One That Came Back Read Online Free PDF Page A

in the club.”
    “Not this kind of help.”
    Kinney glanced at Wolf, then Dagger, who both crossed their arms over their chests and sent Luke hard stares from their tough faces.
    “So what of it?” Kinney shrugged and smiled.
    “I’m a businessman, Aces. I believe I’ve shown I have connections.”
    “That Rojos president is dead.”
    “You don’t think I know that?” Luke fired back each of his responses as if he’d rehearsed them. “You think that matters? And you think he was the only connection I have?”
    Kinney sniffed and rubbed his nose.
    From Kinney’s reactions to his comments, Luke surmised the depth of Aces’ stupidity. The man used his own product. That made this club’s president both easier and more difficult to deal with. It might be easier to get in with him because his judgment was clouded, but the man would be more paranoid and unpredictable. Luke sighed, pretending to give in. “Fine. Then let’s talk business.” Luke took another sip of his beer. He’d dance with the devil if it meant avenging Gibs’ death, and right now that devil was Jack Kinney.
     

CHAPTER FOUR
    Luke's Letter
     
    The next number of days went by in a haze for Emily. Somehow, in her drug influenced mind, she knew that taking the medicine was doing her no good. Sure, she slept, but her dreams were disturbed and she hated being suspended between waking and sleep. The next morning, when her mother brought the pills, she refused to take them. She wanted her mind back, not the drugged one. Towards the end of the day, she began to feel more like herself.
    Somehow during the ensuing days of haziness, her clothes were shed, and she’d been wearing one of her mother’s terrycloth bathrobes. On the chair under the window, her clothes sat neatly folded. She brought them to her nose, confirming her suspicion that they had been freshly laundered.
    After taking a shower, she dressed and made her way down the stairs following the scent of warm cooked food. Her mother and father were in the dining room seated at the table.
    “Emily!” Her mother stared at her in surprise.
    “Hi, Mom.” She gave her a kiss on the cheek, then rounded the table and did the same for her dad.
    “How’re you feeling?” he asked.
    “Tired. But I can’t sleep my life away so I don’t have to deal with reality.”
    “Sit, I’ll bring you a plate.” Her mother disappeared into the kitchen, returning a moment later carrying a plate of meatloaf with gravy, mashed potatoes, and peas.
    Emily smiled. It must be Wednesday. That was her mother’s meatloaf day. “Looks great, Mom. Thanks.”
    “What do you want to drink?”
    “Iced tea?”
    “Sure.”
    Her mother hurried back to the kitchen as her father cleared his throat. “I’m glad you’re finally up. Justin called. He said he had some news.”
    “What kind of news?”
    “He didn’t say. Just said he wanted to talk to you.”
    “Oh.” She wondered if Justin had told her dad and he just didn’t wish to say anything, like a silly control thing. Or maybe he simply didn’t know. She shouldn’t jump to conclusions without asking.
    Her mother brought the iced tea and sat back down. Emily waiting for them to say grace then realized they must have already done it. She tried a bite and nearly moaned with how good it tasted in her mouth.
    They continued to eat in stilted silence, as if they were afraid to say anything to upset her.
    It began to get annoying. She knew she’d been a burden the past few days but she wasn’t a leaf petal, she wasn’t as fragile as they thought she was. If they only knew… She shook her head to clear the thoughts and images running through her mind. “Good meatloaf, mom. Did you change the recipe?”
    Her mother gave a little shrug. “Justin’s mom has a different take on meatloaf. She mixes in ground pork and uses this garlic and herb blend of breadcrumbs. Your father liked it very much when we had dinner at her house last week.”
    Her father’s cheeks