Torn Read Online Free PDF

money for the guitar?”
    But “Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap” was Cody’s only answer as he continued to rummage frantically. The Slits headed toward the SUV. Their legs moved, but it seemed like the rest of their bodieswere motionless, making it look as if they weren’t getting closer so much as growing larger.
    Devin was staring so intensely, he was only dimly aware of Cody slipping back into the front seat. The feel of something cold and heavy in his lap brought his senses back to the cab. He looked down. A crowbar. Cody had tossed him a crowbar.
    â€œNo! No way!” Devin said. “Are you crazy? Are you totally crazy?”
    â€œTake it!” Cody growled. “There’s only two of them! We can scare them off!”
    Devin pushed the crowbar back at Cody. “No! What happens next time when there’s more than two?”
    Cody slammed it back into Devin’s hands and held it there. “Nick and Jake and their stupid pals are all talk. They’re nothing. Nothing. The only reason they get away with this crap is because no one challenges them. They’ll back off if we put up a fight, trust me. Follow my lead. They don’t carry guns. It’s all knives and razors. Crowbar’s longer than a knife, right?”
    The two figures approached, not even blinking from the rain. Devin briefly wondered which was Jake and which was Nick, then realized he didn’tcare. Cody shivered in a weird way, like he was trying to shake any fear out of his face.
    He opened the door, hopped out, and cast an angry look back inside at Devin.
    â€œCome on!”
    Devin thought seriously about calling the cops, but the Slits could kill both of them in the time it would take a squad car to get here. He wanted to drive off, but Cody was already out of the car. So, gritting his teeth and trying to keep his terrified body in control, Devin stepped out of the SUV and stood on the other side.
    Seeing him, the short one (Nick? Jake?) veered and took a step toward Devin, but the other stopped him. His hand sported a big, gaudy ring on a finger that looked more muscular than some arms. He jabbed it at Devin like a knife.
    â€œStay out of this. It’s not your problem unless you want it to be,” the Slit said. “You just stand there and watch.”
    When Devin didn’t move or speak, the Slit turned to Cody. “We want our money.”
    â€œI told you back at the club, I haven’t got it,” Cody said. “I don’t know when I will.”
    The Slit shook his head. “That’s not good.”
    â€œNo,” Cody answered. “It’s not.”
    The two took another step closer. Cody moved his feet apart for better balance. The change in stance only made the Slit with the twitchy shoulder grin. He took one more step. In a totally defensive move, born out of fear, Devin raised the crowbar slightly.
    The taller Slit looked at him. “You seem like a good kid. Close your eyes if you don’t want to watch. It won’t take long. That way you’ll still be conscious, so you can drive your friend to the hospital.”
    â€œPut that crowbar through his skull, Devin,” Cody said.
    â€œAren’t you already in enough trouble?” the Slit asked.
    â€œSee?” Cody said, not taking his eyes from the Slit. “I told you they’re all talk.”
    The taller Slit took a step toward Devin. His eyes were calm. Blank. All business. Devin felt his grip on the crowbar weaken, his shoulders slump. He moved his hand to wipe the moist rain from his eyes.
    â€œCome on, Devin!” Cody said. “Gotta get off that fence sometime. Now would be good.”
    â€œYeah, Devin, what’s it going to be? I don’t have all night,” the Slit said, grinning.
    In a flash, the grin vanished. Something hit him hard from the side, sending the Slit down and out of Devin’s field of vision. Devin turned, confused. Cody was down on the Slit,