In the Shadow of Vengeance Read Online Free

hell, and as for Mendoza, he’s serving a life sentence on the other side of the country. Who does Danny need to fight?”
    Before Raúl could answer, the bell over the flower shop dinged and TJ entered.
    “Hi, Uncle Noah.”
    TJ was doing well in his new home. The intense, quiet eight-year-old from three years ago was now a thriving preteen.
    “Dad, I’m hungry.”
    “And I’m talking. Your mom’s upstairs,” Raúl said, nodding to the staircase. “The Os are playing the Nationals tonight. Get your homework done.”
    The kid fist bumped the air and began to race up the stairs.
    “TJ, wait. Have you seen Danny Merlot today?” Noah asked.
    “Yeah. He ran right past Trevor and me. Didn’t even stop to talk.”
    “Where was he heading?”
    “He said he was meeting some guy at the arcade on Lombard Street.”
    “Some guy? Does that strike you—?” Noah asked Raúl.
    “Nope. I don’t like the sound of that one bit.”
    “I think I’ll take a rain check on that pizza.” He nodded to his friend and left the shop.
    A new sense of dread hit Noah as his long legs ate up the sidewalk toward the arcade. The couple of times he’d reached out to Danny after the kidnapping, they ended up at the arcade. Elizabeth always accompanied them, never taking her eyes off Danny for a second while also watching Noah like a hawk. It had been almost a year since he’d even received a text from Danny. Noah just assumed he cut off communication because he was getting on with his life. And what teen wanted to hang out with an old guy like him, and a cop, at that?
    Noah crossed through the open doors of the arcade and moved past Danny’s favorite games. The place wasn’t busy. If he were there, Noah would find him.
    Heading toward the rear of the building, he turned a corner and spotted Danny talking to some guy in his early twenties in the short hallway that led to the restrooms. The guy scanned the crowd over the top of Danny’s head, grabbed him by the elbow, and exited through the back door. Noah retraced his tracks to the entrance. Racing around the side of the building, he entered the alley that ran parallel to Lombard Street. The stench of rotting garbage and other odious smells he chose not to identify assaulted his senses. At the next block, he spotted Danny handing the man something, and in exchange, Danny grasped a crumbled paper bag.
    Noah slowed his pace and spread back his sport coat so his badge and gun were in view. “Hey, how’s it going?”
    The guy took one look at Noah, clutched Danny’s collar in his fist, and whispered something in his ear. He then heaved him against the chain link fence and ran full out down the alley.
    Noah reached out a hand to steady Danny. “Should I go after him?”
    “What are you doing here?” he asked, shrugging out of reach.
    “What’s in the bag, Danny?”
    Color drained from his face as he stared at his hand. He swung his shoulder pack off and stuffed the bag inside. “Nothing important.”
    A car backfired and Danny almost jumped out of his shoes. Tucking his head down, his eyes on the asphalt, he nudged past Noah. Reaching out, Noah placed a hand on Danny’s shoulder. “That’s not an answer. Again, what’s in the bag?”
    “It’s none of your business.” Danny’s eyes narrowed and a deep blush of anger edged into his cheeks.
    Noah had seen Danny scared shitless, depressed, even nostalgic, but the raw anger in his eyes was new.
    “Sorry, son. I think it is.”
    “I’m not your son. I’m not anything to you.”
    Noah raised both hands out. “Okay, bad choice of words. I thought we were at least friends.”
    “I haven’t seen or heard from you in almost a year. I don’t need friends like you, Detective McNeil. I have to get home.” Danny body slammed him, knocking him off balance, and stormed down the alley toward the street.
    Understanding be damned.
The kid didn’t get a break when he jammed himself up with dumb-ass, stupid decisions. Noah rushed ahead