Poker Face (The Masks Series Book 4) Read Online Free PDF

Sliding my plate away from me, I gave up on the toast and stood. Sal stepped in behind me as soon as I shifted and trailed me to the bedroom. I locked the door from the inside.
    There were clothes neatly folded and waiting for me on the end of the bed. I ran my fingers over the crisp new pants and shirt, knowing they’d be my size. Santiago seemed to run his affairs like a well-oiled machine. I had no doubt he was a man of his word and although it would protect me for now, it could also lead to my destruction. If I screwed up, I’d be Bruno fodder and I didn’t think I could ever get over something like that.

Chapter 6

    Eric
     
    My dreams were haunted by Gramps. Caity was ripped from my arms and replaced with a corpse, cold and lifeless. I’d turned to look at the body against me and scrambled away from it, screaming. Then Dad would appear, gripping my shoulder and holding me in place, making me stay, making me look. But the longer I stared at Gramps’ lifeless gaze, the more it disintegrated until I had to watch the one man who’d never let me down turn into a pile of gray ash that was swept away on the breeze.
    “No!” I jerked up with a gasp, sweat glistening over my skin. I felt cold and hot in the same moment. My head was pounding and I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to figure out what that irritating ringing sound was. It pierced my sleeping brain until my eyes flew open and I scrambled for my phone.
    “Sullivan?” I croaked, licking my dry lips.
    “No, it’s Mom!” Her voice was high and a little hysterical, snapping me awake quickly.
    “Are you okay?” I rubbed my eyes, a sudden fear lurching through me.
    If those men who killed Gramps came for me, had they come for her to?
    As much as I wanted to focus on finding Caity, it was starting to dawn on me that this guy who sent his goons to collect me probably wouldn’t give up after killing Gramps.
     
    “Don’t be an idiot. Eric! You think these are the only two? There’ll be more men out to get you.”
     
    Dad’s words echoed in my brain.
    “No, I’m not okay. I need to see you, now.” Mom’s voice quivered.
    I chewed the inside of my cheek, trying not to be affected by her shaky tone. “Mom, is...is someone making you say that? Are you safe right now?”
    She pulled in a sharp breath. “Yes, I’m safe and I need to make sure that you are, too.”
    I closed my eyes, running a hand through my hair, not knowing what to believe. She could have been saying this stuff at gunpoint. I had no idea. All I knew was that I couldn’t turn my back on her. She was my mom and yeah, she had Cliff and everything, but I was her son. I was the only thing that had remained constant in her life and I couldn’t let her down now.
    I flicked the twisted covers off me and swung my legs over the side of the bed. “Okay, I’m coming over.”
    “Don’t come to the house,” she snapped quickly. “I’m at the Super Eight on North Western Avenue.”
    “What are you doing at a motel?”
    “I’ll tell you when you get here.” Her voice was a trembling mess. I hung up and snatched my wallet, shoving it in my back pocket and grabbing my keys before sneaking out the door. As I descended the concrete steps to the driveway, I checked my watch. It was just before eight, and I didn’t even want to start guessing why Mom was holed up in a motel sounding scared out of her wits.
    Thankfully, it didn’t take long to find the Super Eight. I pulled my jeep into a free space and called Mom again. She told me the room number and I headed in the right direction, taking the stairs two at a time.
    I was midway through knocking when the door flew open and she pulled me inside, wrapping me in a tight, unrelenting hug.
    “I’m so glad you’re all right,” she cried against my shoulder. Her arms were trembling as she clung to me.
    “It’s okay, Mom.” I finally detached her from me. “I’m fine. Really.”
    She ran a perfectly manicured finger under her nose and I spun to