Fury Rising Read Online Free

fancy imported blend. It all tasted like burnt crap to him until he put in enough sugar.
    “Now let’s go back to what you want for this bit of information,” Leon said, dismissing the girl with a wave of his hand. She gave Colin a frightened look before turning and rushing off. She obviously couldn’t get away fast enough. “You want to be a part of my world? You think you have what it takes to be one of us?”
    “Yeah,” Colin said, going back to his tough guy character. “I’m cool. I can do lots of good stuff. People know who I am. I could work both sides. Gather information for you.”
    “That would be very useful to me,” Leon said. “Finding spies are difficult.”
    “And in return, you can give me some of the good life,” Colin said. “A nice apartment. Real food.” He raised his cup of coffee. “More of this.”
    “That’s an awful lot for a tiny bit of information,” Leon said. “If I am to get this right, you’ll give up Aries? Spy on a few others? And in return you want my protection? You want to live in the buildings my people have cleaned out and made hospitable? Perhaps you want a woman? I saw the way you looked at Karen.” He took another sip of coffee. “Oh come now, don’t be modest. You’re a man, no different than the rest of us. We all have needs and desires.”
    “Yeah, I guess so,” Colin said. Best not to look too eager. “She’s pretty. Not quite my type though. But I guess I can’t be overly picky during the apocalypse.”
    “True,” Leon said, flashing his perfect row of white teeth.
    “So what do you think?” Colin asked. “Do we have a deal or not?”
    “I suppose that depends on whether or not I believe you and your information.”
    “She’s in West Vancouver. At Lighthouse Park. She’s taken about fifty or so refuges under her wing. You’re welcome to all of them.”
    Leon put down his coffee cup on the table before looking straight into Colin’s eyes. They were cold, as if there was nothing there. For the first time, Colin began to understand that Leon was quite different than his first impression. The man wasn’t harmless at all. Even if he did dress like a salesman, there was something beneath the surface that Leon managed to hide quite well. And it was starting to come out. The constant annoying smile with the perfect white teeth, they didn’t mean anything once Colin noticed the darkness of his eyes. The black veins. That mark that showed his true self. From the other side of the couch, Colin hadn’t noticed. He’d almost forgotten.
    Big mistake.
    “That’s it,” Leon finally said, his voice calm and steady. “That’s what you had for me? I think you’re asking for too much to be honest.”
    “Hey, I’m taking a chance,” Colin said. “It’s a big risk. I’d be doing all the work.”
    “A risk?” Leon raised his eyebrow. “Because your people would tear you apart if they found out you were playing for the other team?”
    “Well, yeah, maybe.”
    “I doubt it,” Leon said. “Your kind are parasites. They cower in the darkness and scuttle away at the sight of everything. They are nothing to be afraid of. The worst they might do is banish you. Smack you on the bottom and send you on your way. Cast you out. Me on the other hand, I am something to fear.”
    Leon’s smile disappeared.
    Colin paused, his fingers wrapped around his mug.
    “I’m afraid your betrayal to your people has been nothing but a waste,” Leon said. “I have no intentions of doing business with you. See, I know who you are. Don’t look so surprised. It’s in my best interest to find out everything I can. I know you’re nothing but a coward, a boy who will do anything to keep your own skin. Your own group can’t stand to be in the same room with you. They consider you a problem. And you are, my dear boy, you are. Aries is right to mistrust you. If you would betray your people so easily, you will betray me. I have no use for your kind.”
    “That’s a