Dark Chocolate Demise Read Online Free Page A

Mel was just relieved that it was not right next to theirs. She didn’t think Angie would manage her temper near as well as Mel had.
    She circled the van and glanced in the back door to see how things were going between Tate and Angie. Judging by the way Angie was keeping her axe, rather her back, to him, Mel assumed not well.
    â€œWe need to put the eyeball cupcakes where people can see them,” Oz said. He was fussing with the display case beside the service window. Both Tate and Angie were ignoring him. “Hey! A little help here, please.”
    â€œOh, I’d love to help but I’m sure Tate already has dibs on the eyeball cupcakes,” Angie said.
    â€œNow is that nice?” Tate asked.
    â€œJust as nice as you claiming my best friend for your own,” Angie said.
    Mel backed away from the truck. She was not going in there until they resolved their issue. She supposed it was lame of her to abandon Oz, but since they were fighting about her, she felt her presence would only make things worse.
    She spied their chalkboard sandwich board. Angie had doodled their zombie specialties on the board with prices. Mel lugged it out to the front of the van and propped it up where she figured it would be most visible.
    She wanted to wheel the coffin out front, too, as she figured it would give the undead a nice photo op and bring them in to buy cupcakes. She knew she wasn’t strong enough to carry the coffin herself, but she really didn’t want to get into the bride and groom scuffle again.
    She glanced up to see if there were any festival workers that she could ask for help. Then again, how would she know who was working the zombie walk if they were all dressed as zombies?
    â€œYo, Mel, over here!”
    Mel turned at the sound of her name. She squinted at the crowd, trying to see who was calling her. It took her a few seconds to recognize the two zombies shambling towards her. Al DeLaura, who was dressed as a redneck zombie complete with John Deere cap and grubby white tank top, and Paulie DeLaura, who was wearing a torn suit with one sleeve empty, which made perfect sense when Mel realized he was carrying his “missing” limb in his other hand. Ew.
    â€œAl, Paulie,” she greeted them as she hugged them.
    Paulie patted her on the head with his fake arm, and she straightened her toque and frowned at him. “Stop that.”
    He grinned, showing some blacked-out teeth.
    â€œDo I look as awful as you two?” she asked.
    â€œNo one looks as gruesome as me,” Al declared. “There’s a cash prize for best zombie outfit, and I’m betting on Bubba the redneck zombie to bring it home for me.”
    â€œSince you’re here, how about a favor?” Mel asked. The brothers nodded and Mel gestured for them to follow her.
    When they rounded the cupcake van and saw the coffin, they both went wide-eyed.
    â€œThat’s bringing it to all new levels,” Paulie said in approval.
    â€œAgreed,” Al said. He ran his hand over the blue satin lining. “It’s so plush.”
    â€œCan you help me wheel it to the front?” Mel asked. “I want to prop it up to help lure the zombies in.”
    â€œGreat idea,” Al said. “Where’d you get it?”
    â€œDom knew a guy,” she said. The brothers nodded. Among the seven DeLaura brothers, Dom, Sal, Ray, Joe, Paulie, Tony, and Al, they always “knew a guy.” Mel knew Joe kept tabs on his brothers and their flirtations with breaking the law. Although some of the DeLauras bent the rules a bit, for the most part they stayed within the law, mostly out of respect for Joe since he was a county attorney and all.
    When Mel went to grab a side of the coffin and help, Paulie and Al shooed her away, making it clear that they had it under control. Paulie popped out his real arm and handed her the fake to hold for him.
Ish!
    Mel followed them, directing them to the spot where the coffin