Crystal Mac: A prologue novella to Captive Series Book 3 HELL'S HILLTOP Read Online Free PDF Page A

uncomfortable threesome and Angelo was too guarded to get close to.”
    “But he saved your life.”
    Her shoulder moved. “Eh. I served a purpose.”
    “Which was?”
    A huge grin split her face. “ Now look who’s asking questions?”
    “Well… ” Mac blustered, leaned into the curve that would take them to Lesico. “You put it out there.”
    “Next you’ll be showing me your tits.”
    A reluctant smile formed beneath the mustache. Crystal laughed loudly, feeling as if she’d just moved a mountain.
     
    All amusement was gone when Mac put the van in park. Lesico Labs was two blocks over. The grounds of the polished industrial park were decorated with bulbous street lamps and colorful landscaping. During the day, park benches gave respite to Springfield’s white and blue-collar elite, but not a soul would dare them at night. Even this area was prone to boogeymen.
    And Mac was in the company of one.
    There was a time he would have shivered at the thought, but Danny had made him stronger. Melanie had given him purpose. And Austin had given him a chance. Before that, his life could have gone down many unsavory paths, but luck had proved to be on his side numerous times over the past few years.
    God willing, she’ll stick to her guns tonight. “ Whatever you do, don’t hurt the woman,” he said as Crystal sheathed the knife at her ankle. “Just locate her and bring her to me.”
    “ While you question her, since she probably won’t trust me. I know, Mac.”
    He grabbed her sleeve before she could pull the handle. “ If you run into trouble, just keep the ghosts distracted. Remember, we only have a twenty-minute window.”
    Since Mac had disabled the dome light, the van remained in darkness when Crystal exited.
    “And, Crystal?”
    The woman in black held onto the door, muttered over her shoulder, “I know, I know. Be careful.”
    He blinked. “I was gonna say don’t fuck up.”
    S he turned toward him, quietly shut the door and puckered her lips with an air kiss.
    He expected to keep her in sight for quite some time, but within half a second she’d simply vanished. Went up in smoke. Poof. “Damned ghosts,” he muttered, lowering the ball cap over his eyes.
     

 
     

     
    Mac drove up to Lesico’s guard shack and rolled down the window. “Chuck with Repair Care ,” he said distractedly, searching through a stack of papers.
    The guard scanned the identifying sticker on the side of the van. “You got a PO and ID?”
    Mac produced them.
    Time eked by while his papers were thoroughly checked. The longer it took, the cleare r it became this was no minimum-wage guard.
    Come on you prick.
    The man flipped a page. “You’re a day early.”
    “It’s an assessment only.”
    Another Repair Care vehicle pulled up behind Mac, this one a utility truck complete with welding equipment. The security guard waved when the window came down. Mac knew the driver was familiar with Lesico security and was vouching for him as they spoke. As head of Cahill Salvage, Austin had a longtime partnership with the repair company and, knowing Lesico was one of their biggest contracts, he’d called in a favor.
    The security g uard appeared at Mac’s window and handed everything back along with a clipboard. “Just sign here and you can go on through.”
     
    As soon as both vehicles parked in back of the main production building, Mac got out and circled around toward the other driver. The man had a trusting face, which made Mac a little wary.
    In a low voice, he asked, “You Luke?”
    “Here as promised,” Luke answered, showing off a thin band of hair as he looked around. “Austin said this wouldn’t have a negative impact on me or my business.”
    Mac doubted this side of Lesico even knew what was going on. “We’ll be in and out before you know it.”
     
    Twenty minutes later, he was sorely regretting those words as he walked the floors of Lesico’s batching room. Paper swished between his legs. The cleanup crew