Hell or High Water Read Online Free PDF Page B

nose. “One of these days, Hank will cause more trouble than I can tolerate.”

Chapter 5
    Nate shifted in the seat, stretching his legs out as best he could. His pickup had decent legroom for a regular-size person, but six-feet-four pushed the boundaries of normal out the window. He’d backed into a parking spot outside of Kaycie’s apartment and then spent the night watching the opening at the top of the stairs.  
    His eyelids scraped like sandpaper across his eyeballs, but he could go for days without rest. He’d been without food and water for longer than overnight. It would take more than hunger, lack of sleep, or heat to get the best of him. However, his bladder had a mind of its own. If he didn’t take a leak soon, he’d be scrubbing the interior of his truck this afternoon.  
      The layout of Kaycie’s apartment complex sucked when it came to keeping an eye on her. For Christ’s sake, he didn’t have a clear view of her front door. He could see who went up, but once they turned the corner, any asshole could break into her apartment.  
    During the night, three men had climbed those stairs. Nate had shadowed each individual, ready to step in, but no one went near her door.  
    It pleased him that Kaycie slept alone last night. He’d tried to boot the naked image of her lying in bed from his mind. Hadn’t worked. Why couldn’t he forget? He’d spent hours hard as a steel rod imagining how nice it would be to slide into her bed and drag her warm body next to his.
    She’d have kicked him out on his ass.
    His fingers itched to run over her curves and touch those sensitive places that used to drive her over the edge. She’d melted when he kissed that spot right behind her ear, or the tender flesh under her breasts, and she completely surrendered when he nipped his way up her inner thigh getting closer and closer to heaven. His skin burned from the memory of his hands buried in her silky hair. A couple of times, he’d have sworn her scent permeated the inside of his pickup.  
    The passenger-side door opened and Tyrell slid in, passing over a sack containing coffee and two breakfast sandwiches.  
    “Figured you needed a shot of caffeine.”
    “You were right. I’m not sure whether to drink this or dump it and piss in the cup.” Nate settled for taking a long gulp. Lukewarm or not, the jolt of energy was welcome.  
    “Spare me the sight. Quiet night?”
    “Yep. You expected different?” Nate unwrapped a sandwich.  
    “I don’t know what I expected.” Tyrell glanced around the parking lot as if still worried.
    “You talk with her this morning?”
    “No, I called Holly. She lives a couple of doors down. They hang together most of the time. Holly can handle herself and is taking weekend duty. She’ll make sure Kay is safe.”
    So Tyrell and Little Mama wouldn’t be spending Saturday night together. A whisper of guilt hit Nate. No way would Tyrell mess with her. It was against the man code.  
    “Is this Holly a cop?”
    “No. But she’s a better shot than both of us. After she got her license to carry a concealed weapon, I drove her and Kay to the firing range for practice a few times.”
    Nate’s gut rolled into a tight ball. A few trips to the practice range didn’t mean this Holly could protect Kaycie from the bastards who’d tried to snatch her. He couldn’t cover her twenty-four hours a day. Tyrell would have to step up, but they’d need more manpower.
    “Where’s Marcus Ricci? Last news I have on him was after his stint in the Marines, he’d bought a place on some lake here in Texas.”
    “He shouldn’t be hard to find. Want me to hunt him up?” Tyrell patted his cell.
      “I’ll do it. Maybe he’s available.”
    “Nate, you heard his wife was killed by a drunk driver while he was deployed.”
    “Yeah.” Marcus’s loss sat heavy in the pit of Nate’s stomach. “Had to be tough. He was crazy in love with her.”
    “Yeah. I just wanted you to be aware. He don’t