Tattoo My Heart (Heroes of Seaside Point, Book 1) by Mia Dymond Read Free Book Online Page A

completely stupid request. She painted on a big, cheesy smile and giggled. “I’m kidding!”
    “Oh!” Cindy chimed in with her own giggle. “Sue would kill me if I charged you for anything!”
    “It was really nice to meet you,” she said as she headed to the door. “Drop by the bakery anytime. I could tell you several interesting stories about the Fire Department and Sheriff McIntyre.”
    Annessa chuckled under her breath as she stepped outside. Let Vanessa deal with her.
     
    ***
     
    “ Why the hell are we packed in this hallway like a couple of sardines ?”
    “ Shut up ,” he growled as he frantically searched his pockets .
    “ You left the pack in the car .” The other man leaned against the door to the john and frowned . “ This is bullshit. Let’s just grab her. She just confirmed she has the package .”
    “ Okay smartass, what about the waitress ?”
    “ Always room for one more .”
    “ No way. I didn’t bring a roll of duct tape and that broad talks too damn much .”
    His partner’s face reddened . “ So what now ? It’s risky hanging out here. Do you think she made us ? She seems interested we’re missing from the table .”
    “ Nah, she’s just nervous. Now shut your pie-hole before someone hears us .”
    “ Look, if we screw this up, it’s both our asses .”
    “ Don’t blow a gasket .” Damn, he needed a cigarette . “ She looks like she’s ready to bolt. We’ll follow until she’s alone .”
    “ I’m not convinced that’s possible. These people are the nosiest damn people I’ve ever seen .”
    “ Piss ant town ,” he grumbled . “ They all know each other. That’s why she ran here .” He had to give her props . “ Smart lady .”
    “ I don’t know, maybe we should go back to Los Angeles and wait. Nobody gives a damn there .”
    “ You gonna tell Ricci we can’t make the delivery ?”
    His partner’s face paled . “ Hey, I’m just the muscle. This is your operation .”
    “ Okay then, we wait. We stalk her like a tiger hunts his prey. Sooner or later she’ll end up alone .”
    “ I’ll get the car .”
    “ No, dumbass !” Now he knew why he was in charge. “We can’t follow her in the car. There’s an exit out the back. We go on foot .”
     
    ***
     
    Annessa stomped all the way back home, racking her brain for answers. The phone call to Dorie confirmed Marcelli was now looking for her and logic told her it was only a matter of time before he found her. Seaside Point was small, but was it small enough to hide her? She stole a quick glance over her shoulder, relieved when the street remained free of traffic. She snorted at her fear. A long black Cadillac with tinted, smoked-out windows and a license plate engraved with Gun for Hire would stand out like a sore thumb.
    Funny thing was, the men at the diner still struck her curiosity. They just seemed out of place. Damn Casey and his never-take-anything-at-face-value speech; she’d heard it at least a thousand times since the age of thirteen. Yet, this time she couldn’t help but take it to heart. Tourists in Seaside Point were as common as wind in the surf; strangers were the man-eating sharks hidden in the depths of the waves.
    It wasn’t until she stood on the welcome mat that she managed to put that particular worry out of her mind. She exhaled hard and reached for the doorknob. The locked one.
    She knew before she reached into her pocket that her keys were not in the depths. Calling for help was now officially her only option and her cell phone was her only lifeline.
    She exhaled again and dialed the fire department, relieved that Travis answered.
    “Travis, it’s me.” Annessa bit her bottom lip. “I need you to come let me back into the house.”
    The curiosity in her brother’s voice was obvious. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
    “Uh … no.” Annessa squeezed her eyes closed. “I locked my keys inside.”
    A long silence crossed the line. “Annessa, since when do you lock the