The Steele Collection Books 1-3: Sarah Steele Legal Thrillers by Aaron Patterson

Author:Aaron Patterson [Patterson, Aaron]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Thriller
Publisher: StoneHouse Ink
Published: 2014-08-26T00:00:00+00:00

LEAVING THE STORE, I looked down the street for Marco. He was sitting on the back of the car talking on his phone. I texted Mandy and told her this trip was a dead end. I hoped she was getting better results.

I’d only burned thirty minutes. I wanted to walk around a little more and get a feel for the Blondes’ territory.

I carried my new clothes in my bag, and because of all the stares I was getting, I wished I’d changed. A flower stall caught my eye and I went up to it. Half the blooms arranged in bouquets I didn’t recognize—the supermarket at home never had these. I inhaled the scent of my favorites and asked the vendor their names. With a smile, he gave me a thin little white flower. “It is luck,” he said. I put it behind my ear. I’d take all the luck I could get.

“Obrigado,” I murmured thanks.

Four girls played double Dutch in an apartment alley that smelled like grease and rotting food. Despite the smell, I had to stop and watch. They did twists and flips and moves like I’d never seen. When they saw the small crowd growing, they perked up and put an extra spark into their routine, outdoing themselves. When they finished the song, I clapped. They giggled and nodded, giving each other knuckle bumps.

I wandered deeper down the street, taking in the sights and smells. Most people kept their homes and porches neat and swept, and there was lively conversation from window to window. It didn’t look dangerous—it looked like home. Until I heard a low voice behind me. Then all the good feelings were gone.

“Ei o gatinha, you lost?” I turned slowly, as if unconcerned, and faced a tall black man. He had a red bandana on his head and a dark sweat-stained V-neck.

“No, just shopping. Do you know where I can find a good set of sandals?” I felt the tiny hairs on my arms stand up and my heart pounded in my ears.

Someone moved behind me and I realized it wasn’t just one guy. Three others stepped from where they leaned against a parked car, and at once the street seemed empty. Whoever these men were, they had scared everyone off.

“Yeah, chefe, I want me some meat—white meat.” All of them were dressed alike. Tough-guy tank tops, shorts, tattoos, and lots of piercings. I should have been scared, but I was just plain pissed.

And, call me suicidal, but I was itching for a fight.

The smallest of the group hissed something I didn’t understand and circled me. I took a deep breath. I knew what would happen. I didn’t believe I could talk my way out of this, so I had to be smart and quick if I wanted to get out alive.

I slipped one hand around my keychain mace and pressed the other one against the brick wall behind me. I inched toward the main street, trying to put distance between me and the cramped alley.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.