Still Not Dead Enough , Book 2 of The Dead Among Us Read Online Free PDF

handed Paul a small card and an envelope full of paperwork. “That’s a CCW permit—to carry a concealed weapon—for the state of California. You don’t know it but you applied for it and received it several months ago.”
    Devoe nodded toward the card. “Those’re hard as hell to get in this state. Mr. McGowan has connections.”
    Devoe gave Paul a pump-action sawed-off twelve-gauge and a couple hundred rounds of his “special double-ought.”
    Paul looked at McGowan and Devoe and said, “Where’s the uzi, and maybe a fifty-caliber machine gun? I could mount it on the floor of my living room to cover the front door.”
    Devoe frowned and looked at McGowan. “Kid ain’t gonna live long if he don’t start taking this seriously.”
    ~~~
    He watched her walk to the bus stop, the beautiful little Mexican girl. Watched her carefully and couldn’t take his eyes off her.
    Her parents had dressed her in a blue pinafore over a pale red dress, and matching blue knee-high stockings ending in shiny black shoes—very Alice in Wonderland . He loved Alice in Wonderland , not the story but the girl.
    The little Mexican girl’s parents must be very proud of her, must love her very much. She had incredible raven-black hair that hung past her shoulders, flawless olive skin and almond shaped eyes. He thought she might even be more beautiful than the little blonde, and that brought a pang of guilt. It felt like cheating to desire the little Mexican girl more than the little blonde, a horrible act of infidelity.
    No , the voice said, a faint hiss somewhere deep within his soul. She is the one.
    Yes. He’d loved the little blonde so much, but now she was gone and he so desperately needed someone to hold, someone to share his affection. But this one would be different. This time he would just watch from afar, admire her, love her even, but never touch her. He didn’t want to hurt her. She was too beautiful to be hurt. He just wanted to hold her closely, tell her how much he loved her, how much he needed her.
    Own her. We must have her, all of her, nothing held back.
    “No,” he pleaded, closing his eyes, grimacing as he tried to shut the voice out of his soul. “Not this time. Please not this time.”
    Yes, always. Look at her.
    He opened his eyes. The young girl had stopped to talk to a boy her own age, Mexican like her, though his features were a little darker than hers.
    Imagine touching her, caressing her carefully, running your fingers along such delicate, flawless skin.
    “Yes,” he said. “Yes . . . yes.”
    Once she knows how much you love her, how deeply you care for her, she’ll love you back, love you with all her heart.
    He could see that she must have a loving heart, a kind heart. “Yes . . . yes, she will.”

    Chapter 2: The Black
    Katherine watched from the sidelines as Paul tried a small fire spell. He and Colleen were seated opposite one another at a table they’d dragged into her father’s workshop, while Katherine and her father, standing to one side, looked on. She’d come here with considerable trepidation, but now, after about an hour with the four of them working together in her father’s workshop, she couldn’t understand why she’d been so fearful of working with Paul, fearful of just being in the same room with him. It didn’t make sense.
    Paul held both hands out, cupped together as if trying to hold water or beg for alms. He concentrated and a faint glow appeared just above his hands. It wavered for a moment then steadied and became a small, hot spark illuminating the room like an uncovered light bulb.
    Her father was right. She didn’t recognize the arcane power Paul used. If it was earth magic, or he was tapping a ley line, she’d sense his manipulation of such forces. But she got nothing. She looked at her father and he nodded, as if to say, See what I mean.
    Colleen spoke softly to Paul and he extinguished the bright spark. Then she said, “Close your eyes and focus on me, try