Jericho Kane? What does he want with the Heaven Root?" Alex ed.


    *I heard his daughter''s suffering from a rare gic heart condition, and he thinks the Heaven Root can save her," Kelly exnted, ncing at Alex


    "Be Kane?" Alex repeated.


    "Yes," Kelly confirmed.


    Alex let out a weary sigh. He imagined Be hiding her pain beneath an elegant fa?ade. No wonder Jericho Kane spoiled her every whim and excused her worst habits.


    "Alex, how should we handle this?" Kelly asked, her tone unsettled by the news. "I''ve got to get my hands on that Heaven Root," Alex dered without hesitation. "There''s no time to waste. I''ll head to Vermont today."


    He stepped outside the clinic and was stunned to see a group of homeless men shing with two brutish thugs lugging a drum. The looks on those thugs'' faces made it clear they were up to no good.


    "What''s going on here?" Alex demanded.


    "Doc, these two louts were about to pour oil around the clinic," one of the homeless men said.


    "We figure they nned on burning the ce down."


    Another homeless man nodded. "You treat us for free, so they must have a death wish trying to torch this clinic."


    The two hulking men sneered at the ragtag group. "Mind your own business, you filthy beggars,". one spat.


    He raised a foot and kicked at one of the homeless men.


    Immediately, the others retaliated, hurling empty bottles and whatever they could grab.


    Furious at the uprising, the man tried swinging at them, but the homeless group scattered, still pelting him with debris as they darted around.


    Alex''s eyes narrowed.


    "Someone pay you to burn this clinic?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.


    "You bet," one of the men snarled, "and they put a price on your head, too. I''m about to collect."


    He snapped open a folding knife and stalked toward Alex.


    "How much?" Alex asked quietly.


    "Ten grand," the thug sneered.


    Alex scoffed. "Your life sure isn''t worth much, is it?"


    The man lunged. "That ten grand is for your head, not mine!"


    But, to his shock, his partner grabbed the same knife and drove it into his side.


    "What the hell are you doing?" the first thug roared, eyes wide in confusion.


    A momentter, he felt his own arm twist as if some unseen force guided it to stab his friend.


    They yelped in horror, stabbing each other again and again, unable to control their bodies.


    sprayed across the pavement as both men copsed pale ar trembling, until theyy still in a crimson pool One of the homeless men edged closer to Alex, eyes full of shock. poc, what just happened to them?"


    Alex shrugged, voice cool. "They were hired to kill me. Couldn''t even decide who''d im the bounty, so they turned on each other


    Another homeless man spat on the ground.


    "Serves ''em right. They counted their chickens before they hatched."


    Alex watched impassively as the homeless men rifled through the dead men''s pockets, taking everything of value.


    The bodies would be dealt with soon enough.


    Without another word, Alex hailed a cab. He had more important matters on liis mind: the Heaven Root was vital, and such a rare herb wouldn''te around twice.


    Two hourster, Alex arrived at the massive Kane Mansion.


    Jericho Kane sat in the lounge, amanding figure whose gaze burned with the memory of their recent sh.


    "What brings you here?" Jericho asked, his voice cold and unweing.


    Alex met Jericho''s stare head-on. "I''m here for the Heaven Root."


    Jericho''s eyes narrowed. "So, you know about that. Too bad for you, I need it myself. I''m not handing it over."


    "You''re nning to use it on Be''s heart disease," Alex said tly. "The Heaven Root won''t cure her for good-it''s only a temporary fix."


    Jericho''s lip curled in disdain. "You''re no doctor. You''re just some Kingwell''s dog with a knack for violence, so don''t lie to me." "I am a doctor," Alex answered, his tone unwavering.


    Jericho barked augh. "How convenient. Because you helped Be the other day, I''ll let that slide. Otherwise, I''d have tossed you out on your back by now."


    He rose from his seat and red. "You''re not getting the Heaven Root. Dream on. Now get out."


    Alex exhaled slowly.


    Jericho''s spite still ran hot, making negotiations pointless.


    He turned and strode toward the exit. In the hallway, he almost ran straight into Be, who stood waiting for him, cheeks faintly pink.


    "Alex," she greeted, her voice shy. "What were you discussing with my father?"


    Be''s mind whirled with wild fantasies, conjuring the moment Alex would fall desperately in love with her and beg her father for her hand in marriage.


    The thought alone sent her heart thundering in her chest.


    Alex studied her closely, noting her radiant beauty.


    Be Kane matched Sophia in grace, but clearly lived with the advantages of wealth and endless resources.


    Gently, Alex grasped her wrist, surprising her with his forwardness


    Her blush deepened. "What are you doing?"


    He focused, taking her pulse.


    "I can heal this heart condition of yours, but I need something in turn," he said firmly. "I want the Heaven Root. It can''t save your life anyway."


    "What?" Be asked, confusion knitting her brow.


    "Tell your father I can cure you for good," Alex said, releasing her wrist.


    "But my price is the Heaven Root. And I should warn you, you don have long left-


    maybe a week at best."