Desired by Shadow (A Shadow Walkers Novel) Read Free

teeth.
    “With friends the likes ‘o him, you’ll be better off with saintly fellows like us. Wake up, ducky. No one has friends anymore. In this world you do whatever it takes to survive.” Jim grunted and leaned back against the narrow bench seat.
    Maggie’s brain processed the words she’d heard. The thought of Josh betraying her didn’t make any sense. They’d been friends for three years. Three years was a lifetime nowadays. They looked out for each other, helped each other to survive. Nothing made any sense.
    The van slowed. Maggie twisted around straining to see out the front window. The vehicle pulled into an alley behind a stretch of posh townhomes. Looked like they’d been converted for business use by the signs on the back gates. No idea where she was other than it was a nice part of town by how well kept everything looked. The engine shut off, the driver jumped out and opened the back door. The men gagged her so she couldn’t yell for help. Struggling earned her a savage blow to the head and she passed out.
    Coming to with no idea of how long she’d been out, Maggie was sitting on a sofa with the two thugs on either side of her. The driver was nowhere to be seen, but another man sat across from her.
    “About fucking time you’re awake, sleeping beauty. I’m Bruce. You’ve met a few of my men. Welcome to Dante Import/Export, your new home. Do what yer told, don’t cause any trouble, and life won’t be too terrible bad.”
    As she wiggled to sit up, Bruce motioned to his men. The straps binding her hands and feet were cut, the gag removed. Rubbing sore wrists, she appealed to him. “There’s a mistake. I don’t know what Josh did but I don’t have any skills. I’m just a waitress.”
    Bruce tilted his head to the side and snorted. “Right. And I’m just a dishwasher.” He leaned forward in the chair. “We put up very specific advertisements, mainly in hospitals offering cold hard cash for certain information. Your friend Josh called. Said you met the requirements, that you told him you saw ghosts. He needed the entry fee into a high-stakes poker game. Said it was a sure thing.” Bruce tsked. “Idiot. Now you work for us. Jim will get you settled and explain your new duties.” His mobile rang and he motioned for them to leave.
    The men pulled her to her feet. Looking for a means of escape, Maggie stopped struggling when Bruce covered the phone and said, “If you try to run, we’ll hunt you down and kill you—slowly and painfully. Enjoy your accommodations.”
    She’d been kidnapped, and Josh was responsible?
    Her only friend in the world had done the unthinkable. Three hundred quid was a fortune to someone as poor as they, but still, how could one human being do something so heinous to another?
    Stumbling up the stairs, Maggie kept going over what she knew, looking for answers. What exactly did she know? She knew Josh had a gambling addiction. Always looking for the easy score, stealing from tourists as they bumbled down the streets of the city. Quick money with little or no work, that’s what he was all about. Grateful for a friend after so much time alone on the street, she’d overlooked his problems, ignored the ugliness of the things he did. Turned a blind eye when he came home beaten up because he owed somebody money and couldn’t pay.
    The guy never had the rent money, but she let him stay, feeling sorry for him, believing he had her back. How wrong she was. What he’d done was unforgivable. These men paid money for the identities of those who had died and been resuscitated. But why? Did they believe in ghosts? And what did it matter? The ghosts she’d encountered never hurt anyone. Heck, most people walked right through them. She had to find a way to escape. Josh—he was dead to her. When she escaped, she’d kick his ass for what he’d done.
    If she escaped. These were dangerous men. A sour thought took hold…guess it was good to know what your life was worth.
    Jim