Heaven Bent Read Online Free PDF Page B

the mercy of the higher power for one last chance?"
    "I do I do I do !" The words gushed out of me. "I'll do anything!"
    The men and women leaned to each other and whispered behind their hands. The suspense was killing me, but I kept my mouth shut and just stood there and baked while they conferred.
    Then, finally, the old-timer turned to me. "We have a new verdict." He raised the back of his hand toward me. " Screw you ." As he said it, he lowered all his fingers except the middle one.
    He flipped me the bird. And the pedestal started descending again.
    "Nooooo!" I cried, but it was no use. My head dropped below the level of the floor, and I was gone. Something slid into place above me, and the sunlight was cut off, leaving me surrounded by crushing heat and leaping flames.
    Leaving me pretty much where I thought I belonged.
    Crying like a baby, I sank to my knees. Though my life hadn't flashed before my eyes when I'd died, parts of it did now. I thought of all the shitty things I'd done, all the people I'd stepped on and pissed on and screwed over to get to the top...all the crap I'd pulled that had led me to this. And I felt...what? Remorse? Regret?
    Not really. That's the weird part. Even then, getting ready to spend eternity in the fiery pit, I realized I probably wouldn't have changed a thing. Because face it, the nasty shit had made the awesomeness possible.
    So bring it on, I'd thought. Whatever you've got for me, bring it. If that's the price I've gotta pay for the ride I had, I'll pay it.
    Just then, something slid away above me, and sunlight streamed back into Hell. The pedestal started turning again--clockwise this time--and began to rise.
    Stunned, I scrambled back to my feet. I blinked hard as the terrace and council reappeared around me, awash in light.
    This time, the twelve men and women were all standing. And applauding.
    "You've still got it, Stag!" said the guy with the black fringe.
    "No wonder you've won so many Oscars!" said the old-timer.
    "You actually seemed afraid at one point," said the redhead. "You should've seen your face !"
    If there's one thing I'm great at, it's improv. Rolling with the changes. As crazy as this whole business seemed, I just went with it.
    Insert big fat I-meant-to-do-that grin here. "Thanks, guys." I fixed my hair, adjusted my collar, and stuck my hands on my hips as the pedestal went up the rest of the way. "It's nice to be appreciated."
    When the pedestal stopped, the bars slid down around me. I didn't wait for permission to step off, just in case it started lowering again.
    "Glad you've got a sense of humor, Stag." The guy with the black fringe strolled over and slapped me on the back. "I'm Barry, by the way."
    "Great to meet you, Barry." I reached over and shook his hand. The whole time, I kept wondering what he and the gang had cooked up for me next.
    "You can call me Max." The old-timer grabbed my hand the second I finished with Barry. "Short for Maximilian. It's a pleasure to have you here, Mr. Lincoln."
    "Call me Stag," I said, flashing that grin for all it was worth.
    Next, the redhead hopped forward and gave me a hug. "I'm Sylvia, Stag, and boy have we been waiting for you !" She gazed at me, beaming with delight--the opposite of the schoolmarm on steroids I'd thought she was at first. "Let me tell you, you do not disappoint!" She kissed me on both cheeks, then let go.
    "Glad to hear it," I said as I shook hands with the rest of the guys and hugged the rest of the women. "Living up to my billing is always job one." No one seemed put off by the fact that I was soaked with sweat and had pissed myself a little.
    The last guy to make contact was tall and young, with bright blond hair and teeth as big and sparkly as mine. He struck me as a surfer type, but shrewd. He made the strongest impression of anyone on the terrace, though he'd stayed in the background until now. "No hard feelings, then?" His blue eyes, when I met them, had the kind of sharp edges I expected from