Dragon Gate (11 page)

“Whatever,” Graham said. “I need to go to The Steam Room. Kelly, you can accompany me. Shade, you take Rayna home. Lucas, if your kids want to come over, that’s fine. Your entire family is always welcome.”

“Thanks. I’ll send the kids over tonight. If I know Thomas, he’ll want to save me for last, but if he can’t get to you or Rayna, he may come for my wife and kids sooner. Before you go, how did the doctors react?”

“We have three who will definitely sign on. I suspect a few more will come around when it sinks in that we’re providing a state-of-the-art research facility and a hefty salary. Two passed because they don’t have time. Most are going to get back to me next week. I think we’re set.”

They kept talking but I stopped paying attention. Instead, I thought about all these not-quite people being around. That primal prejudice was tinged with a note of fear, but I tried to keep it buried. I didn’t want to be that guy.

Still, I wondered if I should pick up a football helmet to wear when I slept. I didn’t want anyone trying to eat my brains.

KELLY CHAN

“Your friend has issues,” Graham told me as we rode in his limo. We were on our way to The Steam Room, the fitness center he and Rayna ran.

“Jonathan has a lifetime subscription,” I said, “but he’s the best man I’ve ever known.”

“Why are you with him?”

“Say what you will about him, but he saved my life and helped me become the person I am today. I don’t care if you like him. Just know this: Rayna will be safe with him.”

“He would sacrifice his life for her?”

“He will protect her,” I said. I didn’t want to tell him that Jonathan wouldn’t sacrifice himself for her. That wouldn’t do her any good. If he died, whoever killed him would then kill Rayna. To protect someone, you have to be alive. You’d think that would be common sense and obvious to everyone, but people rarely seem to see things like that clearly.

The driver pulled into a shopping center and dropped us off at the front entrance to The Steam Room. I got out of the car and scanned the people in sight for any danger. My eyes swept the rooftops and the parking lot. All clear. I escorted Graham to the door.

Posters of men with flexed muscles and glistening bodies plastered the windows. The posters of the women were less muscled, but definitely the athletic type with the sultry eyes that Jonathan always went for. The slogans read,
No Pain, Still Gain,
and
Let Off a Little Steam.

I pointed at them. “Cute.”

“They’re also true,” Graham said.

I entered the center before him and saw no threats. I allowed him to follow me inside.

“Shall I take you to your office?”

“I’m safe in here.”

The temperature hovered in the nineties. The inside was huge with various body-sculpting machines arranged in rows. Over each workout station, a misty steam drizzled down on the people exercising.

I gave Graham a grin. “Take a shower while you work out?”

“Not exactly. We have a particular blend of chemicals in the steam. All harmless, I assure you. In any case, the chemicals ease the lactic acid, so people don’t hurt from the workout and they don’t pay the price a few days later. They can work out as often as they like. We do limit people to an hour a day, though. You should try it.”

“I don’t feel pain.”

“You’re also in incredible physical condition.”

“Always.”

We moved through the heated room toward his office.

“Why so hot?” I asked.

“Helps people sweat out toxins.”

I looked at the people as we passed. They all worked hard. They all looked almost euphoric. I was probably the only person in the building who would welcome a bit of pain. I figured there were no masochists present. I hadn’t felt any physical pain since I was eight years old. You wouldn’t think you’d miss it, but pain reminds you that you’re alive.

When we entered Graham’s office, I felt like we’d stepped into a blast furnace.

“Your heating bill must be enormous,” I said, thinking Jonathan would have had a great joke about it. Well, the old Jonathan would have. The new Jonathan probably wouldn’t make a comment unless I prodded him.

“I like it hot. Where I come from, the temperature rarely dips below ninety.”

“So you chose to live in Colorado?”

He shrugged. “I didn’t choose. My parents and Lucas made that decision. I simply never left.” He sat at his desk and turned on his computer. “I’ll be awhile. If you want to look around, feel free. I’d appreciate it if you remained on the ground floor once you’ve cleared the building completely, though. The Upper Echelon is for private workouts. I don’t mind you checking it, but those customers pay extra for privacy.”

I glanced around the room. There were no windows and only the one door. “I’ll keep you in sight, so unless you’re going upstairs or I sense danger from up there, I couldn’t care less about whatever goes on in the Upper Echelon. I’ll give it a quick check but that’s all.”

“Thank you.”

I cruised through the building, upper and lower levels. The upstairs was vacant at the moment. Once I’d verified things were safe, I took a position next to Graham’s door. Waiting was easy. I simply stood and watched the people working to tone their bodies.

The heat and humidity didn’t bother me. Evidently it didn’t bother anyone else either. I suppose that particular blend of chemicals worked wonders on people. Would it be as effective on someone new to working out? I scanned the crowd and didn’t see anyone who looked to be out of shape.

Perhaps the Upper Echelon was for new people who were flabby and too embarrassed to be seen in the presence of these hardbodies. That could explain the privacy. I didn’t think anyone here would object to an overweight person trying to improve him- or herself, but a few of the women I train would be self-conscious and intimidated by this place.

Some of the women were genetically predisposed to be heavy, but some put on weight because they didn’t want their husbands to find them attractive. It helped them insulate themselves to the violence and cruelty. I taught them to fight back and to respect themselves. The changes made life worth living. Helping them gave me a positive purpose.

I wondered if Graham and Rayna felt that way about the people they helped here in The Steam Room or even at the hospice. I understood why Jonathan reacted the way he did to Lucas, but I saw things differently. If something that seemed bad could be used for good, it was fine with me. Change was often worth it.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

JONATHAN SHADE

Esther kept tabs on Rayna while Brand and I walked the estate. Lucas’s kids hadn’t arrived yet, but we expected them within the hour. The temperature topped out in the low forties, so I wore my leather jacket. Brand wore a long-sleeved shirt, but he didn’t feel the cold.

I pointed out where the security cameras were and how I wanted him to adjust them to give better coverage of the grounds. Brand nodded and kept saying it would be no problem. He might have to make a run to the hardware store for a particular mount, but he had a few cameras in his truck and plenty of tools. Evidently Kelly had already mentioned most of this to him.

“Is that all?” he asked as we finished our assessment.

“Yeah. Why? You think I missed something?”

He shook his head. “I want to talk to you about something else.”

“You and Kelly having issues again?”

“I want to know how you managed to beat me yesterday.”

“Luck.”

“Bullshit. You’re faster. And I can see in your eyes, you’re meaner. You’re not the guy I knew a few months ago.”

“Yes, I am.”

“Don’t shit a shitter, Shade.”

“Say that ten times fast.”

“How did you do it?”

I sighed. “Don’t worry about it.”

“I want a rematch.”

“Fine, we can set something up after we deal with the Marshall Clan.”

“I was thinking right here, right now.” He took up a fighting stance.

“We’re working,” I said and turned away. I started back toward the house, but Brand grabbed me.

I expected it, of course, so when I spun around, I was ready for his attack. I blocked the first and second punches, but the third came a lot closer. I let his left fist flow past then trapped his biceps with my right arm, and before he could react, I cupped his chin with my left palm and threw him to the ground.

“We don’t have time for this, Brand.”

He pulled his legs to his chest and did a nice kip-up to his feet.

“I do hope we’re not interrupting anything,” a man said.

Brand and I spun to see two men standing on the security wall at the edge of the property. One held a bow with the arrow already nocked and aimed at us. The other held a sword. Both appeared to be in their early to mid twenties.

“As a matter of fact, you
are
interrupting,” Brand said.

The older of the two, the guy with the sword, dropped to the ground and stepped toward us. The archer kept him covered. “My apologies, good sirs. I’m here to see Rayna Noble, the mistress of the house.”

“You call this a house?” Brand asked gesturing at the mansion. “That’s like calling the
Titanic
a rowboat.”

“I don’t understand what you just said, so I’ll repeat that I’m here for Rayna.”

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“My name is Richard Marshall.”

“And I should care about that why?” I asked as I unzipped my jacket halfway. I wanted easy access to the Beretta seated in my shoulder holster.

“Because in my realm, you should kneel before me.”

“Good thing this isn’t your realm.”

“Do not stand between me and Rayna. I’m not here for you.”

“Oh, but I’m here for you,” I said.

“I will give you one last opportunity to step aside.”

“Or what?”

He shrugged. “Adam?”

The archer loosed an arrow.

The arrow plunged into my chest. It drove me back a step as the pain registered. I grunted with the impact, glad it missed my heart. As I reached for my gun, Brand sprang into action.

He rushed forward, plowing into the swordsman. The archer shot two arrows into Brand’s neck.

By then, I had my gun out. It hurt to raise my arm, but like a football player, I knew I had to play through the pain. I fired twice, center mass. Adam dropped the bow and fell backward off the stone wall. I heard the thump on the ground on the other side of the wall.

Brand had Richard pinned to the wall.

“You all right, Shade?” Brand asked.

“I’ll live.”

I approached Richard.

“We’re going to kill you all,” Richard said.

“Is that a fact?” Brand asked.

“One you can depend on.”

Brand laughed. “I like him,” he said. “He’s got spunk.”

“There’s nothing you can do to stop us. We will keep coming until you are all dead.”

“And here I thought you weren’t here for us,” Brand said, reaching for Richard’s sword.

“Let him keep it,” I said.

Brand looked at me as if I were crazy. “You serious?”

I nodded. “I’ve got this.”

“You’ve got an arrow in your chest,” Brand said.

“You have two in your neck. What’s your point?”

“I don’t feel pain.”

“Let go of him, Brand. Really. I’ve got this.”

He sighed. “If you say so.”

Brand let go of Richard and stepped to the side, getting a bit of distance. I stood a few paces away from Richard, gun in hand. Adrenaline pumped through me, and I barely noticed the arrow or the pain. “Reach for that sword, and I’ll shoot you dead.”

Esther popped into sight to my left. “We heard the shots. Is everyth— You’ve been shot!”

“Go back inside, Esther.”

Richard looked around then shook his head, confused. “Esther?”

“Go back to Rayna, Esther. Go now.”

She hesitated then popped away.

I looked into Richard’s eyes. “You assholes need to back off. Crawl back into whatever hole you crawled out of and leave Rayna and Graham alone.”

“We will never leave them alone.”

“Do you want to live, Richard?”

He swallowed. “It is my honor and privilege to slay Rayna today. You should not have involved yourself.”

“Bit late for that.” I reached up and yanked the arrow out of my chest. It hurt like a motherfucker, but I made sure not to wince or show any reaction to the pain. I held the arrow up, examined the bloody tip, then turned my gaze back to Richard. “I’m going to give you one opportunity to get out of here alive.”

“My mission is not yet fulfilled.”

“Nor will it
be
fulfilled. If you agree to leave now and give your father a message, I’ll allow you to leave here in one piece.” I kept the arrow up, so he’d stare at the blood dripping down the shaft.