CRASH: An Evil Dead MC Story (The Outlaw Series) Read Online Free Page A
Author: Nicole James
“Shannon.”
“Cole,
thank you for seeing me.”
He
nodded, then ducked his head and glanced out the window. “So, if this ex of
yours was following you, what kind of car would he be in?”
Her
eyes moved from Cole, to the window and back. “I was careful. I left my car at
one side of the mall and called a cab to pick me up on the other side. I don’t
think he followed me.”
Crash
watched Cole’s head drop, and his eyes bore into her. It was a look that had
put the fear of God into more than one man. “Shannon, what car?” he repeated.
Her
chin came up, and her head tilted to the side in an arrogant pose, as if she
wasn’t going to let him intimidate her. But Crash also saw her swallow before
she replied, and he’d bet Cole had picked up on the telltale sign as well.
“Probably
a black SUV.”
Cole’s
gaze swung to Dog, who nodded and moved to the window to take up watch. Then he
lifted his chin at Crash, signaling for him to follow Cole. He turned back to
Shannon. “You dump your phone, too?” he asked, leading her to a booth.
She
nodded, wheeling her bag behind her and sliding into the booth. “I left it in
my car.”
“Good.”
Cole slid onto the seat opposite Shannon.
Crash
pulled up a barstool and leaned his ass back against it, his arms folded. From
this position, he towered over Shannon, and a smile pulled at his mouth as she
slid a glance up at him. It was easy to see, she didn’t like having to look up
at him.
Cole
nodded toward the bag on the floor. “Babe, tell me you didn’t pack a bag before
you left the house. That’d be a major red flag.”
“Give
me some credit, please.”
Cole
raised his eyebrows, waiting for an explanation.
She
huffed out a breath. “I picked up the bag and some necessities at the mall. If
I’m going to hide out, I’ll need a few things.”
Crash
looked over at Cole and asked with a grin, “Is this what they mean by
‘high-maintenance’?”
Cole
grinned back. “Yeah, I think she’d be the definition.”
If
looks could kill, Crash thought as Shannon swung an icy glare his way.
“Which
mall?” Cole asked, drawing her attention back to him.
“Santana
Row.”
Crash
let out a whistle. “High class.”
“I
wasn’t speaking to you, was I?” Shannon sneered at him.
“Look,
bitch-” Crash came off his barstool, his arms unfolding as he stepped toward
her.
Cole
stopped him with a raised hand and a look. Then his eyes returned to her.
“Watch it, Shannon. You’re the one asking for a favor here. I can walk out that
door.”
“Can
we talk, just the two of us?” she asked, giving Crash a glare.
“No,”
Cole replied.
“Bet
that’s not a word you’re used to, is it, Princess?” Crash taunted with a smirk.
Her
chin came up, and Crash could practically see her eyes ice over with a glacial
freeze. He grinned, enjoying putting her in her place. “It’s a word you’re
gonna be hearing a fuck of a lot in the near future. So, get used to it,
sweetheart.”
“Let’s
cut to the chase. Tell me what we’re dealing with here, Shannon. And I’ll
decide if I can help you or not. When did you breakup with this guy?”
After
another glare at Crash, she returned her eyes to Cole, and her demeanor
changed. Back to the little miss innocent, Crash observed. Jesus, did she think
she could play him? Cole would see through that in a New York minute.
“I’ve
tried to break it off with him and…well, he just won’t take no for an answer.
And, now…now he seems to know every move I make. He knows where I’ve been, who
I’ve seen, who I’ve talked on the phone with. And, well, frankly, he’s starting
to scare me, Cole.”
Crash
watched her bite her lip, and he knew she was holding something back. He knew
Cole would see it, too. He was damn good at reading people.
Cole
remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
“He’s
leaving for Europe for the summer in a few weeks. If I can just avoid him until
then, Cole, I’m sure I’ll be
“Cole,
thank you for seeing me.”
He
nodded, then ducked his head and glanced out the window. “So, if this ex of
yours was following you, what kind of car would he be in?”
Her
eyes moved from Cole, to the window and back. “I was careful. I left my car at
one side of the mall and called a cab to pick me up on the other side. I don’t
think he followed me.”
Crash
watched Cole’s head drop, and his eyes bore into her. It was a look that had
put the fear of God into more than one man. “Shannon, what car?” he repeated.
Her
chin came up, and her head tilted to the side in an arrogant pose, as if she
wasn’t going to let him intimidate her. But Crash also saw her swallow before
she replied, and he’d bet Cole had picked up on the telltale sign as well.
“Probably
a black SUV.”
Cole’s
gaze swung to Dog, who nodded and moved to the window to take up watch. Then he
lifted his chin at Crash, signaling for him to follow Cole. He turned back to
Shannon. “You dump your phone, too?” he asked, leading her to a booth.
She
nodded, wheeling her bag behind her and sliding into the booth. “I left it in
my car.”
“Good.”
Cole slid onto the seat opposite Shannon.
Crash
pulled up a barstool and leaned his ass back against it, his arms folded. From
this position, he towered over Shannon, and a smile pulled at his mouth as she
slid a glance up at him. It was easy to see, she didn’t like having to look up
at him.
Cole
nodded toward the bag on the floor. “Babe, tell me you didn’t pack a bag before
you left the house. That’d be a major red flag.”
“Give
me some credit, please.”
Cole
raised his eyebrows, waiting for an explanation.
She
huffed out a breath. “I picked up the bag and some necessities at the mall. If
I’m going to hide out, I’ll need a few things.”
Crash
looked over at Cole and asked with a grin, “Is this what they mean by
‘high-maintenance’?”
Cole
grinned back. “Yeah, I think she’d be the definition.”
If
looks could kill, Crash thought as Shannon swung an icy glare his way.
“Which
mall?” Cole asked, drawing her attention back to him.
“Santana
Row.”
Crash
let out a whistle. “High class.”
“I
wasn’t speaking to you, was I?” Shannon sneered at him.
“Look,
bitch-” Crash came off his barstool, his arms unfolding as he stepped toward
her.
Cole
stopped him with a raised hand and a look. Then his eyes returned to her.
“Watch it, Shannon. You’re the one asking for a favor here. I can walk out that
door.”
“Can
we talk, just the two of us?” she asked, giving Crash a glare.
“No,”
Cole replied.
“Bet
that’s not a word you’re used to, is it, Princess?” Crash taunted with a smirk.
Her
chin came up, and Crash could practically see her eyes ice over with a glacial
freeze. He grinned, enjoying putting her in her place. “It’s a word you’re
gonna be hearing a fuck of a lot in the near future. So, get used to it,
sweetheart.”
“Let’s
cut to the chase. Tell me what we’re dealing with here, Shannon. And I’ll
decide if I can help you or not. When did you breakup with this guy?”
After
another glare at Crash, she returned her eyes to Cole, and her demeanor
changed. Back to the little miss innocent, Crash observed. Jesus, did she think
she could play him? Cole would see through that in a New York minute.
“I’ve
tried to break it off with him and…well, he just won’t take no for an answer.
And, now…now he seems to know every move I make. He knows where I’ve been, who
I’ve seen, who I’ve talked on the phone with. And, well, frankly, he’s starting
to scare me, Cole.”
Crash
watched her bite her lip, and he knew she was holding something back. He knew
Cole would see it, too. He was damn good at reading people.
Cole
remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
“He’s
leaving for Europe for the summer in a few weeks. If I can just avoid him until
then, Cole, I’m sure I’ll be