Mob Rules by Cameron Haley Read Free Book Online Page A

words. I’d known he didn’t have any real juice the moment I saw him in the club. I’d thought about what that meant for me, but I really hadn’t thought about what it would mean for him.
    â€œDamn, I’m sorry. I thought maybe, you know, considering who your father is—”
    â€œIt’s cool. It just doesn’t work that way. Dad says the gift or whatever isn’t genetic. He has over thirty living children. None of them have it. He keeps trying because he wants an heir, in case something happens to him. I’m his latest disappointment.” Adan laughed and shook his head. “Ah, man, I can’t believe I’m telling you all this. Dad would kill me.”
    I squeezed his arm and smiled. “I won’t tell on you.”
    He laughed. “Thanks,” he said, “and I won’t tell him you forced me to reveal his secret shame.”
    I tried to laugh, but really, that shit wasn’t funny. It was definitely the kind of thing Rashan wouldn’t want anyone to know. I felt like I had a good relationship with my boss, but I couldn’t read him, didn’t really know him. I couldn’t even guess what he’d do if he knew I’d found out about something like this.
    â€œYeah, let’s just pretend you didn’t tell me that,” I said. “The fewer of your father’s secrets I know, the better.”
    Adan nodded. “Yeah, I’m sorry I told you. I just…I guess I feel like I can talk to you. Maybe it’s lame, but it gets lonely, you know? I can’t be a part of my father’s life, but I never really feel at home in the normal world, either, because of what I know.”
    I understood how he felt. I’d had that same feeling of being an outcast until his father found me and brought me into the outfit. For Adan, it was worse. He would always be an outsider in both worlds. That was real loneliness. I could even see how he’d reach out to someone like the Vampire Fred—anyone or anything that would accept him.
    â€œMaybe it’s a bad idea, Adan, but I still want to see you.”
    He smiled. “Me, too. It’ll be our secret. Dinner tomorrow night?”
    â€œOkay,” I said, “I want pizza.”
    â€œI’m impressed,” he said. “On a first date, women usually restrict themselves to salads they never actually eat.”
    Okay, I use magic to cheat with dieting, too. “I have a fast metabolism,” I said.
    â€œSounds great—I love pizza. Pick you up at seven?”
    I nodded and smiled.
    â€œGive me your cell phone. I’ll give you my number and you can call me tomorrow, give me directions.”
    I handed him my cell and he punched in his number and gave it back to me. I checked the display, and he’d given me both his home and cell numbers. My dating game was a little rusty, but that seemed like a good sign.
    â€œGreat,” I said. “I’ll call you. I’d better get going. Did you drive tonight or catch a ride with someone?”
    â€œI drove,” he said. “You can just drop me at the club.” I did, and I waited there until he got in his car and drove away.
    I’d never been a romantic. I didn’t believe in love at first sight, soul mates, star-crossed romance or any of that stuff. I didn’t believe that Adan and I were destined to fall in love, get married and live happily ever after. Judging by past experience, he was more likely to screw up my life, make me miserable and hop in bed with an exotic dancer just when I was finally getting used to him.
    I grew up in the barrio, fatherless and poor. My life was violent and brutal, and I’d long ago stopped pretending there was anything more to it than getting ahead and getting out alive. Despite that, it wasn’t a hard life. With magic, I could have just about anything I wanted. The only thing I couldn’t change with a little juice was myself. I couldn’t