you want?”
    â€œA hundred grand, to start,” Ru said.
    With a large buy, they’d learn better how close the bikers were to the source of the drug; the rest of the quarter million would be held in reserve for follow-up buys.
    â€œA nice even number,” Daggit said, without indication that it would be a problem to fill. Then what Lasker reported was true—the bikers had ties to the manufacturer.
    â€œDo you have it?” Ru pressed for an answer.
    â€œNot on us,” Daggit said.
    Atticus and Ru glanced at each other and came to a silent agreement on how to proceed.
    â€œWhat is this bullshit?” Ru said. “Time is money. Are we supposed to sit around with our thumbs up our butts without so much as a sample?”
    â€œA sample we can provide.” Daggit reached into his back pocket and slipped out a thumb-sized self-sealing plastic bag. “This is a nickel bag.” He held it up to glitter in the weak sun.
    â€œIt’s empty,” Ru said.
    Atticus shook his head. “There’s something in it.”
    â€œIt’s invisible.” Daggit tented open the bag. “Well, except to Pack. It has no smell. No taste. You can barely feel it.”
    Daggit stepped forward, offering to pour it out into Ru’s palm. Ru raised his hand to accept it, but Ukiah moved—fluid motion at fast-forward speed—to suddenly be standingbeside them, Ru’s hand trapped in his own. A growl so low it was nearly subsonic came from his brother.
    â€œIf you love Ru, don’t let him touch it,” Ukiah said, and it wasn’t until Atticus started to ask why that he realized that Ukiah hadn’t opened his mouth, moved his lips, or spoken aloud. “If one of you must handle it, it should be you—and then don’t touch him.”
    â€œHey, don’t pull any freaky Pack shit,” Daggit snapped. “Talk with your mouths. You want a sample or not?”
    â€œIt’s okay.” Animal seemed reluctant to annoy either Atticus or Ukiah. “This is good shit. It’s not going to hurt him.”
    â€œDon’t be a wuss.” Rebar made a noise of disgust. “This is the safest shit to hit the street. It makes Ecstasy look like heroin.”
    Intervening between Daggit and Ru seemed to have sucked the last of Ukiah’s energy out of him—he started to sag. Ru moved to support Ukiah, either as an excuse to occupy his hands or simply to keep him from falling over—Atticus couldn’t tell which.
    Atticus put out his hand to receive the drug. Daggit shrugged and spilled out the contents into Atticus’s palm. The bikers were right—except for an impression of being slightly greasy, even he could barely feel it. He expected something fairly simple like cocaine, but its molecular structure was vastly complex and strange. For a moment it lay on his skin, and then he felt it seep into his flesh and enter his bloodstream like liquid fire. A dozen heartbeats and the drug surged through his entire body, unfolding into a jangling erotic buzz. He became aroused, suddenly aware of the warmth of Ru’s body beside him, his heated scent. The chiming went from nearly imperceptible to so loud it threatened to drown out the conversation around him.
    Ukiah leaned against Ru, head against his shoulder, arm about his waist. Ru held his brother lightly in return. It was a disturbingly intimate pose.
    â€œWell?” Ru eyed him worriedly. “Atty?”
    â€œIt’s real.” Atticus gasped.
    â€œSo, you want to deal?” Daggit asked.
    â€œOkay,” Ru said slowly, still watching Atticus. “Let’s try this again, but with money and the real shit.”
    â€œNo go.” Daggit made a motion that took in the house and the ocean. “Not out here. Not after what happened in Buffalo. We pick the place.”
    â€œWhere?” Atticus snapped.
    â€œThere’s a