The Chilling Spree by LS Sygnet Read Free Book Online Page B

my life, I didn’t feel
smothered or offended by the feeling.  Perhaps it was a sign
of how truly battered life had left me.  Then again, it
could’ve been a shot of Crown and several enormous glasses of
Guinness.  Maybe creepy Fulk Underwood’s eye rape and
provocative, presumptuous words were the final straw.  All I
knew was that in a single instant, it felt good to have someone
else carry my burden, even if it was only for an hour or two.
    His sinewy arms banded around me tightly,
shoulders bent over me and shielded me from the pain I finally
admitted was tearing me apart.  What started with my corrupt
ex-husband was complicated by suspicions from my peers at the
FBI.  Johnny Orion was the straw that broke the camel’s
back.  Letting go, telling him I loved him, only to suffer
under his now vacant gaze and hostile words proved to be the last
in a long succession of painful blows.
    Nothing could’ve peeled me out of Devlin’s
arms.  Not duty.  Not obligation.  A bond fused
between us, one that had been budding in friendship, one that could
easily become something else, something deeper.  Frantic music
and thrashing bodies behind us didn’t disturb the slow gentle sway
that erupted.  Devlin held me.  I let him.
    The music ended.  Darkness fell over
the growing roar behind us as twenty thousand people chanted for an
encore.  I felt Devlin’s breath against my cheek, but in the
dark, couldn’t see if he was speaking.  Hearing him was a
futile effort.
    The energy from the crowd grew and
pulsated.  Stomping feet, screaming voices and a demand for
more continued until a single light appeared in front of where we
stood.  Scott Madden stood in the center of the
glow. 
    He gestured for silence with a palms down
motion of his hands.  “Folks, it looks like that problem that
prevented us from starting the show on time turned out to be a
major fly in the ointment.” 
    Our eyes met, locked for a beat longer than
I wanted.  This case wasn’t mine.  It couldn’t be
mine.  Precognition made my skin crawl.  Since when
has your life or your career been about your choices, Helen? 
Better brace yourself now.
    Madden continued.  “As you know, we’re
giving an encore performance tomorrow night.  Like this show,
it’s completely sold out, and I’m told that our VIP party tonight
has been cancelled.”
    Boos rumbled from those like Dev and me down
front with VIP access.
    “So we’re going to make a one time offer for
those who won’t be able to party with us tonight.  Show up
tomorrow night, same time, same place, and we’ll make room for you
at the show and honor your VIP access afterward for the biggest
fuckin’ party this city has ever seen!”
    Madden paused and stared down at us. 
“That goes for the two of you as well,” he grinned. 
“Thankfully, duty isn’t calling you, and I have it on high
authority that you’re both off this week.”
    Dev rested his chin on the top of my
head.  I felt the grin.  One arm unwrapped from my waist
and threw up the horns.  I shook my head and chuckled. 
“You aren’t dragging me back into this mess for a second time,
Dev.”
    His whisker rough cheek nuzzled mine. 
“Aw, just think of the stuff we could pick up that might help
Crevan close his case if we did a little unofficial digging.”
    We waited for the crowd to disperse after a
raucous encore.  I made no move to leave the arms protecting
me.  “Dev?”
    “Hmm,” he hummed in my ear.
    “Are you upset with me for giving up the
case without a fight?”
    “Hard for me to be objective all things
considered.”
    I looked up at him.  “Because you hate
Underwood so much?”
    “Well, that too.”
    “Too?”
    “Helen, I like these guys.  I know
they’re a bunch of conceited assholes, but they’ve been like… role
models to me since I was a kid.  I know they’re not much older
than I am, but still.  It’s hard to be objective.”
    “That’s why you hung back when we