The guys around him burst outughing. "You mean the Chester family''s dog? Sure, that thing''s vicious, but it''s still just a dog. Put a leash on it and it''ll roll over. Seriously, Grayson, youe from money too-why are you yingckey to some mutt called Milo? No wonder everyone in North America''sughing at you."


    Grayson spat on the ground. "Shows what you know about my brother. Touch me again and you''ll regret it-your whole family will! And your kids? They''ll be born with-never mind! Idiots. Just wait till I get my shot at revenge."


    He''d been mouthing off for three hours straight. The guys, all with murder in their eyes, red at him and loaded their guns.


    "You really want to die, huh?"


    But before anyone could pull the trigger, one of them yelped in pain-someone had made a move first.


    "There''s someone outside! Go check!"


    Four of them rushed out, leaving two behind to guard Grayson.


    Hope flickered in Grayson''s eyes. "That''s gotta be my brother!"


    The guys at the entrance barely made it out before shots rang out. They dropped like flies, turning the doorway into a shooting gallery. The two left inside realized things were going south fast. They yanked Grayson up and shoved him in front of them as a shield.


    "Who''s out there? Show yourself!"


    Grayson felt the cold muzzle of a gun pressed to his head as they edged out of the room.


    It was pitch ck outside-you couldn''t see a thing.


    ra crouched in the shadows, narrowed her eyes, picked her moment, and took out both men in one smooth move.


    As their bodies hit the ground, Grayson stared around, stunned. "Charles? Is that you? It''s me, Grayson-your boy!"


    He barely got the words out before a woman stepped from the darkness. And not just any woman-she was stunning.


    Grayson blinked hard, sure he was seeing things. What was a woman like her doing in a ce like this?


    ra walked over, sliced through the ropes on his wrists with her knife, and asked, "How do you know Charles?"


    Grayson shot her a wary look. "Who are you? What do you want with my brother? I''m not saying a word. Even if you kill me, you''ll get nothing from me."


    ra sighed. So, not only was this kid pampered, he clearly wasn''t the sharpest tool in the shed.


    She rubbed her temples, then called quietly into the dark, "Clean up the mess. We''ll spend the night here."


    Right after she spoke, Grayson pped his forehead. "Wait-you''re ra!"


    "You know me?"


    "Of course! From the underground fight club-"


    He stopped short when another man stepped out of the shadows. Grayson stumbled back, his face going ghost-white.


    ra nced over, confused. Was Dn really that terrifying?


    Grayson kept backing up, nearly fusing himself to the cave wall, wishing he could just vanish.


    Oh no. Why did it have to be this guy-the Grim Reaper himself?


    A chill ran down his spine. Wasn''t this guy supposed to be dead? Grayson still had nightmares about those bloody fights in the old days. There was no mistaking him—same guy, just with a different aura.


    The Grim Reaper.


    ra headed deeper into the cave. There was already a fire going, so she didn''t bother starting another. She told Grayson, "Drag those bodies farther away."


    Grayson didn''t move, his back glued to the wall, looking like he''d rather w through solid rock than get any closer.<fn7bab> This text is hosted at find{n}ovel</fn7bab>


    ra found it almost funny. She tugged Dn down to sit by the fire with her. "Dn, you know him? Why''s he so scared of you?"


    Dn''s gazended on Grayson. Instantly, Grayson dropped to his knees, hands pressed together like he was praying.


    "I''m not scared of you! But just so you know, if youy a finger on me, my brother wille for you. He won''t let you get away with it!"