The Darkness Beyond by Alexis Morgan Read Free Book Online Page A

time they spent just screwing with each other. Heck, if that wasn’t friendship between hackers, what was?
    For the first time, Cody dropped his attitude. “Really? Which game?”
    â€œClash of the Golden Dragons.”
    â€œNo shit? You know the guy who designed that? The graphics are incredible!”
    â€œI can put you in touch with him. You know, if you’d like to talk to him about the business.”
    â€œThink he’d mind?”
    â€œNo. Give me your e-mail address and I’ll introduce you. He has another job that takes up a lot of his time, so don’t think he’s blowing you off if he doesn’t respond right away.”
    â€œSounds good.” Cody was grinning as he pointed down the street. “That’s my apartment building at the end of the block, on the left.”
    D.J. pulled into the parking lot and waited while Cody dug out a business card. “Thanks, D.J. I appreciate this.”
    â€œNot a problem. Maybe I’ll see you again before I leave town.”
    â€œCool.”
    Cody waved one last time before he disappeared into the rundown building he called home. It was clear that money was tight for him. If the kid was anything like D.J. had been in college, he put all his disposable income into his computers. Come to think of it, Cody reminded D.J. of his own younger self.
    Sort of. Cody might be strapped for funds, but at least he had one trusted friend. D.J. hadn’t had anyone like that in his life until the Regents found him and brought him to the Paladins, offering him the first—no, make that the only—real home he’d ever known. D.J. just hoped that he hadn’t screwed that up big time by letting this mess get out of control.
    He pulled back out into traffic and debated what to do next. A motel or back to Reggie’s?
    No contest. He circled the block in case Cody was watching to see which direction he went and then drove right back to Reggie’s apartment. This was going to be fun.
    When Reggie opened the door, he couldn’t exactly say she looked surprised—or happy.
    â€œDid you forget something?”
    â€œNope, but it’s still early, and I’ve got a hankering for some ice cream. I spotted a place down the street and thought you might join me. I don’t know anyone else in the area and hate to eat alone.”
    He stepped closer, deliberately crowding her. “Or I can go pick some up and bring it back here.”
    Her hesitation was only momentary. “Let me put on my shoes and grab my keys.”
    She left him cooling his heels on the wrong side of her door, but he didn’t complain. He’d already pushed her enough by showing up unannounced and uninvited twice in one evening. He leaned against the wall and waited, listening to Reggie moving around inside her apartment. The thickness of the door did little to muffle the soft sounds, not with his Paladin hearing.
    The padding of bare feet; the soft swish they made sliding into shoes; the jangle of her keys; her pulse picking up speed as she headed for the door. When it started to open, he stepped farther back to give her all the room she needed.
    She ignored him as she locked the door and then shoved her keys into her pocket. “I’m ready if you are.”
    Without waiting to see if he followed, she started down the steps. Gutsy of her. Most women wouldn’t trust a man they didn’t know all that well at their backs. Even so, he followed at a respectful distance. When they were out on the sidewalk, she turned in the opposite direction from the place he’d had in mind.
    As if sensing his curiosity, she glanced in his direction. “The ice cream is better at another place. It’s only a little farther away.”
    â€œSounds good.” Distance translated as more time in her company.
    They walked along in silence for a couple of blocks. Although the two of them had a lot to talk about, he was content to put the