Chapter 5

Julian pressed his fingers against Reaper's shoulder,and Reaper took the hint and dropped to one knee.

"How much do you want?"

Reaper pressed his lips together."I don't want money.I just want to get someone into the Sterling family's private medical center."

"Why do you care so much about the Mother Superior of St.Mary's?"

Reaper hesitated."I was always ill as a kid.I only survived because she looked after me."

At the orphanage,both he and the real Reaper had received special care from the Mother Superior.

Even if Julian checked,the story would hold up.

Better to give Julian something to hold over him than endure endless tests.It would help him secure his place sooner.

"She has ALS.The drug your medical center developed can slow its progression.So...I paid for information on the black market.When I learned Uncle Conrad planned to attack you today,I came running."

Julian hadn't pressed him,yet the man had answered his second question and offered up a vulnerability of his own.

There was more to this man than met the eye!

Julian peeled off the lie-detector card and tossed it into the trash."I'll have someone take her to the medical center and put the best medical team in charge of her care."

Reaper bowed his head."Thank you,Mr.Sterling."

"There's a small room off the master bedroom.You'll move in tonight."

"Yes,sir."

Julian turned his wheelchair and left.

Only once he was gone did Reaper dig the lie-detector card out of the trash.

The instant he got a good look at it,he nearly ground his back teeth to dust.

It was a SIM card!

It wasn't Patrick's clever planning or his own nerve that had gotten him through the test.No...

Julian had played him again!

***

By midnight,wind drove sheets of rain against the glass.The air smelled damp and faintly of the river.

The house was so well soundproofed that he couldn't hear the rain.

The crash from the master bedroom rang out all the more sharply.

Reaper sprang out of bed and,without stopping to pull on a shirt,grabbed his gun and kicked open the master bedroom door.

A scatter of broken glass lay in front of the bed,and a large wet stain spread across the carpet.

The dim yellow glow of the bedside lamp fell across Julian's face.

It was pale and slick with sweat.

He was curled up under the covers,both hands clutching the edge of the comforter so hard his fingers left deep creases in the silk.

The moment their eyes met,he raised a gun."Get out!"

Reaper tucked his own gun into the back of his waistband,walked straight to the bed,and yanked back the covers.

Julian's legs were spasming uncontrollably.

Documents lay scattered beside the pillow.One title was visible beneath the others:Devil's Bend Waterfront Development Proposal.

The ship that exploded five years ago had sunk at Devil's Bend.

The currents there were treacherous,and in all these years the police had never raised the wreck.

Julian had leased the site to investigate the explosion!

Before Reaper could think further,a gun muzzle pressed to his forehead.

"Get out,or I'll shoot you dead!"

Reaper clamped one hand around Julian's ankle and,with the other,pressed hard on a pressure point on the sole of his foot.

Pain shot up from Julian's foot,raising goosebumps all over his body.

He slapped Reaper hard enough to snap his head to the side.

"Did I say you could touch me?"

A bead of blood welled at the corner of Reaper's mouth and slowly rolled down.

Reaper lowered his head and wiped the blood away with gauze."If you can feel pain,there's still a chance of treating it."

He sat on the edge of the bed,rested Julian's feet across his thighs,and began massaging upward from his ankles,inch by inch.

"You're an underground fighter.What would you know!"

Julian pressed on Reaper's wound,trying to make him stop.

Blood seeped through again.

Reaper didn't flinch."A SIM card for a lie detector.Is playing me that much fun,Mr.Sterling?"

"So you're using this to get even?"

Reaper said nothing.He only pressed harder.

The massage forced a response from nerves that retained only a trace of sensation.Julian arched in pain,biting his lip to stay silent.

But his ragged breathing and heaving chest gave him away.

"How does it feel,Mr.Sterling,having to take it while I settle the score?"

Julian lunged and bit down hard on his shoulder.

Already drained by the pain,Julian gradually lost his grip,leaving only a damp ring on Reaper's skin.

The bitten spot burned faintly.Reaper's heart hammered.

Julian slumped against Reaper's shoulder,his breathing even.He seemed to have fallen asleep.

His pajama top hung open,and his hair was plastered wet against his face.

Worried Julian would be uncomfortable,Reaper supported the back of his head and carefully settled him in the bathtub.

Water began to trickle,and Julian slowly opened his eyes.

"Call me when you're done,Mr.Sterling."Reaper started to rise.

At that moment,the door swung open and a figure slipped inside.

Julian raised his hand and fired.

The shot cracked beside Reaper's ear.