His eyes completely shielded by a pair of opaque Predator sunglasses even though it was almost midnight, Acheron cut loose with a lopsided grin that antagonized him. “I asked you first.”
If it’d been anyone other than Acheron making that smart-aleck comment, Kyrian would give him a higher dose of attitude. But attitude didn’t work on Acheron. It just pissed him off, which was never a good thing. “I found a kid getting a major ass-whipping on the street. I don’t know who he is but I don’t want to leave him here without an adult to watch over him. He was pretty badly mangled in the fight and not old enough to be left alone.”
Acheron tilted his head as if he was listening to voices only he could hear. Kyrian hated whenever he did that. It creeped him out to think what al whispered to the ancient being. Most of al , it creeped him out to think what al the man knew about him that Kyrian had never told him. …
“Name’s Gautier. Nick Gautier. He’s a fourteen-year-old student at St. Richard’s High School on Chartres who lives in the Lower Ninth on Claiborne Ave.”
Kyrian was impressed. “You know him?”
There was no hint of emotion from Acheron. “Never seen him before.”
“Yet you know his name?”
That cocky grin returned to irritate Kyrian. “I know lots of things, General.” Acheron held his hand up and a piece of paper appeared out of nowhere between his fingers. He held it out to him. “His mother’s an exotic dancer named Cherise Gautier. You can reach her here. But be warned. She has a sharp tongue where her son’s concerned and if she thinks you’ve hurt him or caused him to be hurt … she’s going for blood.”
Kyrian took the paper from his hand. “I’d ask you about those Jedi mind tricks of yours, but I know you won’t answer.” Acheron tucked his hands into the pockets of his scuffed jacket that had two chains wrapped around the shoulder of it.
“No comment, but I wil say this.” He paused before he spoke again. “Nick isn’t Jason. It’s a different time and place, General. Don’t let the past ruin your future.”
“Meaning what, oh great Yoda?”
Acheron didn’t elaborate. “You take care of the kid. I’l take care of your patrol tonight. I could use the target practice.”
“Thanks for understanding.” After al , Acheron was his boss and could have easily reamed him for not doing his duties.
Acheron inclined his head before he made his way out of the room and through the double doors that led to the parking lot. And with him went that powerful charge in the air.
Yeah, Acheron was one scary SOB. But Kyrian wasn’t exactly comforting himself. Acheron had trained him and he’d been a master pupil, especial y when it came to kil ing things that shouldn’t be living in the first place.
Glancing at the number in his hand, he pul ed his phone out and cal ed Nick’s mother.
? ? ?
Nick groaned as he blinked open his …
Eye.
Uh, gah, what happened? His head was throbbing and one eye had something over it that prevented him from opening it.
Please don’t tell me I’ve put out an eye. His mom would flip sideways. It was her biggest fear.
Don’t play with that fill-in-the-blank, Nick. You could lose an eye. It was her favorite rant no matter what object he touched, and she’d kil him if he was now a cyclops.
God, I’ll never get a girlfriend now. Women don’t date freaks.
“Careful, kid.”
Nick paused as he realized he was in a hospital room. He tried to sit up, but someone stopped him. His panic increased as he recognized the blond man from the fight. “Where am I?”
“Hospital.”
“Real y? No kidding? And here I thought I was at McDonald’s.” Nick glared at the stupid answer. “I can’t be here. We can’t afford it.”
The man ignored his rampant sarcasm, keeping his features completely impassive. “Don’t worry about the price.
It’s on me.”
Yeah, right. “We don’t take charity.” Nick winced as pain tore through his skul and he realized his arm was in a sling.
Don’t you dare break a bone, Nicky. I can’t afford no doctor bill like that. Whatever you do, don’t get hurt.
Nick felt il over everything that’d happened. “My mom’s going to kil me.”
“I doubt it.”
If the stranger only knew … “Yeah, wel , I don’t. I happen to have known the woman since the day I was born and she’s going to beat me until I bleed.” He looked up at the stranger who’d saved his life.
He was huge. Probably around six-four with short blond hair, he was dressed al in black. High-end black. Nice pants, Ferragamo boots and, unless Nick missed his guess, the button-down shirt was silk with leather cuffs and col ar—not that fake stuff they sold at the Dol ar Store where he and his mother bought clothes. As for his coat, the leather was so soft, it didn’t even make that crackling leather sound.
This guy was definitely loaded.
“Why can’t I move my arm?” Nick was starting to panic.
“You were shot.”
“Where?”
“Your shoulder.”