Unmask (Adrenaline Series (Stand Alone) Book 4) by Xavier Neal Read Free Book Online Page B

me.
                 
    “Melody.”
                 
    The softness of his tone weakens my knees.
                 
    Nope. Get it together Melody. You have a job to do!
                 
    “Can I call you, Mel?” The request seems harmless.
                 
    No such thing in this lifestyle.
                 
    “Sure.” This time I turn all the way around to hide the reddening in my face.
                 
    “I'm Drew.”
                 
    “McCoy, I know,” I assure him as I start to place the food I won't be cooking at this moment in the fridge.
                 
    “You say that like there's a stigma to my last name.”
                 
    The accusation causes me to shake my head.
                 
    “So you're saying there's nothing wrong with me being a McCoy?”
                 
    “Other than being in the top five people The Devil hates? No.”
                 
    His chuckle causes me to glance over my shoulder again. At the sight of my face he shrugs.  “Guess I'll consider myself lucky.”
                 
    “That's luck?”
                 
    “Rather be in top five of his enemies than the top five of his so called friends.”
                 
    Puzzled by the thought, I lean against the counter. “Why?”
                 
    “At least as an enemy you won't be blindsided by the bullet coming at you.” He pauses and stares me deep in the eyes.
     
    Do you see those brown eyes? Holy hell they're mesmerizing.
     
    “And with a man like that, there's always a bullet coming for you, so called friend or foe. When you're the latter you at least know to be prepared.”
                 
    I wish he was wrong. I wish I could say that that wasn't true. That I don't have to worry about my life being 'on his side', but it would be a lie. An easy lie to spot. An even harder one to live.
                 
    Doing my best to keep the conversation away from my employer I ask, “Hungry?”
                 
    He counters, “Where are we, Mel?”
                 
    “In a cottage.”
                 
    “Where?”
                 
    “I can't disclose that information.”
                 
    Drew scratches the side of his neck. “Can I speak to my brother again?”
                 
    “You will be given one chance to speak to Madden and Destin together. Then one final call will be had with The Devil and Daniel the day of the job.”
                 
    He slides the cigarette behind his ear before shoving his hands in his pockets. “Why would he let me talk to my other brothers? Kindness isn't his style.”
                 
    “Insurance.”
                 
    “Excuse me?”
                 
    “He will show them proof of life, so they will continue to keep their mouths shut. The Devil exploits the emotion known as hope. He gives someone a glimmer of hope and uses it to manipulate them into complying with his wishes.”
                 
    Before you ask how you beat something like that...I'll tell you. It's simple really. Give. Up. Hope. Like I did years ago.
                 
    “You're not allergic to eggs, but do you like them?”
                 
    My subject change has his head tilting. “What?”
                 
    “Eggs. They come from chickens. Do you like eggs? I was going to make them and some pancakes. Maybe some sausage for breakfast?”
                 
    Drew nods slowly. “I like eggs...”
                 
    Pleased the change worked, I turn back around, almost done putting the groceries away. “Good.”
                 
    “How'd you know I'm not allergic?”
                 
    I shut my eyes, thankful my back is to him.