Smoke & Metal (New York Crime Kings Book 3) Read Online Free Page A

me off straight after.
    Flicking my eyes back to the road, I free a hand and run it over my face. I’m not going to make it to the lake. I’d ask Kitten to drive, but I noticed an uneasiness about her when she rides in a car—even a car going at normal speeds. I glance at her, then back to the road. I bet it feels good to sleep. She’s so out of it, she could pass as dead. Her dirty, black hair covers half of her face, and dirt taints her skin. She’s exhausted and looks it, even while resting.
    I exhale. It feels never ending. Each mile we travel seemingly stretches into three. I glance at Emily again, then back to the road. Dawn is upon us, brightening the sky with its pale blues and the faintest hint of orange and red along the horizon. Not long until the sun is blazing and Skull begins his hunt—assuming he hasn’t already.
    The nagging, stomach turning thought of the pain we’ve brought down on my brother because of our rebellion creeps into my mind, poisoning me with guilt and anger. I quickly push it out, choosing to revisit it once I’m refreshed. A tired man is an irrational one and I can’t afford to be irrational.
    Not now.
    I have to have a plan. I need to be smart. Only when Joel is safe can I go after Skull with reckless abandon, not caring if I go down in the process. However, in order to make it that far, I mustn’t kill myself on the way to the hideout. I have to make it to the lake alive before I can make Skull feel every slice of pain I want him to feel.
    Just to the lake… my eyes grow heavy.
    I have to make it to the lake.
     
    ***
     
    I could fucking cry. I pull on the parking brake and drop my head against the headrest. I made it. For the one millionth time my eyes threaten to close and this time I let them since it no longer threatens the lives of anyone around me. A fuzziness encases my brain and the bullshit that has followed me through the past few years of my life feels like a distant memory now. All that matters is sleep.
    I force my eyes open and lean to the right to catch a glimpse of myself in the rear view mirror. My first thought when I look past the dirt caked onto my skin is: I’m white! I mean, I’ve always been Caucasian, but my skin tone has never resembled the color of milk. For as long as I can remember, my skin has always been a warm tan due to excess time in the sun. Now I look like I’ve never stepped foot outside in my life.
    “Relax. There’s not a single scratch on your pretty face.”
    I look at Emily. She squints her eyes, thinning them until I can’t see the color of her irises. Her skin has the same white hue as mine—if not whiter. Her black hair, that has become a deep brown around the edges, incandescent in the light of the morning sun, is in tangles, making her look wild and dangerous.
    Stretching her long arms above her head and cringing, she smiles at me through the pain.
    “I’m digging the cavewoman look.” I say, dragging a hand to my mouth to stifle a yawn. “Have you clubbed any baby animals today?”
    She rolls her eyes and the tired bags underneath them become more prominent. “Hilarious.”
    Emily takes in the two story lake house in front of us. I watch as her eyes scan every windowsill, door frame and potted plant. “This is it, huh?”
    I nod. “Our hideout.”
    Her thin, pink lips curl at the corners. “I should flee from mob bosses more often—especially if it pays off like this.”
    I reach down and undo my seatbelt. Then I open the door. “Don’t make it a habit, Kitten. The last thing I want is for you to end up face down in a ditch somewhere.”
    I groan as I swing my legs out of the car. My muscles are done. After remaining stagnant for the entire drive here, they’ve gone to sleep and are stuck in a permanently hard state. Behind me, I hear Emily groan and swear too. I can see the remainder of the day being lost to sleep, but first, I have to dispose of the car. Someone would have reported it stolen by now.
    I push