Inside Danger (Outside The Ropes Book 2) by Ashley Claudy Read Free Book Online Page B

you here?”
    I looked beyond Dexter to the front door, Demetri was walking in to pick me up. He had dropped me off with Silas this morning and went off on his own. It felt good to throw myself into training, but now everything was coming back and the familiar tension pulled at my muscles.
    “I came to work out. Plus, I was hoping to see you. This is your usual workout time, but I guess you came a little early today.” He stepped close to me and spoke in a low voice. “Is everything okay? I was surprised to hear you came back to boxing with Silas.”
    Dexter finally noticed Demetri walking towards us. He looked towards the short, but fierce, man and back to me. “Regan? What are you into? Didn’t you learn anything from me?”
    “This isn’t the same thing, Dexter. Stay out of it.” Although I didn’t believe my words, especially recalling my morning with Gage. I had unintentionally pulled Gage into my mess, just like Dexter had.
    He stepped back as Demetri took up the spot next to me.
    “Dexter.” Demetri nodded to him and then turned to me and nodded to the door. “Let’s go.”
    Before I could walk away, Dexter had me in a tight hug. It felt different than any of the hugs before; there was no humor or joy in it. His worry and concern pressed into me, transferring to me, I had to pull away or be suffocated in his fear.

    Demetri turned towards me, sliding on his sunglasses against the bright sunshine of the unseasonably warm day. “I followed you yesterday while you shop. Today is my day. We do what I want.”
    I raised my eyebrow in question as I buckled my seat belt.
    “Can you use gun?” he asked with a smirk.
     

 
5: Investment
    PULLING AWAY FROM THE CURB, HE DISMISSED my hesitation with a shake of his head.
    “Doesn’t matter. You not shoot anyways.” He checked his mirrors to get over into the next lane before slowing to a stop with the traffic. “I have one errand before we have day off.”
    I stared at him and leaned back against my door, putting distance between us. “What’s the errand?”
    “Have to collect something. Shouldn’t take long.” He turned onto another street.
    The nice weather brought everyone out, and our drive was slow as people crossed the road with no sense of urgency. We took another turn and the taller buildings were replaced by row homes, many with boarded windows. Kids rode their bikes and groups of teens walked in the road defiantly. I recognized the neighborhood, stayed with a foster family here for part of fourth grade.
    Another turn and the people were fewer, homes all abandoned. A tingle of nervousness skittered over my skin.
    “Here.” Demetri reached under his seat and pulled out a gun. He kept it low as he handed it to me. “Put in waist band, cover it up, but show if he talks to you.”
    I took the gun. It was light and made of a hard plastic, and my throat constricted like I was allergic. Trying to keep calm, I turned it over in my hand and checked that the safety was on, but there was no safety.
    Demetri’s raised brows could be seen over his sunglasses. “Glock 17, good gun for you. Put away now.”
    He took another turn as I slipped the gun into the top of my pants and covered it with my shirt, stomach on a spin cycle. “What are we doing?”
    “Picking up someone. You just sit there and leave talking to me.”
    A group of three men stood on the run down corner, a girl with wild long hair exchanging something with the middle man. They looked up as our car slowed to a stop in front of them and the girl took off in the opposite direction.
    Demetri wound down his window, keeping eyes forward. “Get in back.”
    The men traded glances, communicating silently, and then the one on the end stepped forward and slid in the back of the car.
    “Demetri, how’s things?” He questioned with a nonchalant smile.
    He pulled the car away as he shrugged, one hand on the wheel. “Depends. How’s business? Bad enough you dealing on the corner?”
    The man in