Read Thin Line for Free Online Page A

what grounds?"
    "We're too tall?"
    "I don't want her to think I'm in there because of her."
    "So what if she does? You two'll make up soon enough anyway. Let the healing start tonight, Jack. And let a thick rib-eye and a beer or two be the
    catalyst."
    The longer I stood still, the colder my toes and fingers became. Taking refuge inside, no matter who might be in there, was worth it. So I shrugged, shook
    the snow off my head, and extended a hand toward the door. "Lead the way, big man."
    The white reflecting off the black-tinted glass entrance door transitioned to a mirror image of Bear as he pulled the door open. Stepping in from the
    almost-blinding snow-covered street, the pub's interior seemed as though it was mired in a thick black fog. A few seconds later my eyes adjusted to the dim
    pendant lighting. Normally, I'd perform a scan of the establishment to rank every patron's possible threat level. But right then there was only one threat
    I was concerned with.
    And she wasn't behind the bar.
    Bear walked past me, shrugged his coat off, and took a seat on a stool at the far end of the room, his back to the bar area. His gaze swept the place, then
    settled on me. He gave me a nod before spinning on his stool and knocking on the wooden bar top. A guy I didn't recognize stepped out from the kitchen and
    poured Bear a beer. A few seconds later the smell of the grill hit me and my stomach tightened.
    I joined Bear at the bar and ordered a shot of whiskey. It went down fast and hot. So did the second. I could continue and numb everything, including my
    wits. So I eased off.
    The place was quiet. I'd been in there a few times before and each time there had been a decent-sized crowd. If there was one group I didn't think would be
    affected by the storm, it was the regular patrons of establishments that served alcohol. Yet they weren't present. Perhaps it was too early.
    Bear and I said little. What were we going to talk about? The events of the day? Not in public. It didn't matter. This wasn't a strategy session. We were
    here to recoup.
    "You know that big guy over there?" Bear said.
    I looked at Bear in the mirror. "Which one?"
    "The one with the giant head and fists to match."
    I shifted my gaze to the right and saw the man matching the description. "What about him?"
    "He was pointing over here a few seconds ago. I don't recognize him."
    "I do. His name is Charles something-or-another. Some low-life criminal that works for the Old Man. Well, was low-level, but recently received a
    promotion."
    "How do you know all this?" Bear said.
    I shrugged and looked away. "I know people now."
    "Well, get ready to introduce us. He just got up and is on his way over."
    Heel-to-toe, Charles's footfalls grew nearer. I continued to look away. Once the reverberation in my stool stopped, I knew he had too.
    "Jack Noble, right?"
    I ignored him.
    Two thick fingertips pelted my right shoulder blade. "I'm talking to you. Be best for you to answer me."
    Charles's rise in the Old Man's organization meant he had some clout behind him. But he also had something to prove. According to some, a lot to prove. He
    was a new captain, hustling out on the street to show his dominance, that he was the alpha in all situations now.
    I turned toward Bear, looked over my shoulder, and nodded without making eye contact.
    Charles looked me up and down. "Don't bother getting up or anything."
    "I won't." I spun forward and picked up my drink.
    "Maybe you don't know who I am?" Charles asked.
    Before I could reply, Bear hopped off his stool and placed himself between Charles and me. It was like watching two grizzlies belly up to each other.
    Between the two of them, they had to weigh over six hundred pounds and were at least thirteen feet tall combined. I wasn't sure the floor would be able to
    withstand the impact if they went to the ground.
    "Maybe you don't know who we are," Bear said, as he delivered a pointed finger to Charles's sternum the way cops like to do. "And I