Twisted Lines (Blurred Lines Volume 6) Read Online Free

“It’s good to see you too.”
    Jessica brushes the hair off my face. “I’ve got coffee brewing. Wanna talk about it?”
    “Not really.”
    “But you will, right? Cuz you woke my ass up.”
    I sit up. “Right.” I kick off the hot pink flip-flops and hug Jessica. “God, I’ve missed you. How’ve you been?”
    She kisses my cheek and leans against my shoulder. “Good. Fine.” She rises, walks into the kitchen, pulls down two mugs, and gets the creamer out of the refrigerator. As she busies herself pouring sugar and creamer into her mug, she talks. “Fileze was back in the game. Sort of. He was raising hell trying to find you.”
    “Was?” I ask as Jessica pours coffee into our mugs.
    “Yeah, was. Last night the motherfucker got himself killed. Like, his throat slit and his body tossed in an alley.”
    I gasp and my mind immediately goes to Zane. He wouldn’t do something like that, would he?
    I know the answer. Yes he would.
    But did he?
    Jessica continues, “Usually there’s talk that something’s coming. You know, the shit’s gonna hit the fan so to speak, but there was no talk. Just, bam!” Jessica smacks her hands together. “Dead.” She gives me a serious look. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about this, would you? Seems kinda coincidental you show up less than twelve hours after Fileze ends up killed.”
    I shake my head. “No, Jess. I don’t know anything about it.” No point mentioning I might have an idea who did it or that my brother is dead too. I never even told her I have… had a brother. And I don’t want to get into that. Not right now. Now while I can’t do anything about it.
    She takes a sip of her tan-colored coffee. “Hmmmm, not sure I’m buying that, but whatever, I’m glad he’s gone.”
    “Who?” I ask, shocked, my mind still on my brother. I pick up my mug and take a sip, allowing the hot liquid to scorch my throat all the way to my stomach.
    “Fileze, of course. Damn, where’s your head?” Jessica goes to the cupboard, takes down a bag of chips, opens them, and puts one in her mouth. “So what’s up? You here for good or what?”
    I sip another hot mouthful of coffee, glad I don’t have to explain where my head really is. The truth is I wouldn’t even know where to begin. So I skip her second question and answer the third one. “Maybe.”
    Jessica either doesn’t realize I’m being vague or isn’t really interested. She swallows and scowls. “Maybe? Maybe don’t pay the rent. I can’t afford this place on my own. If you ain't stayin', you need to get your shit and go so I can find another roommate.”
    “Sorry, Jess. I know I’ve been a terrible friend." I toss the rest of the cash at her. “Here’s all I have. When I get more I’ll give it to you. Just don’t spend it on… you know. Drugs.”
    She looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Cade, how dare you?” She tucks the money into the waist of her undies and walks over to the couch. “You working tonight then?”
    I walk over to my bed. “Yeah.” I pull my comforter over the top of my head. “You going back to bed?”
    “Nah, I’m gonna watch some daytime TV. I’ll wake you at seven.”
    “Thanks, Jess. You know I love ya, right?”
    “I know.”

 
     
     
     
     

     
     
    I can’t believe it. She left. Walked out. Again. I wait in my hotel room fifteen minutes. She has to come back. She wasn’t wearing any shoes. But she doesn’t.
    It’s like, no matter how hard I fucking try, Cadence and I can’t seem to get more than a few hours together. I’m not even sure what happened.
    “Such an ass.” I walk into the bedroom, pick up my phone, and dial Diane’s number.
    She answers on the third ring. “John.”
    “You hear anything?” I see Cadence’s bag on the floor and freeze. Usually I leave other people’s shit alone, a consequence of growing up in my family.
    “Actually, yeah, and you aren’t going to fucking believe it.”
    “Really?” I pick up