Red Widow (Vivian Xu, Book 1) by Nathan Wilson Read Free Book Online

train. We may as well make use of the gift
God sent us. Please, take a seat.”
    Dozens of ID cards littered the table,
stripped from the bodies of deceased passengers. It looked as
though Joakim and other gang bangers were attempting to adopt the
identities of the crash victims. She almost wondered if Joakim
would forge one for her. The prospect of running far away from
Prague always proved enticing.
    Joakim instantly swept the cash off
the tabletop, making it crystal clear he did not trust the intruder
in his midst.
    “ Mar javam?”
    “ What?”
    “ Mar javam, a special blend
of salvia and shisha. Would you like some?” Vivian glanced at the
hookah pipes reverently arranged on shelves once used to hold
luggage.
    “ No, that’s okay. So tell
me about this proposition you have.”
    “ I always conduct business
over shisha. To decline is an insult to my hospitality.”
    “ That seems a bit
excessive, don’t you think?” Joakim gingerly sprinkled mar javam
over the hookah filter, ignoring her. He added a few sizzling coals
and the rich smell of vice permeated the chamber. Vivian watched as
he pursed his lips against the mouthpiece and imbibed his share of
delirium.
    “ I have a problem that
needs some resolving,” he hissed as tendrils of smoke slithered
from his lips. They twined like snakes in the air, circling Vivian
as if in search of prey.
    “ As you might imagine, I
have many business partners scattered across the metropolitan area.
I’m in the habit of providing medicine for those in need of my
charity.”
    “ Like what?”
    “ My wares include salvia,
marijuana, ecstasy, and methamphetamine. I have gained quite a
loyal following of clients, but unfortunately, we do not always see
eye to eye.” Joakim offered the hose extending from the hookah. The
ornate glass base swirled with sapphire lights. “Are you a fan of
ambience?”
    “ Maybe. What does that have
to do with anything?”
    “ Music enhances the salvia
trip.”
    “ Go ahead.” Delighted,
Joakim swooped toward an old record player. It was perhaps the only
way he could channel music into this underground abyss.
    An eerie ambience oozing with emotion
fell like autumn rain. No stranger to hookah, Vivian sucked the
mouthpiece until her lungs tingled. They traded the hookah back and
forth, quietly soaking in the music.
    “ A man named Thuomas has
failed to fulfill his part of our bargain,” Joakim finally said. “I
need you to motivate him to pay.”
    Vivian choked on the hookah, violently
expelling a laugh.
    “ Do I look like a mercenary
to you?” she said, flinging out her arms. They felt weightless,
barely hanging from their sockets like a marionette. Even her head
tilted at an odd angle.
    “ No,” Joakim said. His
voice was traveling through another medium now, perhaps water or
plasma. “In all honesty, I just need a body to carry out my
commands, regardless of your talents.” His blunt tongue caught her
off guard. Joakim’s eyes narrowed dangerously and she knew at once
he wasn’t a man to be trifled with.
    “ His fiancée works at The
Toxic Mistress club. Judging by your appearance, I’m sure you’re
familiar with it. The woman in question is named Audrey. I want you
to leave her a gift in the back room.”
    “ That’s an odd way of
extortion.”
    “ It isn’t extortion when
someone rightfully owes me money. Besides, this is unlike any gift
she’ll ever receive. I would deliver this myself but I wouldn’t
dare show my face above the surface. According to my sources, the
chief of police is determined to make me hang. I’ve heard he has a
special cell block set up just for me, the sort of filthy hole you
might expect in Turkey.”
    “ And why does he want your
head?”
    “ I’ve corrupted several of
his top lieutenants. In fact, I bribed one of them to assassinate
Josef Láska. As you can see, his efforts obviously failed. And
while he was being interrogated , the bastard let my name
slip.” He shook his head and