Dante's Fire Read Online Free

on but herself, taught her the proper ways to curse, tell bawdy jokes, defend herself, and drink like a fish without collapsing.
    Ways to survive on the streets.
    But Daniel had never seen that part of her. Never would.
    Edward slid into the booth clutching a Guinness and a slip of paper. Selina laughed out loud at his look. "Was it the blonde rooting for the Mets?" she asked, gesturing to the phone number written in black ink.
    He winked. "Hell, yeah. She wanted me from the first look."
    "Hmm, you know she went initially for the dude with the fat wallet over there?" Selina pointed to the guy dressed in the designer suit, sporting a three hundred dollar haircut, and hefty Rolex. He sat across the bar talking to another hottie. "So, I'd say you're sloppy seconds."
    Ed waved his hand in the air in dismissal. "Who the hell cares? I got her number."
    "Nothing like high standards, Ed."
    "I need to get laid."
    “I’d say so. You going on thirty days now?”
    Ed glared. “Twenty. You going on six months, Rogers?”
    She grinned, swigged more beer, and stuck out her tongue. “I go for quality, not quantity. You should give it a try.”
    “No, thanks. I like quantity just fine.” He ordered another Guinness. "So, are we set on our meeting with Forrester?"
    Selina nodded. "Yep, Thursday at six. Waldorf Astoria, baby--only the best. A little dazzle, a bit of kiss ass, and maybe we can get him to commit."
    "I'm tired of kissing ass. Why doesn't somebody kiss my ass?"
    She drained the rest of her beer and stood up. "Maybe you'll get lucky with that move from Blondie.” They both laughed. “I'm exhausted - doing a Batman."
    "Tom will call you a wuss. He wanted to play you in darts."
    "Tell him I went to the restroom and I'll take the heat later. I need a good night's sleep. See you at six tomorrow?"
    He shot her a disgusted glare. "Can’t believe I agreed to that on a Saturday. Yeah, fine. Need me to get you a cab?"
    "Nah, it's still early and I'm only a few blocks. I'll walk."
    "I'll walk with you," he said.
    She shook her head and grabbed her purse. "No reason, plenty of people out tonight. I'll be fine."
    "All righty then. See you in the morning."
    "Later."
    Selina slipped out through the crowds and breathed in the first rush of frosty air. She stuck her hands in the pockets of her mocha trench coat and headed towards home. The image of soft comfy PJ’s and a Lifetime movie beckoned. With the ease of an expert, she shifted her body around other pedestrians, leapt around a speeding cab, and tuned out the chaotic sounds of one of the largest cities in America. She took a right and headed uptown to her Central Park West apartment. Close to the famous Dakota Hotel where John Lennon died, the area contained gorgeous art deco architecture, proximity to Central Park, and the perfect mix of business and play. Her mind shut down as she walked the familiar path. Passing endless brownstones impeccably maintained, she tucked her head down and thought over any loophole she may have missed in the Forrester contract. She caught the scent of coffee from an open cafe, veered around a handsome man walking his dog, and crossed the street, not caring that it flashed red with warning. Her heel hit a crack in the pavement as she kept walking, looking forward to seeing the familiar golden ears of corn, as she liked to term the carvings on her apartment building. Shadows deepened, but the residential neighborhood tended to cater to career yuppies with a hip edge. She'd walked this sidewalk dozens of times and at all hours. Bred a city girl at heart she still understood the dangers and laced her fingers around her apartment keys - edge kept out in case of any surprise, as she closed the distance to home. Her low-heeled boots slapped against the pavement and echoed in the night.
    It was in the echo of her heels she heard voices coming up fast behind her.
    On instinct, she gripped the keys in defense position; positive she was overreacting, as this had