Read C.O.T.V.H. (Book 2): Judgment for Free Online Page A

chalking his stick.
    Chris pushed his glasses up on his nose and leaned down taking aim.  On his first shot, he sunk two balls with a combo.  Jake realized as those balls cracked together, flawlessly setting up the next shot, that he had just made a big mistake.  This was going to be bad.  "Perfect," he said, shaking his head.  “Just perfect. That was my last twenty.” He had fallen right into their trap.  One by one, Chris ran the table sinking every single ball.  Jake lowered his head in defeat.
    "Eight ball corner pocket," Chris said, finishing the game.
    Jake picked the seventy dollars off the table and handed it to Donnie.  "Well played sir.  Well played," he said.
    "Thank you very much," Donnie grinned handing the ten to Chris.
    Jake shook Chris' hand firmly. "Man that was one hell of a game.  Where did you learn to shoot like that?"
    "I don't know.”  Chris shrugged.  “Lots of practice I guess."
    "I'm sorry I underestimated you.  I'll never do it again that's for sure."  Chris shook Jake’s hand, a smile crawling to his face.
    Just then, Jake heard Buck whisper something to Amber that sounded a lot like ‘dumbass’.  Amber frowned at him and slapped his knee.  Jake gave him a cold stare.  Buck stared right back.  "So Jack, you ever see a vampire?  A real one I mean? None of that movie magic crap."
    So it's gonna be like this is it? Jake thought to himself.   All right then, pal.  Let’s see who the big bad alpha is.  "It's Jake not Jack. Yeah I've seen one Buck.  What kind of name is Buck anyway?  You like frolicking through the woods or something?"   Both Chris and Donnie laughed.
    "It was my Great Grandpa's name.  So tell me, was it scary?  I bet you pissed yourself didn't you?"
    Jake let out a laugh.   This guy is a joke!   If he only knew of the conversations he had with what was probably the oldest living Maker left in the world.
    Tiberius . . . are you alive my friend?  He couldn’t help but wonder.  He had never told a soul about Tiberius.  The ancient Maker had saved Jake’s life, so he figured it was the least he could do.
    "Actually, I have seen a vampire.  More than a few times.”
    “Sure you have,” Buck scoffed.
    “The first time I was only ten years old.  A grunt snuck into my house and nearly killed me.  So yeah, I was a little scared, and yes, I did piss my pants.  The second time there was at least a half dozen of them.  Makers.  One of them was on a chain like some demented junkyard dog.  Fitting I guess.  Before that he was my so-called grandfather’slawyer.”  Jake shrugged.   “What about you Buck?  Have you ever seen a vampire?"
    The group stared at him in awe.  "What was it like?" Amber asked before Buck could answer.
    "It was terrifying,”  he answered truthfully, his eyes meeting hers.  “Like . . . like the grim reaper was standing over me, just waiting to suck my soul into the deepest depths of hell."
    "Seen one?  Hell I've killed one," Buck interjected.
    This time it was Donnie that spoke up.  "Bullshit.  You're telling me you've staked and torched a vampire?"
    "You bet your ass I have.  My Dad took me on a hunt last year with The Slayers . Him and my uncle Tank let me do the honors of sending that fanged bastard back to hell."
    "Your dad took a fourteen year old on a vampire hunt?  Now that's about the dumbest, most reckless thing I have ever heard in my entire life."
    "You calling my dad dumb?"  Buck rose to his feet throwing his Coke can to the ground.  The can landed on its side, the fizzy brown soda poured onto the light brown carpet.
    Donnie stood his ground.  "This is my game room, Buck.  Pick that can up and clean up that spill before I put you on your ass."
    "Why don't you come over here and make me?"
    "Would you two knock it off?"Amber said, rising to her feet.  "Let's go girls.  A little too much testosterone in this room if you ask me."
    Jake noticed Diana give him a slight smile as she walked out of the