One Last Bullet: An Action Thriller (Adrian Hell Series Book 3) by James P. Sumner Read Free Book Online Page A

Boss.”
    “You’re right. I’m well known for being a very effective assassin. I don’t need people skills.”
    “Fine.”
    Josh gets out and crosses the street. I watch him crouch low and run around the side of the house. I wait a minute, and then get out and cross over, making my way casually to the front door.
    It’s a modest place in desperate need of some TLC—the wood is rotten in places and the windows are dirty—but other than that it looks like any other house in any other neighborhood.
    I knock on the door. I hear movement inside, but no one answers. I knock again.
    “Who is it?” shouts a voice. It’s high-pitched and sounds weak and whiney.
    “An associate of Jonas’,” I reply, lying through my teeth. “We need to have a talk, Billy.”
    “What about?”
    “You really want me to start shouting about how we know each other on your street, outside your house?”
    There’s silence for a moment.
    “Fine, gimme a minute…” he replies.
    It falls quiet again. I roll my eyes. I bet you that, right now, that piece of shit is making a run for it out the back door…
    I wait patiently for a few minutes longer, and then the locks click and the front door opens. Josh is standing there holding Billy McCoy by the throat in his left hand.
    “Hey, Boss,” he says with a smile.
    I step inside and shut the door behind me.
    Josh jabs McCoy in the ribs with his right hand, causing him to cough and bend over in pain. He’s a thin, sickly-looking little prick. His eyes are deep-set into his pale face. He has thick, dark hair and looks probably late twenties. He’s wearing a thin gray t-shirt and matching jogging pants with nothing on his feet.
    “Shall we go and sit down?” I ask rhetorically, before moving past them and into the sitting room. Josh drags him in behind me and throws him on a battered, stained old couch, before moving to stand behind him, pinning him down by the shoulders.
    “Billy McCoy,” I say. “I need your help.”
    “What the fuck, man?” he says, confused and afraid. His eyes are darting in every direction and his mouth is open. “Who the hell are you?”
    I smile. “Probably best you don’t ask questions you don’t wanna know the answer to,” I say. “Let’s just say I’m new in town and looking for some information. If you can help me out, you might get real lucky and never see me again.”
    He glances up behind him at Josh, who’s doing a great job of glaring at him menacingly, playing the strong and mysterious part with ease.
    “Don’t mind him,” I continue. “Worry about me.”
    “Wh-what do you want from me?”
    “Jonas Pike,” I say. “Where can I find him?”
    He shifts nervously in his seat, and I can see his internal dilemma of potentially cutting off his supply of drugs versus self-preservation. In the end, he heavily sighs, accepting defeat.
    “I’ve only got the number for his cell,” he says, reluctantly. “I call him and he comes to me with the stuff.”
    I look at Josh and give him an imperceptible nod. He whacks McCoy around the side of the head.
    “Don’t be fucking lying to us, Billy!” he shouts, his British accent sounding more ‘London’ than usual.
    McCoy screams and cowers on the couch with his hands up, protecting his head. “I swear! I don’t know where he is—he comes to me !”
    Josh looks at me and raises an eyebrow, silently asking if I believe him. I nod again to say that I do.
    “Okay, Billy,” I say. “Here’s what you’re gonna do. Call Pike, arrange a delivery for tonight.”
    His face changes from fear to concern as he frowns at me. “B-but I only got some the other day,” he says. “I don’t need any more and he knows that. He’ll suspect something if I ring him again now.”
    I take a Beretta from my back and regard it in my hand for a moment, taking my time, putting on a show for McCoy’s benefit. Then I aim it at him.
    “I’m sure you’ll think of something,” I say with a cold smile.
    His already