Chapter 2 - The Boy Who Saw Too Much
Eli's grandfather refused immediately.
"No."
Walter Bennett was sixty-seven, broad-shouldered, gray-bearded, and unimpressed by expensive suits.
We stood inside the hospital's private consultation room.
Walter pointed at me.
"My grandson saved your life. That's where our involvement ends."
"I wish it did."
"Then make it end."
Gabriel closed the blinds.
Walter's expression hardened.
"What exactly are you people?"
I answered calmly.
"People you normally don't want knowing your address."
"Great."
Eli sat beside Goliath.
He looked between us.
"Grandpa?"
Walter softened instantly.
"Everything's fine."
"No," I said. "It isn't."
Walter glared.
"Don't scare him."
"He deserves the truth."
"He's nine."
"And someone may already be coming for him."
The room went silent.
Eli stopped petting Goliath.
Walter stepped toward me.
"Explain."
"The people who tried to kill me know I survived."
"So?"
"They may know Eli found me."
"Why would they care?"
"Because frightened men eliminate uncertainty."
Walter's face drained.
"You brought this to my family."
"No. My brother did."
"Brother?"
"Damian."
Eli spoke quietly.
"Your brother buried you?"
I looked at him.
"Yes."
"That's messed up."
Gabriel glanced away.
Walter almost smiled despite himself.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Roman."
Damian's voice.
My younger brother.
Smooth.
Confident.
"Good to hear you breathing."
"Disappointed?"
"Surprised."
"Same thing."
Damian laughed.
"You always were difficult to kill."
My eyes moved toward Eli.
"What do you want?"
"Come home."
"Why?"
"We can discuss the misunderstanding."
"You buried me alive."
"A family disagreement."
Walter stared at me.
I continued.
"Stay away from the boy."
Silence.
Then Damian laughed softly.
"There it is."
My blood went cold.
"You know."
"Nine-year-old Elijah Bennett. Lives with Walter Bennett outside Hollow Falls. Golden retriever named Goliath."
Walter lunged toward the phone.
"You son of a—"
Gabriel restrained him.
Damian continued.
"The child complicated things."
"He knows nothing."
"I can't take that chance."
"If anyone touches him—"
"What?"
Damian's voice sharpened.
"You'll kill me?"
"Yes."
No shouting.
No threat repeated.
Just the answer.
Damian went quiet.
Then he whispered, "Come back to New York alone, Roman. Tonight. Maybe the child gets to grow up."
The call ended.
Walter stared at me.
"You fix this."
"I will."
"How?"
I looked at Gabriel.
"Safe house."
Gabriel shook his head.
"Damian knows most of them."
"Not Raven Ridge."
His eyebrows lifted.
"You haven't used that property in twelve years."
"Exactly."
Walter folded his arms.
"We're not going anywhere with you."
A gunshot cracked somewhere outside.
Everyone froze.
Gabriel pulled Walter and Eli away from the windows.
Hospital alarms erupted.
Goliath began barking.
A second shot shattered the consultation-room window.
Glass exploded across the floor.
I dragged Eli down.
"Stay behind me!"
Walter stared at the broken window.
His argument ended immediately.
Gabriel spoke into his phone.
"Lockdown. North corridor. Now."
Men from my security team flooded the hallway.
I looked at Walter.
"Still think I'm exaggerating?"
His face tightened.
"No."
I stood.
Pain shot through my legs.
Gabriel grabbed my arm.
"You're in no condition—"
"Get them downstairs."
"What about you?"
"I'm coming."
Eli looked up.
"Mister Roman?"
"Yeah?"
"Are those people trying to kill me?"
I couldn't lie.
"Yes."
His lip trembled.
I crouched despite the pain.
"But they're going to fail."
"How do you know?"
"Because now they have to get through me."
Goliath stepped beside me.
I looked at the dog.
"And him."
Eli managed a tiny smile.
Outside, another shot echoed.
May you like
The war had reached Hollow Falls.
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