Until It's You by C.B. Salem Read Free Book Online Page A

here. An orphan so he couldn't be traced. Only way he could have a reasonable chance of surviving if the boss came after him. When the boss came after him. Give him somewhere to operate from, get him around.
    Licking his lips, he took his comm out of his pocket. After a quick search, he punched in the ID of an old friend who had a dealership over on Western. Mark should be able to help.
    ***
    The warm, thick summer air filled every square inch of Landon's lungs as he walked down Foster. Relief poured through him. It was good to get out of the apartment.
    Something had happened to him once his makeover was complete. Next steps. Kristina was already in it, and he needed that too. He wasn't one to wait around. Not in a moment like this. He had to get moving.
    Had to. 
    He was headed for a stretch on Western, down on the border between Roscoe Village and Avondale. There was a collection of used car lots in the area, with sellers likely to take cash and not ask too many questions. It had been that way for ages, so much so that even someone like him knew it.
    Someone like him. On the straight side of things, more or less. Less street sense than someone like Kristina's brother Kevin. And, by proxy, probably less than Kristina, if he was being honest. The worst thing in the world to do to yourself was lie. 
    It felt strange to be at a disadvantage with a woman he was interested in. But here he was. He needed to swallow his pride for now. Get through it.
    Traffic washed silently by like waves on the shore. He began looking to hail a cab. They were a bit of a rarity these days, but more common in working class areas. Places where people still tended to deal in cash. Old-school, like you'd see in those ancient movies from last century. The world was grimier, then.
    It took a few waves of cars, but eventually a white cab pulled over. He stepped in.
    The driver was as throwback as they came. His gray beard hung down past the steering wheel, and his gold-rimmed, round glasses looked like they were from last century. Could easily be a costume, the whole getup was so strange. He said nothing as Landon stepped in. Just continued staring straight ahead.
    Landon sat very still for a moment, and didn’t shut the door.
    Was this a setup?
    He took stock of the scene again. The car smelled like stale chicken shawarma covered by pinecone car freshener. If they’d planted this, they had really committed. But it was definitely possible.
    He could also be crazy.
    Had to chance it. He closed the door. “I’m going to Western and Belmont,” he said. The cabbie waved the meter on and they were off. Everything looked normal so far. He checked his watch, then looked out the window.
    The city blurred by as they drove. The mole Kristina had placed on his cheek clung awkwardly to his skin, but after some quick checks he found it was securely fastened. She was a strange girl, having skills like she had, but something about her put him off in a way he hadn’t experienced before. He couldn’t turn away from the image of her in his mind.
    They came to a stop at his destination. He checked his watch. Eleven minutes had passed.
    He reached for his wallet—he was also carrying an envelope with cash in it, for the car—and pulled out two crisp twenty dollar bills to pay for the thirty-two dollar ride. He extended them to the driver. 
    It took the driver a few seconds to look over his shoulder. When he did, one brow was cocked in a quizzical expression.
    “You need change?” he asked gruffly. They were the first words he’d said the whole ride. His accent sounded vaguely Balkan.
    “I’m all set,” Landon said.
    He nodded. “You come to buy a car?”
    Landon cocked his head to the side. “How’d you guess?”
    “The cash." He cackled. "Right place for it, anyway. You might try Moonlight. It is all crooks here, but the mechanics at Moonlight are mostly honest. Good cars. My brother bought one there last year.”
    “Thanks,” Landon said. “I’ll