Disruptor Read Online Free PDF

drugs, the impetus to
make bad decisions for the sake of a good time. He came from a
similar background as Kevin, at least money-wise. Tyler’s father
went through wives like some men did accountants, changing every
few years as the mood struck. Tyler seemed determined to repeat the
pattern, only without marriage and confining his relationships to
weeks instead of years. Tonight his partying lifestyle showed hard
on his face, heavy purple bags under his eyes and the angles of his
sharp bone structure drawn in harsh lines.
    “No, thanks.” Kevin had always preferred
booze to the hard stuff and after his latest run-in with the law,
he was rethinking even going that far, at least for a while.
“Besides, I think you actually look worse than I do. We know why I
look like crap. What’s your excuse?” He smiled broadly because
laughing would have hurt like hell.
    Tyler nodded. “Yeah. Let’s just say, there’s
more to opening a club than I expected.”
    Brandon said, “Don’t you have people who can
take care of things for you? What’s the point of being a debauched
playboy if you can’t play?”
    “Some things can only be handled by the
owner,” Tyler said. “Especially since I have some very particular
attractions in mind for my clientele.”
    Brandon waved a hand dismissively. “A good
deejay, a bartender who knows how to water down the overpriced
drinks, and some hot girls dancing in cages is all you need. Nobody
goes to a club expecting anything else.”
    “One of my investors had the idea to make
part of the club private, just for members. If people are going to
pay for memberships, they need to feel like they’re getting their
money’s worth.” Tyler’s lascivious grin told Kevin everything he
needed to know about the kind of entertainment that would be on
hand.
    But there was one thing that didn’t make
sense. “Why do you need investors?”
    Tyler’s grin wavered for a beat. “Ah, you
know how business is.”
    Kevin exchanged a look with Brandon. “Just
make sure we’re always on your VIP list, buddy.”
    Tyler nodded and stood. “You know it. Glad to
see you’re okay, man, but I gotta run or I’ll be late for a
meeting.”
    They said their goodbyes and Tyler left.
Brandon raised his eyebrows. “So what do you think it is this
time?”
    Kevin shifted into a more comfortable
position. “I think he’d tell us if he was cut off again. Maybe his
old man put him on an allowance instead of taking everything
away.”
    “Did you ever go with him to those poker
games in Lincoln Heights?” Lincoln Heights was a South Side
neighborhood adjacent to Cabrini.
    Kevin shook his head. “Poker with Russian
gangsters is not my idea of a good time.”
    “I went with him once,” said Brandon. “It was
right after I broke up with Lia, so my head wasn’t on straight.
Wouldn’t have gone otherwise. That was some spooky shit, man. Tyler
lost big, didn’t have enough cash to cover it and they wouldn’t let
him go get the money and bring it back. They took his fucking car.
We had to call a cab to get the hell out of there.”
    “I would laugh if I just hadn’t had my ass
handed to me in Cabrini.”
    “It’s a damn lucky thing that old man from
the shelter came out when he did and ran those guys off.”
    “Yeah.” Kevin blinked, and the face of the
Cabrini Ghost hovered in his vision. “Very lucky.”
    Brandon spoke again but Kevin heard only
laughter. The muffled impact of shoes slamming into his body, and
his own gasps of pain.
    “Hey. Did you hear me? You okay?”
    Kevin started, embarrassed when he realized
what had happened. “Yeah, just a little out of it. Percocet makes
me woozy.”
    Brandon looked doubtful but offered no
challenge. “I’m having dinner with the folks tonight. You up to
coming? They’d love to see you.”
    “Another time. Give my love to your mom.”
    “Just warning you now, she’s likely to send
me back here tomorrow with a casserole.”
    Kevin grinned. “I’ll be