The Season of Sin (Peace In The Storm Publishing Presents) Read Online Free PDF

someone. I’m in love with her. I always will be.”
    “And what the hell’s so special about that bony, weird-looking girl?  Look how she dresses and acts. Wear all that scary black eye shadow. All them damn piercings.” Swaggert motioned with his hands.  “Girl got mo’ holes in her than a sifter.  Remember when you first met her she had that green hair.” Swaggert shook his head.  “I thought the bitch was on crack or something. It ain’t normal.”
    “She’s from the artistic crowd. They’re different.”
    “Look at cha’. Got stars in ya’ eyes already.  Don’t let your dick lead you into misery, Bruce. Forget her. She ain’t worth it believe me. Go out and get you a tall sexy blond who’s dumb as a brick and won’t talk back.” Swaggert swept dust. “You’ll be better off believe me.”
    “Nah. I like my women with a brain.”
    “Why? The brainless ones are all right to me.  Ha, ha!”
    Bruce took off his oily shirt and got a clean one from under the counter.
    “Can I knock off now for lunch?” Bruce took out his car keys.
    “Oh, man.  See I knew it.”
    “Can I?”
    “You going to see that girl?”
    “Maybe.” Bruce swung the keys. “Maybe not. That’s my business.” He hopped from behind the counter.  “I’ll be back in an hour.”
    “Bullshit you got work to do!” Swaggert hobbled out of the garage behind him.
    “And it’ll be here when I get back.”
    “Don’t be a damn fool, Bruce.”
    Bruce slammed the door of his white Mustang. Pearl Jam blasted from the radio when he revved the engine.
    “Turn that mess down!  You know I don’t like all that loud music!”
    He waved out the window. “I’ll be back later!”
    “Don’t open up old wounds!”
    Bruce sped toward the gate with a trail of dust behind him.
    “Forget her!” Swaggert hollered in his hands. “Dylan Hollister ain’t nothing but trouble!”

     

CHAPTER FIVE

    Friday

    Jasmine flung plates of Red Velvet cake and glasses of punch to her sisters, Donna and Sandra.  They smiled at Brianna and scampered out of Jasmine’s kitchen to serve the guests.
    Jasmine carried a giant tuna casserole to the table that already spilled over with food. “Would you like another piece of pecan pie, Detective Morris?” She dumped globs of casserole on the antique plates.
    “No I’ve already had two pieces.” Brianna did a half-twirl in her snug dress. “That’s my limit.”
    “Limit?” Jasmine grabbed plates from the cabinet. “I swear your waist is smaller than one of my thighs.” They laughed.  “Besides, we’ve gone through the worse part of the day so we can at least celebrate Nadia’s memory by enjoying the food.”
    “The funeral was lovely. It’s so nice that you invited Steven and me.”
    “It was Dylan’s idea. I mean, I’m glad you came too of course.” Jasmine got homemade sauce out of the refrigerator. “It meant a lot to Dylan that you came.”
    “Why?” Brianna moved out of Jasmine’s way. 
    “Well she likes you. You also meant a lot to Nadia. She says that you guys are making this much easier for her to handle.  You and Zoë.”
    “So they’re real close huh?”
    “Zoë’s like a sister to Dylan.”
    Brianna bit into a peanut butter cookie. “Uh, she’s very pretty.”
    “Zoë?” Jasmine chucked balled up napkins into the trashcan. “The girl’s gorgeous.”
    “Yes she is.” Brianna found the cookie harder to swallow. “She takes over a room. Can’t help but notice her.”
    “And that body. Heck when I was in my twenties I had a great body but I didn’t look like that .”
    Brianna faked a smile.
    “Did you see how all the men were looking at her?” Jasmine licked vanilla frosting off the spatula. “Here we are trying to bury Nadia and those pigs are looking up and down Zoë’s dress. Even Pastor Hill ought to be ashamed.”
    Brianna dusted cookie crumbs off her hands. “Boys will be boys I guess.”
    “But there’s one man who wasn’t looking.”