Lucio took a quick glance at Genevieve next to him. Her red hair was flying around her face. Her mouth was open in shock and her eyes were huge.

Lucio would give anything to save Genevieve's son. He would give himself for the boy's safety, and might yet have to. And to thinkthis had nothing to do with Jason. It was Lucio's battle, Lucio's problem, Lucio's past that had brought all this on. But the innocent boy might end up paying for Lucio's selfishness with his life.

If something happened to Jason, Genevieve would never forgive him. He would never forgive himself.

Tell me! Genevieve screamed over the wind and the sound of the high-performance engine. What's going on?

Lucio shook his head, dreading having to say it out loud. The best thing you can do is call the police, he told her, his voice calm. Piers's address is 890 Green Street, number eight.

Genevieve had her phone out, already dialing 911. Tears were rolling down her face. Do you think he's hurt? Has there been an accident?

Lucio took a corner way too fast, and the screech of the tires had other drivers pulling to the curb.

What are you doing to my fucking car? Larry screamed from the back. Where are we going? What's wrong with Jason?

I don't know! Lucio yelled over his shoulder, taking the entrance ramp to the 101. I just pray we're not too late.

Lucio heard Genevieve screaming into the phone that she believed her son was in danger, but that, no, there was no fire, no medical emergency, or crime that she was aware of.

Just tell them there's been a break-in! Josh called out from the back. A man with a gun! Give them the address!

She did it, groaned in frustration, then hung up.

This is a nightmare! she yelled. I think I'm going to be sick.

Lucio felt his cell phone vibrating in his pocket. He took one hand off the wheel and fished it out, tossing it to Ginger. What does it say? he shouted.

She clicked on the phone, turning slowly to Lucio. It says, All is well. No need to come.

Genevieve was not the only one on the edge of being sick. Are the words spelled out? Lucio shouted.

What?

The words in the messageare they spelled out instead of the Host! I do not know the word!

Abbreviated?

Yes!

Genevieve looked again. It's all spelled out. No abbreviations. Why?

He shuddered. That last message had been from Piers, not Jason. He was sure of it. And it had been a warning to stay away.

Tell me now! she screamed. What does this have to do with my son?

No! Stop! Please!

Piers had him by the hair. With one hand, he dragged Jason backward through the living room, through the kitchen, and toward the balcony doors. With his other hand, he pressed the barrel of a gun into Jason's skull.

Jason didn't know which sensation was worsethe searing pain he felt from the way his hair was being pulled or the press of the gun against his head.

Please don't do anything to me! Jason said, gasping for air, struggling in vain to find a foothold that would support some of his weight. I'm a kid! I haven't done anything!

Shut your fucking mouth, Piers said, his voice soft and cold. If you do not shut your fucking mouth I will cut out your tongue. At that moment, as he dragged Jason past the kitchen counter, Piers grabbed a serrated kitchen knife from the cutting board and shoved it in his belt loop, then put the gun back to his head. Do not think I won't.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have been looking through your stuff but you said I could go in there! You told me I could see your passport!

Piers yanked harder on his hair.

Whatever happened between you and Lucio, you can work it out! Lucio will understand. He's your friend!

Piers made a grunting sound. He is not my friend. I despise him for what he did to Sylvie and me. He is a selfish, foul excuse for a human being. Piers unlatched the glass sliding door to the balcony and flung it wide.

I don't understand, Jason said. He raised his hands to his hair, trying to pull in the opposite direction to reduce the pain. What did he ever do to you?

Piers slapped Jason's hands away with the gun. Shut up.

Jason knew Piers had begun crying. He heard a low weeping sound and he felt how the man's body jerkedhe felt it all the way to the roots of his hair.

Help me, Piers, Jason said, thinking he had to find some way to distract him. If Lucio's such a rotten guy, my mom needs to know, right? I need to stop him before he hurts my mom.

She already knows, was his reply.

The heels of Jason's athletic shoes got caught in the metal doorframe to the balcony. To dislodge him, Piers pulled on his hair so hard that some of it tore from his scalp.

Ahhhhh! he cried out.

Piers threw him against the railing and hit him across the face with the butt of the gun. A gash opened up across his cheek and brow and it hurt so bad that Jason thought he would pass out.

Please, please Jason sobbed.

It wasn't enough that Lucio poisoned every day Sylvie and I had together, Piers whispered, bending close to Jason's face. He even ruined the last few seconds we had on this earth. He left me nothing'nothing 'I could call my own. He left his stink on everything! For twenty years I've been living with the rotten stink of Lucky Montevez!

Piers pulled Jason's hair again, then shoved his face into the concrete floor. Piers put his big foot on the back of his head, and pressed the gun into his neck.

Please don't hurt me, Jason repeated. He felt dizzy. He couldn't think right. I'm just a kid.

Sylvie was only forty-two, and she is dead.

I'm sorry she died, Jason said, gasping for air. Then he heard the click of the gun. That's when he knew he was going to die, too, unless he did something immediately.

You can't shoot me, Piers, Jason said. This is a crowded neighborhood. Everyone will hear it. You'll get the chair.

Who said I planned on shooting you? he asked, laughing.

That's when Jason felt his body being hefted off the concrete. Suddenly, he was on his feet. But he was so dizzy. So dizzy and then he was being bent backward over the railing. All he saw was the blue of the sky, the edge of a few buildings, and an upside-down piece of Chinatown way off in the distance.

We cannot wait for the elevator. Lucio ran through the first-floor lobby, using a key to open the glass doors to the inside of the apartment building. Josh was right behind him, and he held the door for Ginger and Larry. They began to race up the stairs, but Lucio got ahead of all of them.

Hold up, for God's sake! Larry complained, last in line, struggling to keep the ice on his face while navigating four flights of steps.

I will go in alone! Lucio ordered, now a full flight ahead of Ginger. Do not come in after me. Just keep calling the police. I need to deal with Piers alone!

That's my fucking boy up there! Larry said, nearly stumbling as he rounded a landing, his hand slipping from the banister. I'll do whatever I want!

Ginger breathed hard. Her legs burned. She had forgotten how drastically her body could change once a tiny life began to grow inside her.

She knew Lucio had reached Piers's apartment, because the pounding sound of Josh's and Lucio's footsteps had stopped. Once she reached the top floor, she saw them huddled in front of a door, listening. Lucio had the key in the lock. She tiptoed toward them.

Lucio placed his finger to his lips and then pointed at Josh and Ginger. Stay here, he whispered. Do not come in, whatever happens. He stopped for a fraction of a second. Keep your mom safe, he told Josh.

I will, he said.

I love you, he told Ginger.

Then he went inside.

She put a hand over her mouth in fear. She closed her eyes and said a very short prayer: God, let them be okaylet Jason and Lucio be okay.