Free Deep Cover by Kimberly Van Meter Page A

the bar?”
    Angelo pointed. “That way, my friend. However,” he added with a wink, “it’s time for you to graduate to the big kid table.”
    “Yeah? Intrigued. Tell me more.”
    Angelo’s wide grin was as much an invitation as a warning. “Come. I’ll show you,” he said, pulling away from Brandi to lead the way.
    Shaine gave one final glance toward the bathroom where Poppy supposedly was, but had to trust that she could handle herself.
    They walked up a short flight of stairs to what appeared to be an old office from when the building had once been occupied, and stepped inside.
    Angelo closed the door and the prickles danced on the back of his neck when he saw Poppy standing there with Capri, waiting for them.
    “Private party?” he drawled, trying to sound casually interested when he had a bad feeling about this little get-together.
    Angelo dragged a metal chair over and straddled it, resting his forearms on the back with a grin. “We haven’t had the opportunity to properly welcome you into the Lit family and we’re about to rectify that right now.”
    “Why does this sound like a hazing about to happen?”
    “No worries,” Angelo assured him. “You’re going to like this hazing.”
    Poppy cast an uncertain look toward Capri. “What’s going on?”
    “We like you,” Capri said as if that answered all questions. “And if you go through with this...we’ll like you even more because we’ll know that we can trust you.”
    “What is this? High school. C’mon, I came for a good time, not stupid games,” Shaine retorted, hoping to put an end to whatever was about to happen. True, if he was alone, he’d go feetfirst into whatever shit was about to go down, but he could practically feel Poppy’s apprehension even though she was doing a decent job of hiding it. “This is starting to feel like a drag.”
    But Poppy surprised him by stepping forward with a shrug, saying, “Let’s do this. I came for a good time. I’m down for whatever. Just get on with it already.”
    Capri giggled. “I told you she was fun.” Then she popped from her perch on the cluttered table and disappeared for a moment, only to reappear with something clenched in her fists. “Hands out,” she instructed with an impish smile that was half adult and half kid but all sorts of messed up.
    Poppy thrust her palm out, her chin set. Shaine had no choice but to follow suit. If Poppy was going for it, he would, too.
    Capri dropped a tiny pink pill into each of their palms.
    “Bottoms up,” Angelo said with a grin.
    Poppy didn’t hesitate and threw the tiny pill back and washed it down with a swallow of beer. She looked to Shaine. “Your turn, big guy.”
    Ah, hell. He knew it was Bliss. Things were about to get sidewise.
    “Let the good times roll,” he murmured as he tossed it back.
    Capri cheered while Brandi smirked, her dark eyes watching their every move.
    She’s the one to watch out for.
    “So what was the point of all that?” Shaine asked, effecting a bored expression. “I’m no virgin to Molly.”
    “It’s not Molly.” Capri giggled. “Welcome to Bliss.”
    Confirmation .
    “It’s going to hit you fast,” Angelo said, rising to bring Shaine and Poppy close. “You’re our newest family members and we look out for our own. But we have to know you can hang. So this is your official job interview.”
    “Funny, I thought I already had the job,” Shaine quipped.
    “Naww, that was just the preliminary. This is the real deal. We’re a special group here at Lit. It takes a special kind of person to fit in.”
    Poppy teased Shaine, “Afraid you might fail the job interview?”
    “I never was one for tests,” Shaine said, but he was already starting to feel different. His mouth began to taste like the Sahara. Well, that much was similar to Molly.
    Shaine shoved his hand through his hair, impatient. “I need a beer. This shit’s going to dry me out.”
    “First...we have to seal the deal,” Capri said,