Hell or High Water Read Online Free PDF

returned to his place, his hands hanging loosely at his sides. If anybody else had ordered him to “stay” as if he were a dog, they’d find their guts spilled with a flick of the KA-BAR. However, he needed this job. At least until he figured things out. The money in his pocket, the new clothes on his back, and opportunities for advancement made putting up with a few indignities worthwhile.  
    One of these days, the boss would pull the plug on Hank. Johnny ached to be the one who got the order. Should his services be required, he was ready.  
    “Johnny, I’d like your thoughts on the signet ring missing. Hank was in the room with the girl, wasn’t he?”
    “I’ve seen it on his finger a lot, and now it’s gone.” The hell with saying more. He didn’t have to like Hank to know you didn’t rat out a member of the team.
    “Do you have men on this woman?” The boss dragged in a jagged breath as he waited for Johnny to answer.  
    “Yes, sir.”  
    “If you can’t get to the Taylor woman, find someone she values.” His eyes narrowed to slits. “Offer her a trade she can’t refuse.”
    Hank opened his mouth and was cut off with a hand slashing through the air.  
    “Don’t speak. The only thing you’ve done lately that showed any sign of intelligence was holding the Taylor woman at one of my empty warehouses.” Mr. A leaned back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose. “If you’d brought her here and jeopardized the security of this building, put my operation at risk ...” The boss paused and then said, “Go get us a cup of coffee.”
    Johnny shoved off from the wall. “Yes sir. Be right back.”
    “Not you.” The boss’s eyebrows drew together. “Hank’s happy to run an errand for me.”  
    Johnny resumed his position, forcing a pissed-off Hank to step around him. This wasn’t over. Hank didn’t take orders well. Johnny waited, knowing the boss did nothing without a reason.  
      “Make those two idiots Hank used go away. Select a couple of men you can trust.” His tense jaw seemed to relax.
    “Consider it done.”
    “Where are the pictures of the Vaughn girl?” The man’s personality had shifted from furious to casual.  
    “Locked in my desk.” Johnny hadn’t asked why the boss wanted them.  
    “Show them to each new girl. An example of how we reward disobedience.”
    “Yes, sir.” Killing the girl left a bad taste in his mouth, and he couldn’t figure out why. He shoved his momentary weakness aside. Now that he understood her death served a double purpose, his respect grew for the boss’s tactical planning.  
    “Now, let’s check out what you’ve got for the next auction.”  
    Johnny removed the card-key to the holding rooms from his pocket and led the way down the hall. He’d picked up two more girls last night. Found them inside a mall looking to meet guys. Avoiding the cameras, luring them outside and into his car had been laughably easy. He’d drugged them, brought them to the warehouse and turned them over to the night guard before midnight. Pretty ones. They would bring a nice piece of change. Though Johnny doubted one of them would sell after Hank had finished with her earlier.
    “Added two seventeen-year-olds.”
    “Keeping them on hand for more than a day or two is dangerous. Send out word we’re moving the date up to Monday.”
    He stopped at the first door, leaned down and peered through the peephole, which had been installed in reverse. When he turned, his gaze bore down on Johnny hard.  
    “Hank tampered with the new merchandise?”
    Johnny swallowed. It was bad enough Hank was an asshole and liked having a taste before the ketamine wore off, but why beat up a half-conscious girl? Johnny had no answer, but he’d caught the snick of the lock when Hank had gone inside earlier today. Oh, hell, yes, Hank had tampered with the product.  
    Johnny’s non-answer was an answer.
    “Goddamn it.” The man’s eyebrows dove toward the bridge of his