Sixth Grave on the Edge by Darynda Jones Read Free Book Online

horrid estate sale and coming to your rescue.”
    It was my turn to gasp. I also jutted out my index finger accusingly for dramatic flair. “That estate sale rocked. Who doesn’t love a good taxidermist’s collection?”
    She shivered at the reminder.
    “And those intercoms aren’t half as ridiculous as that outfit.”
    Her expression hardened and I felt the weight of sorrow lift. God bless her. I winked knowingly then strode out of the office to prepare for tonight.
    But first, Uncle Bob.
    *   *   *
    I accepted a card that read LIVE FREE OR DIE from a homeless man with leathery skin and several missing teeth. In return, I gave him what little change I had in my pocket as I walked across the parking lot to my apartment building. And it was literally my apartment building. Reyes had bought it for me. I had no idea what to do with it, but I loved that it was mine.
    “You aren’t going to that game,” Reyes said as he stalked behind me.
    “Sure am.”
    Heat from his anger rose around me. A lot of heat.
    I whirled around to face him. “What is the problem?”
    He kept coming until he was only inches away from me. “You. It’s like you search out the worst, most dangerous situations to go into, then rush to get there without a second thought.”
    “I have second thoughts,” I said, and turned to continue my journey to the building. “And sometimes I even have third and fourth thoughts, too.”
    He grabbed my arm before I’d taken two steps. “This isn’t funny.”
    I made a pointed effort to look down at his hand, the one holding my arm, before refocusing on his face again. “No, it isn’t.”
    He let go of my arm. “You can’t save every desperate soul out there, Dutch.” When I started toward the building again, he stepped in my path. “You’re going to get yourself killed if you try, and I’ll be stuck here alone, all because I’m in love with a bleeding heart who’d rather risk her life for strangers than listen to anything I have to say.”
    I shifted my weight to one leg, jutting out a hip. “You’re in love with me?”
    He stepped close again and rested a hand on my jutting hip. “You know I am.”
    “I know. But the heat of your anger is going to burn you alive.”
    He ran his tongue along his lower lip as he studied me. “Maybe I have a fever.”
    Suddenly worried, I reached up and felt his forehead. Blisteringly hot, but when wasn’t he?
    He tested his forehead himself. “See? I probably need a sponge bath,” he said, turning playful.
    As sexy as that lopsided grin of his was, I was starting to get worried. I felt his forehead again. “Do you really have a fever?”
    “Ever since the first time I saw you.”
    I couldn’t help but giggle at that. “Seriously, Reyes. Are you feeling bad?”
    “Only when you’re not near me.”
    “Do you get sick?”
    “Every time we’re apart.”
    This was getting me exactly nowhere. He was deflecting on purpose. “Fine. But I’m going to that card game. I totally have a plan,” I said, sidestepping past him.
    “Because your plans always work so well.” He followed me inside and up the stairs.
    “That’s not fair.”
    “Dutch, I’m not kidding. Dealers are not what you think.”
    “Dealers?” I stopped on the stairs and gaped at him. “You knew about him? You knew he was here?”
    “No, not exactly, but I do know they exist. And if he really is a Dealer, he’s very, very clever. He could convince a mother to sell her children into slavery for a dime.”
    “I can’t believe a being like that actually exists. So it really is possible to sell your soul to the devil?”
    He nodded. “And you don’t even have to go to the crossroads to do it.”
    “Holy cow. How do I not know these things?” I continued up the stairs while foraging in my bag for my keys.
    “It’s not really what you think,” Reyes added. “There’s a lot you don’t know, and there’s a lot you don’t need to know, like how to handle a