Shades of Gray by Brooke McKinley Read Free Book Online Page B

gather the books in his arms. “I thought you said I’d be safe in my apartment!” he hissed into the phone cradled between ear and shoulder.
    “Stay put, out of sight. I’ll be there in ten minutes. When you see 40 | Brooke McKinley
    my car, come out and get in the front seat. Don’t hesitate.”
    “Don’t worry, I wasn’t planning on taking the scenic route.” Nine minutes and forty seconds later according to Danny’s watch, the blue Crown Victoria pulled up at the curb. Danny walked quickly from the back of the store and crossed the sidewalk in two long steps, unconsciously hunching over and bracing himself for gunshots. He threw himself into the passenger seat and Miller accelerated away in a screech of tires before Danny’s door was fully closed.
    They drove in silence. Danny’s pulse gradually returned to normal, neck-craning backward glances tapering off from every five seconds to once a minute.
    “Nobody’s following us,” Miller assured him when they stopped at a red light.
    Danny laughed, a harsh, pained sound. “Well, you told me I’d be fine too. So forgive me if I check things out for myself.”
    “You okay?” Miller asked, looking at Danny from behind his mirrored shades.
    Danny could see his own reflection staring back at him, eyes too wide, hair sticking up at crazy angles. He ran a hand over his head, smoothing down the unruly strands. “Another five seconds, I was dead.”
    “How’d you get out?”
    “Fire escape. Ran like hell. I got lucky.”
    The light turned green and Miller shifted his gaze back to the road. “Do you know who it was?”
    “One of them I didn’t recognize. The other was Juan Madrigal.”
    “Jesus, Danny,” Miller breathed.
    “His reputation precedes him, I’m guessing.”
    “I’ve seen his handiwork a time or two.” Miller’s voice was grim.
    “Yeah, you’re not the only one. I’ve had a ringside seat.” Danny turned his head away, closing his eyes against memories he spent every waking hour trying to erase. “Where to now?” He was so tired he Shades of Gray | 41
    thought maybe he could live happily just driving around in this car where he would never have to think about anything again.
    “Someplace safe,” Miller said. He sounded in control.
    “We tried that before.”
    Miller shook his head. “No. It’s going to be different this time.” He turned to glance at Danny. “From now on, I’ll be the one protecting you.”

    42 | Brooke McKinley
    “IF YOU eat the worm, you get to drink for free.”
    “What?” Danny raised his eyes from the battered wooden bar, a smile already tugging at his lips.
    The girl, who had been watching him from the corner of her eye for the last hour, hopped up onto the stool next to his. Her long hair swung into his face with a blast of pineapple scent, her lightly bronzed skin radiating coconut tanning lotion. She smelled like a pina colada, sticky and sweet.
    “I said, if you eat the worm,” she pointed to the mammoth bottle of tequila perched behind the bar, “you get the rest of your drinks on the house.”
    Danny laughed. “No, thanks. I’m not that poor.”
    “Ah… but I’ll bet you’re that crazy,” she said with a wink.
    Danny grinned around his shot glass. “You may have me there.”
    “My name’s Amanda.” She offered him slim fingers, cool in his palm. Her thumbnail scraped along his life line when she eased her hand away.
    “Danny.”
    “So, what are you doing in Mexico, Danny?”
    “I’m working.”
    Amanda’s eyebrows shot up, her face registering friendly disbelief. “Working?”

    Shades of Gray | 43
    “Yep.”
    “Doing what, exactly?”
    “This and that.”
    Now it was Amanda’s turn to smile, her eyes sparkling with untamed ideas. “You’re very mysterious.” She had no idea. “What are you doing down here?” Danny asked, steering the conversation to more neutral territory. “Vacation?”
    “Yeah, a trip with friends.” She nodded her head toward the gaggle of