Payce's Passions Read Online Free PDF Page A

twitchy kind of dude, he is one of the best manipulators I’ve ever met, a master in fact. He’ll already have his side of the whole assault on Damien story lined out and no one will be aware of the stunt he pulled off tonight yet.
    I still can’t believe he broke in their house.
    He and I have played this little game before. One minute he’ll be your best friend and the next he’ll do something stupid that screws you over in the blink of an eye. Been on the receiving end of both. I was one of those best friends once, and also the one who got hung up with the law behind his stupidity. That’s when my life went to hell in a hand basket. I lost two things the day Aaron decided to flip shit and wig out, my freedom being one of them, and the other…I guess it doesn’t really matter anymore, he’s is in the past and better off left there.
    I snatch the bandana out of my back pocket, wrap it around my forehead, and knot it in the back. I head toward the outside bar area.
    The wooden gate squeaks as I swing it open and step through, heads turn in my direction. I run a quick scan of the place, amazing how street smarts instinctively kick back in gear when you need them. In a matter of twenty seconds, I size up everyone and everything that could be a problem. Only one person is a potential problem. He’s sitting off to the left, the bulge in his lower boot is very obvious. He’s packing. Around the bar, familiar faces watch as I approach, one of them stands and hollers out to me. I cut him a grin and walk toward him.
    “Well, I’ll be damned. Look what the cat dragged in. Payce, you crazy fucker, long time no see. Where have you been hiding?” He smiles and two others stand up to greet me.
    I tilt my head to the side, a smirk on my face. “When have you ever known me to hide?” I laugh and shake his hand. “Good to see you man, been working like a slave. It keeps me out of trouble.” I nod and laugh.
    “You out of trouble, that’s got to be a first, huh?” Several of them laugh and slap me on the shoulder.
    “Shit, I’m surprised my glowing halo didn’t blind you fuckers when I walked in.” I kick my boot up on the bottom rung of the barstool.
    “Always a damn smartass, huh?” He takes a swig of his beer.
    I shrug. “What can I say?”
    “Here, Payce, have a one on me.” A bottle comes sliding down the bar. “What has you out and about on the town tonight? You look like a man on a mission.”
    “Something like that. I’m looking for Aaron, he around?” I take the beer in my hand, with no intention of drinking it.
    “No, haven’t seen him in a while. I thought he was locked up.” Several of them turn to me, waiting to hear the story. They’re worse than a group of old women when it comes to gossip.
    “Nah, Aaron’s been out, you didn’t know? I’ve got a little side job I can use him on, something right up his alley. You know how he’s always whining about needed money.”
    “Nope, we haven’t seen him for a while now. Try over at Track Shack, maybe he’s hanging out there.”
    “What, and upgrade from this dive?” I laugh, they think I’m joking. I’m not. “Aaron told me if anything came up I’d be able to find him here, guess he doesn’t want the work that bad after all. If you hear anything, give me a call, job’s his if he wants it.”
    “Sounds like your fishing around, if you ask me,” a man named Olly barks out.
    “Don’t recall asking you a goddamned thing.” I tilt my bottle toward him.
    “Man, shut up. These two go way back to when they were kids, besides it’s none of your business, Olive Oil,” another man warns him, and Olly sits back down.
    “As much as I’d like to stay and shoot the shit, I need to jet, and try to catch up with his ass tonight.” I set the bottle back on the bar without having even a sip. I don’t normally drink and drive and I’d already had one with Damien and Dax.
    “Leaving so soon?” Lenny, one of the old crew and old “play