Chapter 6

Sonny pushed the door open and froze where he stood.

Everyone in the Sterling household knew Mr.Sterling allowed no one to touch him except to help him in and out of a car.

Yet here he was,letting Reaper help him bathe!

At Sonny's searching look,Julian raised his gun and fired.

Bang!

A fresh bullet hole appeared in the wall.

A cold sweat broke out across Sonny's forehead.He was about to back out when Julian stopped him.

"What is it?"

Sonny looked up.Reaper's hand was still gripping Julian's wrist.

That was the only reason Mr.Sterling's shot had gone wide.

"Mr.Sterling,Uncle Conrad crawled out of that fire in the Old Quarter.He's been taken to the council of elders."

"The elders want a meeting at the memorial hall tomorrow...They say we should settle this peacefully."

The gun spun once around Julian's finger.

"Uncle Conrad secretly bought weapons to kill me,and now they want me to make peace?"

Sonny didn't dare breathe.Then Reaper stood up."Mr.Sterling,call me when you're done."

Reaper backed out,crowding Sonny out the door along with him.

The door closed softly,and the patter of running water started up.

Sonny pointed at the door."You're not needed here anymore."

He swept his jacket back,revealing the grip of his gun.

Reaper drew his own gun and slapped it down on the cabinet beside him.

"Conrad wouldn't need an extra arms shipment just to stage an ambush outside the memorial hall."Reaper paused."He has a second move planned.For tonight."

"I'm new.I don't know the men yet.I'll stay with Mr.Sterling tonight.You secure the grounds."

"I take orders from Mr.Sterling.No one else."Sonny's voice was cold."Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Conrad has the elders'backing.If Mr.Sterling is gone,he becomes head of the family."

Reaper stood taller and broader than Sonny.One step brought Sonny into his shadow.

"If Conrad takes over,we're both dead.I'm an outsider.You were born into this family's service.How will you answer to Richard Sterling when you join him?"

Sonny opened his mouth.

Not a single word of argument came out.

"If you can't make the call,I'll ask Mr.Sterling."With that,Reaper grabbed the doorknob.

Sonny pulled his gun and pressed it against Reaper's chest."You're not going in!"

"Sonny!"

Julian's voice carried a faint echo.

"His orders are mine."

"Yes,sir!"Sonny glared at Reaper,holstered his gun,and left.

***

Early the next morning,Julian ate breakfast on the terrace while Reaper stood against the wall.

The rain had washed away the smell of blood,but not the reek of gunpowder hanging in the air.

The fountain,the statues,and the tree trunks were riddled with bullet holes,and the flower beds were heaped with broken branches and torn leaves.

Seized weapons were piled at the foot of the wall,and beside them lay row after row of bodies under white sheets.

Sonny approached quietly."Mr.Sterling,the car is ready."

"There are two routes to the memorial hall.Put some men in my clothes and send them down both.As for you..."

The rest was for Sonny's ears alone.

Sonny nodded,then asked,"How will you get there?"

Julian acted as if he hadn't heard and turned his gaze to Reaper."Let's go."

"Yes,sir."

Reaper pushed the wheelchair straight toward the helipad on the roof.

Sonny watched them leave,bitter with jealousy.

The place at Mr.Sterling's side was his!

***

Incense curled through the family memorial hall.Tablets bearing the Sterling ancestors'names lined the altar.

A long table stood in the center of the room,with ten elders seated along both sides.

Conrad was wrapped in thick gauze from the neck down.

He occupied the head of the table,tapping his knuckles against his phone case as if waiting for news.

Reaper wheeled Julian inside.The moment they passed Conrad,Julian gave a light cough."Now!"

Reaper strode forward,twisted Conrad's arm,and dragged him out of the chair,pinning him to the table.

Conrad's thugs drew their guns and aimed at Reaper.

Reaper drew Conrad's own gun and pressed it to the back of his head."Drop them,or I blow his head off."

"Don't you dare!"Conrad struggled against Reaper's hold."He wouldn't dare touch me!"

Reaper cracked him across the head with the butt of the gun.

Blood ran down Conrad's forehead and dripped onto the table,slowly spreading.

Reaper's lips curled."I just did.What are you going to do about it?"

Conrad wiped the blood from his face."Get him!Chop him up and feed him to the dogs!"

The thugs closed in at once.

Keeping the gun trained on Conrad,Reaper drew a grenade with his free hand and caught the pin between his teeth."Anyone ready to die?Come on,then."

The thugs stepped back on instinct,but none of them lowered their guns.

One wrong move,and someone was going to fire.

Bernard Fletcher struck the floor with his agarwood cane."No bloodshed in the memorial hall.Those are the rules!"

Julian pressed a button,and his electric wheelchair came to a stop at the head of the table.

At that moment,he was no more than three steps from the grenade.

Julian faced the room,his gaze cutting across the assembled men."People make the rules.I'm the one in this seat now.That means I make them."

"I thought Uncle Conrad wanted peace.Then he sent men to kill me,again and again.If my people hadn't been so capable,I wouldn't be here to see you."

Julian turned to Conrad."You tried to overthrow the head of the family.Do you deny it?"

Conrad clicked his tongue."My people acted on their own.I didn't know a thing."

"If you can't control your men,Uncle Conrad,I'll control them for you."

Julian swiped a fingertip through the blood on the table and rubbed it between his fingers."Blood is thicker than water...I want every business you own.I want you out of the country,and I never want you coming back."

Conrad pounded the table in fury."And if I refuse?"

"Then I wipe out your whole household.Not even the dogs will live."

Conrad thrust his chin out and bellowed,"What are you waiting for?There are only two of them.Kill them!"

The thugs closed in again.