When the Devil Comes to Call (A Lars and Shaine Novel Book 2) Read Online Free

been.
    A sharp bite of wind greeted them from a gap in the walkway as they exited the plane.
    “Jesus Christ,” Shaine said. “What the frigging hell?”
    Lars gave her a look to remind her of their no bitching deal. She made him stop at an airport gift shop and buy a thick hooded sweatshirt with a silkscreened picture of the Statue of Liberty and the words “Empire State” written underneath.
    Five o’clock and it was already dark. Lars knew the connections to take the train up to White Plains where Nikki lived, but he also knew how long it would take. They collected their bags and stood in line for a cab. Lars could tell Shaine wanted to complain about the cold, but she held it together.
    They got into a cab and Lars gave him the address upstate.
    “That’s gonna cost you,” the cabbie said.
    “I got it,” Lars said pressing a wad of bills against the plexiglass partition.
    “An extra hundred. For the drive back,” the cab driver said.
    “Fine,” Lars said. He got the feeling the cabbie wanted Lars to skip the ride, the money wasn’t worth it to him to drive so damn far.
    The cab driver shook his head and drove away into the bitter night. Lars made him pull over at a mall he spotted north of the city, paid the man $200 to wait for them as they each bought enough outwear to climb Mt. Everest.
    They arrived at Nikki’s house a little after seven thirty.
    Nikki had lived in Queens for a while, near to his operation. He grew up on the streets there, never thought he’d leave. Then time came when he couldn’t walk down the street without getting hassled by some greaser from the old neighborhood hitting him up for a favor, or some young gun looking for a way up in the organization. He also started to see the advantage to acting like a CEO. None of those guys lived in the city, unless it was a Wall Street type who had a six million dollar penthouse. And business was good, but not that good. So he packed up and moved to the suburbs.
    The house was big. Seven bedrooms, pool out back, big fountain in the front. It took Nikki years to adjust to the sound of crickets instead of car alarms, to silence instead of sirens. But thirty years ago when he started to feel older, nightclubs didn’t interest him, being seen didn’t interest him. His wife said it would be good for the baby. His son. The one who would grow up to betray him like some community theater Greek tragedy.
    Nikki made it to the city often enough and his absence made his myth grow a little taller. Now, he never left the house. Trapped behind well-groomed shrubbery.
    A guy bulging out of a dark suit met Lars and Shaine at the door. Lars noted his hip holster tucked under his suit jacket. He wondered if Shaine made the same observation. The guy was pro wrestler big with a Marine haircut and Long Island accent.
    “You’re the guy, huh?” he said.
    “Yeah,” Lars said. “I’m the guy.”
    The big man seemed unimpressed. Lars thought about spending the four seconds it might take to relieve the bodyguard of his firearm and put it to his temple, but he was tired from the flight.
    “Anthony,” the man said, offering a hand. Lars shook, assuming the man knew his name already. He didn’t introduce Shaine.
    Anthony gave an up and down look to Shaine, but Lars couldn’t tell his evaluation, then ushered them through into the dark, modestly opulent office.
    Nikki stood up from behind his desk. The three hired gunmen in the room knew Lars was a man to be respected. Nikki didn’t stand for anyone these days. In the few steps it took to get around the side of the desk, Nikki was already wheezing.
    “Lars, how the hell are you?” Nikki said. “Jesus H, look at you. All tan and shit. Retirement, huh? Should have been me.”
    “Nikki, good to see you.” They embraced, slapped backs. “Nikki, this is Shaine.” Beyond her name, she needed no introduction. Nikki knew how they met.
    “My goodness,” Nikki said. “Welcome to my home. I’m glad Lars