Inferno by Sherrilyn Kenyon Read Free Book Online

she’s in Nick-protection mode. I ain’t never seen a scarier Chihuahua.”
    Mark was right. Forget his demon bodyguard, Nick’s mom was a thousand times more fierce.
    And deadlier.
    “Besides, it ain’t totally my fault, Dr. Burdette,” Mark continued. “I was just trying to make him see some sense.”
    “Then, for heaven’s sake, boy, try talking to him first. He is a bright child, you know? I’m sure he can see reason without electroshock treatments.”
    The look on Mark’s face said he doubted it. But he didn’t comment as he turned back to Nick. “So what’d you do to drive her off?”
    Nick grimaced as Mark repeated Brynna’s earlier assumption. “Why does everyone think I’m to blame?”
    “Dude,” Mark said in a patronizing tone. “Do you own a mirror? Guys like you don’t get women that fine.”
    Now that was just plain rude. “Excuse me?”
    Mark held his hands up again. “I ain’t saying you’re a bad-looking guy, not that I look at you that way, but … you got no fashion sense. At all.”
    Nick flicked the edge of Mark’s jacket. “This from Dr. Camo?”
    “I ain’t the one who broke up with the hot girlfriend. I never did figure out how you rated with her anyway. So yeah, it has to be your fault.”
    Nick was aghast. “You know I am one of the most valuable players on my football team, right?”
    Mark snorted. “So was I, and Bubba blew us all away in skill. So while that works in movies and TV shows, in real life … it ain’t that big a thing. Really fine and decent women don’t care what jersey you wear. And it definitely isn’t what got a woman like Nekoda talking to you to begin with. So my advice to you, kid … piece of really nice jewelry and some expensive chocolates.”
    Dr. Burdette nodded. “I have to say he’s right for most women. Shiny usually trumps stupid, and reminds a girl why she liked you in the first place.”
    Yeah, but he didn’t want his assassin back in his life, which he had to keep to himself. Dr. Burdette could conceivably have him committed for rambling that kind of lunacy, even if it was the truth.
    So he went with the part of the story that would keep him out of a straitjacket. “As a case in point, I’m the one who broke up with her .”
    Mark looked at Caleb. “Hand me that cattle prod back. This boy’s so stupid, I got to shock some brains into him.”
    Caleb laughed. “Don’t tempt me.”
    Ignoring them, Bubba tsked. “Hope you had a good reason, Nick. From what I’ve seen, you two were golden together. And that don’t come around often.”
    No, it didn’t. And having lost the love of his life, Bubba knew that better than most.
    “It wasn’t stupid,” Nick assured him.
    Mark sighed. “I still think we ought to hold him down and shock him till he gets over whatever’s ailing him.”
    Dr. Burdette made a sound of deep aggravation in the back of her throat. “Try it, Mark, and I will tell his mama on you.”
    Mark deflated instantly. “Yes, ma’am.” But the gleam in his eyes said that the minute Dr. Burdette left them alone, Mark was going for it.
    Nick stepped forward so that his foot rested on the cattle prod. Better safe than sorry, especially whenever Mark was around.
    “So what are you two doing here this early anyway?” Bubba asked, changing the subject. “Don’t you have football practice?”
    Nick let loose an evil laugh. “It ended early. Stone cracked the coach’s wee-belows with a badly thrown ball. I’m sure we’ll all be running laps for hours tomorrow. But today … Coach had to go ice himself.”
    Bubba and Mark sucked their breaths in sharply. “That’ll ruin his weekend.”
    “Yeah, and then some,” Caleb added.
    Nick walked up to the counter and pointed to the RAM chips that were locked in the case next to boxes of ammo. “Kyrian wants to up his RAM.”
    “Ah … no problem. How much?”
    “Max it out.”
    “You got it.” Bubba pulled the RAM out while Nick reached for his wallet and