Stealing My Heart by Hecht Stephani: Jones Jambrea Jo & Llewellyn A.J. & Lynne Carol & Manly D.J. & Samms Jaime & Yates Serena

Author:Hecht, Stephani: Jones, Jambrea Jo & Llewellyn, A.J. & Lynne, Carol & Manly, D.J. & Samms, Jaime & Yates, Serena [Hecht, Stephani: Jones, Jambrea Jo]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: romance
ISBN: 9780857150486
Publisher: Total-E-Bound
Published: 2010-02-28T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

There were a lot of things Marky was finding it easy to get used to. Peter’s cooking, for one, and Dean’s easy, giving nature, though the sadness underlying it worried him. He was beginning to enjoy the fact he no longer had to look over his shoulder for cops, or rival gangs, or the sudden appearance of one of his own, finally come to exact the price of leaving. Under the right conditions, some days, he almost could believe this was his life, something he could keep, maybe even something that could make up for the past, if he played it right.

So when the bright green bandana hanging out a back pocket of a man sitting at Peter’s deli bar caught his eye one day, the cold shiver that ran through him was a nasty reminder that he’d been living on borrowed time.

Peter glanced up when he entered, face grim, eyes shadowed. Marky stopped. He knew that ‘not-in-my-place’ look in Peter’s eyes, and nodded.

“Skate.”

The man at the bar turned. Blue eyes, so much like his brother Gig’s, glimmered at him. “Marky.”

Marky held the door open and motioned outside. “Come on.”

Skate picked up his board from where it leant on the counter and followed Marky outside.

“What do you want, Skate?”

“Nothing, man.” Skate thumped his shoulder. “Just to see how an old pal’s doing.”

“I’m fine. You’ve seen. You can go.” Marky ran a hand through his hair, backed his way toward Pete’s Deli.

“Hmm.” Skate dropped his board on the sidewalk. “You know Drag is seriously pissed at you.”

“Why? ‘Cause I didn’t let him shoot me? Poor baby. He’ll just have to get over it.”

“Right.” Skate smirked. “He just gets over shit like that. Dayton’s ridin’ his ass to find you.”

Marky frowned. “Obviously, he knows where I am. What’s stopping him?”

“Shit. What kind of friend do you think I am? I know where you are. Doesn’t mean they do.”

“Not yet.”

“I ain’t about to tell them, Marky.”

“Why wouldn’t you? I got your little brother killed.”

“He got himself killed, Marky. You think I don’t know that?” Skate focused on the ground again. “You an’ me, we’re still okay. I mean, I know you left, but,” Skate straightened, flipped his board up into his hand and met Marky’s gaze. “The Greenbacks aren’t perfect. I know that. I’m in and I got no way out. Not like you. I just…” He nodded as if he’d decided something. “I had my little brother to worry about, right? To make sure he didn’t do this same stupid shit I did. Only no one ever listens to me. Gig sure as fuck didn’t. Look what it got him. I thought he…you… I know you tried. I appreciate that, so I’m not going to tell anyone where you are. I just thought you should know Drag’s been poking around, and someone needs to do something about that, cause you know he’ll go through whoever he has to to get to you. Hell, asshole shot Gig, he’ll shoot anyone.” His scowl momentarily covered the sadness in his eyes, and Marky didn’t envy him his position.