Into the Devil's Underground Read Online Free PDF Page B

knowing. “There is nothing so precious as a child, my dear. So many are tossed to the side like garbage, free to roam about the world unprotected from the evils of man and pure fate. There is no sin worse. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you, Miss Emilie?”
    Her mind snapped, her nerves at the end of their charred rope. She stumbled to her feet, legs tingling as the blood began to rush back to her feet. “Joe, I need to go to the bathroom.”
    “No,” he snarled. “Sit back down.”
    Nathan jerked to the edge of his seat. Emilie took a step toward him.
    “Please. It’s just down the hall.”
    “I don’t give a damn.” Joe leveled the gun at her. “I’m waiting for the call that’s going to get me out of here. I can’t be worrying about taking you to the can.”
    “I’ll take you.” Her hovering captor stood and took Emilie’s elbow in his gloved hand. His hand trembled against her bare arm. Her heart actually sank into her stomach like a heavy stone, and then adrenaline slammed it back into place. She couldn’t let this man get her alone.
    “I can wait.” Emilie yanked her arm away and sat back down.
    Creepy Guy stiffened. His hands clenched into fists. Pure venom overtook the excitement in his eyes. Emilie held her ground and stared right back at him.
    Finally, his expression relaxed. He returned to his spot beside her. “I see you’re not quite ready, then. I understand. You will be soon enough.”
    *   *   *   *
    N ATHAN CHECKED HIS watch. Four minutes to go, and it couldn’t happen soon enough. Emilie was about to lose it, and Joe’s fuse was nearly burnt out. Nathan expected the partner to demand Emilie leave with them, but he’d said nothing.
    He had an end game. Nathan just hadn’t figured it out yet.
    Joe sat back down, the chair rocking with the force. He stared at the gun in his lap, tracing the barrel with dirty fingers. “Wasn’t supposed to end this way. We had a plan.”
    “These things usually don’t end well,” Nathan said.
    “Just wanted to get out of hell on earth, you know? Thought I’d been down there long enough. Then I meet with my supposed partner over there, he convinces me this is the way to paradise. Talks about Dante and a bunch of other shit I can’t understand. But it sounded good.”
    A dagger of unease pierced Nathan, confirming his fears. The partner used Joe for some sort of patsy, to get inside and get to Emilie. He’d manipulated Joe with images of a better life and talked about stuff over Joe’s head, making Joe feel inferior. Easier to manipulate that way. The partner probably assumed he didn’t have to ask to bring Emilie—he’d just do it.
    “You don’t seem scared.” Joe fiddled with the chamber of the gun. It looked awkward in his hands. He held it like a bomb. Inexperienced.
    “I’m plenty scared,” Nathan said. “But I trust you.”
    Joe’s snorted. “Why?”
    “Because you’re smart enough to know that killing me puts you in the crosshairs of a manhunt. Authorities won’t stop until they find you.” Joe eyed him, chewing on his cracked lip. “They’re probably going to do that, anyway.”
    “Not to the ends of the earth,” Nathan said. “Banks have insurance. Cops get busy with murders and rapes. But you kill another cop? You’re enemy number one until the debt is paid.”
    Joe gripped the gun tighter. “I just wanted to get out.”
    “I know.” Nathan looked at his watch. Less than a minute. He nodded his head toward the partner still glued to Emilie. “What about him?”
    “Ain’t it obvious?”
    There was no need to answer. Nathan rolled his shoulders back, stretched his legs. He needed to be ready to act.
    There was a sudden female cry, and the frantic customer moved to stand, hand outstretched. Nathan’s body went rigid. She’s seen a member of the SWAT team.
    Joe’s head whipped back and forth. “What the hell?” He leapt to his feet, brandishing the gun. The partner seized Emilie, and