Out of the Shadows Read Online Free Page B

anything, he held out a hand. “I’m Devin. Devin Babcock.”
    She gripped his rough palm. A quick squeeze to be polite. But when she tried to let go, he held on.
    “Forgive me, but…you didn’t answer. Are you Lori?”
    “Yes.”
    He rewarded the word by releasing her hand. With a broad smile, he slid himself onto the empty stool next to her.
    His smile… Coupled with his stubble, it gave an edge to his face. Predatory. For her? A twitch started in her stomach, but she couldn’t tell if it was good or a warning.
    Rebuffing the advances of strangers was no trial for her. She would turn him away, too. Even if curiosity piqued her. What did he want from her? She started with the cold shoulder, mutely turning away and reaching for her shot glass.
    On second thought, maybe alcohol wasn’t the best idea.
    “Do you have a minute, Lori?”
    His dulcet tones outshone the roar of the club. Gentle, like he approached a skittish stray dog. Lori didn’t want to indulge him, but curiosity deepened the tingle in her gut. She swallowed, wetting her throat before she tried to speak.
    Without her makeup, she felt exposed. Unequal to driving him away. In defeat she said, “Yes. One minute.”
    His expression was indulgent, his posture cocky. As he turned to the counter, a smile curved his lips. “Only one, eh? Well then I’d better make the best of it. I hope you don’t mind if I pause the clock for a second.” He held up his hand, hailing Heaven closer.
    The blonde approached with wariness etched into her taut mouth. Her narrowed eyes glanced from Devin to Lori and back.
    Devin didn’t seem to notice. “I’ll have a Bud.” He twisted to face Lori, nodding to her shot glass. “Would you like another?”
    “No.”
    Thank goodness, some of the stiffness had returned to her voice. She could last a minute in his presence, long enough to learn what he wanted and leave. But then how would she spend the rest of her night? Working on her thesis? The idea didn’t appeal to her.
    Heaven opened the beer bottle and set it down in front of Devin. She barely took the time to scoop up the money he placed on the counter before skirting away.
    Devin took a swig of his beer. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. Cradling the bottle in one hand, he turned to Lori.
    “I’m looking for someone. A man named Terrence Welsh. I have reason to believe you might know where he is.”
    Terrence.
    The club swam around her. Somehow, Lori kept from pitching onto the floor. The prick of pain from biting her tongue helped to keep her focused.
    Was Devin a private investigator? An undercover cop? Did he know of Terrence’s death? Suppressing the urge to vomit, Lori answered slowly. Carefully. Giving nothing away. “I don’t. Sorry.”
    Devin’s eyebrows lifted. “You don’t? Are you sure? My intel points to you as being…involved with Terrence.”
    “I’m not.”
    Her voice warbled, just a little. Betraying her uneasiness. Maybe her guilt too. She swallowed, trying to contain herself. By her choice, she had never been involved with Terrence. Not until the day before his death.
    His death? Who was she kidding? She might as well admit it to herself if not to anyone else. She had killed him. Nothing could excuse that.
    Coming to Underground had been a bad idea. Fishing out a couple bills to settle her tab, she stood. When she tried to leave, Devin gripped her hand. Anchoring her in place.
    “I wouldn’t have pegged a smart girl like you to be involved with someone like him.”
    Smart? She was, but no one ever saw past her angry gothic exterior. A spike of alarm straightened her spine. Had Devin researched her record at the university before seeking her out?
    Yanking her hand away, she repeated, “I’m not.”
    “You don’t have to pretend. I can see you care for him.”
    Care? Care was the wrong word. That persistent bastard could rot in Hell for all she cared. In fact, she’d likely sent him there. She may have spent every waking