Hearing was always the last sense to disappear and the first to come back. The soft rumble of voices slowly translated themselves into individual words. Eventually, he'd remember who was talking and understand what was being said.

One word stood out: Reggie.

His whole body jerked and twisted to the tune of rattling chains. No amount of jerking would free him from his restraints, but he fought them anyway.

"D.J., settle down. You'll rip out your st.i.tches."

Laurel's voice, calm as always. She wasn't the one he needed to hear. Not this time. He erupted in another burst of rebellion.

A pair of heavy hands came down on his upper arms, pinning him down. "d.a.m.n it, D.J., cut this s.h.i.+t out. You're bleeding all over the place."

Trahern. Wrong again. With his arms in lockdown, he kicked his feet and tried to force words out of his mouth. No, not words. Just one.

"Reggie!"

Success. He whispered her name again. "Reggie."

Having had his say, he settled back down and waited for answers. Evidently deciding D.J. was going to behave himself, Trahern removed his hands and stepped away. Someone took his place. Someone who smelled like flowers.

Reggie.

"D.J." She spoke in that hushed voice people used in churches and hospital rooms. "I'm right here."

His lungs' fledgling attempts to breathe deeply drew in just enough of her scent to tease his senses. Her soft hand cupped his cheek, her fingers trembling.

"This. Scared. You." Stringing words together was a b.i.t.c.h right now.

"Not at all," she whispered as she brushed his hair back off his forehead.

He could hear the fear in her voice. "Liar."

Reggie choked a bit. "Yeah, well, I'll get over it."

Laurel entered the conversation again. "D.J., you know the drill. Everything is looking good right now, but you need to sleep, and so does she."

It was early in the recovery process, but maybe he could pry his eyes open. A quick glimpse of Reggie. All he needed. Only one eye cooperated. It was enough. She was crying. d.a.m.n it. He hated that, hated himself for wanting Reggie to be there even knowing what it was costing her. The sooner she left, the sooner she'd forget.

"Go, Reggie," he croaked.

She nodded. "Okay, but I'll be back."

Not what he meant. "No! Go away. Home if you can."

G.o.d, he needed her to leave. Now. Because he didn't know if he'd ever find the guts to let her go again.

"But, D.J., I want to be here."

When her hand caressed his bare shoulder, he wanted to purr. Instead, he screamed, rattling his chains with every ounce of strength he could muster.

"It hurts, d.a.m.n it. Go!"

Laurel interceded. "Blake, get her out of here before this idiot destroys all my hard work."

His Handler sounded frustrated or maybe it was disgust he heard in her voice. He heard the shuffle of feet and the deep rumble of Trahern's voice. When D.J. could no longer hear them, he gave up, surrendering to the bleakness that was his life.

Laurel came closer, her cool hands checking his vitals with her usual efficiency. "D. J. Clayborne, I never thought you'd be such a coward."

So it had been disgust. That was okay. He disgusted himself.

"Sorry."

"It's not me you should apologize to. The question is whether you'll get the chance to apologize to Reggie. After that display, it would serve you right if she actually did what you told her to. Luckily, I'm betting she's got more gumption than that."

Laurel gave his hand a quick squeeze. "By the way, if you need lessons in groveling, I'll have Devlin give you a few pointers."

Rather than respond, he slept.

Reggie peeked into Laurel's lab through the small pane of gla.s.s in the door. D.J. was sitting up, looking a heck of a lot better than he had three days ago. She'd spent the time since he'd kicked her out resting up and trying to piece her life back together.

She'd sent an e-mail to Mr. DeLuca explaining that although she was feeling better, she'd been called out of town on an emergency. After apologizing for being out of touch for so long, she'd offered her resignation if he wanted it. She hoped he did.

As a final gesture of goodwill, she told him that she'd had it on good authority that the Knightwalker had died. Maybe he wouldn't believe her, but she was confident he wouldn't find any further trace of the iconic hacker.

According to Cody, they'd already managed to track down the b.a.s.t.a.r.ds who had started all of this. So if she wanted to go home, she could. Cody was planning on heading back to Portland later that afternoon. He'd made special arrangements to make up the finals he'd missed, but then he was going to move up here to work for the Regents while he finished school at their expense. Turns out he shared the same DNA as the Paladins.

Who would've seen that one coming?

His future was set. He'd found a place where he belonged. She was truly glad for her friend, if more than a bit jealous. Her own future was definitely up in the air, but she had some thoughts on the subject. It would all depend on how the next few days played out.

"Are you ready?"

She glanced up at Trahern. "If you're sure my plan will work."

The Paladin stared through the window, his expression a bit haunted. "G.o.d, I hate this place. It helps knowing Brenna is always waiting for me. But I've got to tell you, Reggie, if you're not up for the long haul, for both your sakes, go back to Portland."

She'd been up most of the night debating that exact subject. After pacing the floor and making lists of pros and cons, she'd come to the only decision she could live with.

"All of this is killing him. D.J.'s computers might let him connect with the rest of the world, but they're still cold comfort. He needs me."

She stepped back from the door. "And I need him."

Trahern looked down at her. "D.J. might be stubborn, but he's not stupid. Like I said, you'll be good for him. Tell him that. Better yet, show him."

She grinned. "Don't worry. I will."

"We'd better get moving. Laurel plans to discharge him in half an hour so he can catch his flight to Missouri. I tried to talk him out of going, but you know D.J."

"Yeah, I do."

Trahern held the door for her as they walked out of the building. "Devlin promised to have him back in a couple of days. I'll let you know when I have specifics."

"Good. I'll be back from Portland in plenty of time."

"This is a good thing you're doing, Reggie."

She hoped so. She really did.

Todd swore this G.o.dforsaken cell got smaller every day. Other than when his captors brought him food three times a day, he'd been alone the whole time.

The b.a.s.t.a.r.ds had yet to tell him if that Paladin and Reggie Morrison had made it back from Kalithia in one piece. Since he was still breathing, he had to guess they had. Bully for them. They were free. He wasn't.

Eventually they were going to have to let him go if they wanted the money back that he'd hidden away. Kincade wasn't going to lead them to it if he hadn't by now, which made him wonder where that guy was and what their long-term plans were for him.

He could hear footsteps approaching out in the hallway. That wasn't unusual, but he couldn't see who it was because this nine-by-nine room had no windows. He paused to listen. Whoever was out there had stopped right outside his door.

"Who's there?" he demanded.

No answer.

It wasn't mealtime, so whoever it was had other reasons for being there. His stomach lurched, a common occurrence since fear had become his constant companion.

He backed away from the door until he was flat up against the opposing wall, wedged between his cot and the bare toilet. Finally, he could hear a key being fitted into the lock and the k.n.o.b turned.

When the door opened, it revealed a man who was a total stranger to him. If he had to guess, the guy was a Paladin because he had that same obnoxious arrogance that was second nature to both Jarvis and Devlin.

He also had a smile that made Todd's b.a.l.l.s shrink up tight. Who was he? Then he knew.

"D. J. Clayborne, I presume."

The smile widened. "Right on the first guess, Todd."

D.J. sauntered into the small room as if he owned the f.u.c.king place. He studied Todd's stark surroundings with a sneer. "Quite a demotion from your usual lifestyle, don't you think?"

"Cut to the chase, Clayborne. What do you want?"

"I want you to rot in h.e.l.l, but then you'd give the place a bad name. Personally, I think it would be more fitting to shove you across the barrier like you did Reggie Morrison. I'm sure some of your late, but unlamented, a.s.sociates have family or friends who'd like to talk to you."

Dear G.o.d, no! They'd kill him. Todd's voice cracked when he tried to set the record straight. "She made it back alive."

"She did. I didn't." D.J. smiled again. "I've got to tell you, Toddy, you have no idea how much I hate being killed. It tends to p.i.s.s me off."

Then he stepped closer, his hands flexing. "Sorry to have kept you waiting, but at least I'm here now."

Then using those lightning-fast Paladin reflexes, D.J. had Todd in a chokehold. "So here's the deal, you sc.u.m-sucking b.a.s.t.a.r.d. When Jarvis and Chaz Willis ask you a question, you will answer. It's that simple. If I hear that you've been uncooperative, I'll be back, and then we'll make that little trip to Kalithia. Of course, yours will be one way."

Todd couldn't breathe enough to speak, but it was due to absolute terror rather than D.J.'s powerful grip. He managed to nod, feeling like a bobble-headed doll as he tried to convince this cold-eyed killer that he would be telling the truth.

D.J. let go, shoving Todd backward hard enough to bounce him off the wall. "Fine, but just so we understand each other, I'll spell it out one more time. You tell them what they want to know or you die. Are we clear?"

"Yes," Todd whispered, rubbing his throat to ease the pain.

"I knew you'd be smart about it."

As D.J. backed up a couple of steps, Todd breathed a sigh of relief. He'd been terrified of this moment for days, but it looked like he was going to escape with a bruised neck. He'd always known that he'd have to give them all the information he had if he wanted to walk out of here in one piece.

"So we're good."

"Well, no," D.J. said, shaking his head. "There's one more thing."

Before Todd could ask what it was, D.J. cut loose with a punch that shoved Todd's belt buckle straight through to his spine. Then he followed it up with one more to Todd's nose. Todd hit the wall and slumped to the ground with blood dripping off his chin.

D.J. stood over him. "The first one's from me. The second's from Reggie."

Then he grabbed the threadbare towel off the sink and tossed it to Todd. "If they ever let you out of here and you want to live, stay away from me and stay away from her."

Once again Todd nodded. Evidently satisfied that he'd made his point, D.J. walked out and locked the door behind him.

Chapter 25.

"Thanks, man. I appreciate the ride."

Lonzo pulled over in front of D.J.'s place. "Glad to do it."

Before D.J. got out he had one question he needed to ask his friend. "Lonzo, I did the right thing, didn't I? Sending her away, I mean."

"Personally, I think it was d.a.m.n n.o.ble of you. Stupid as h.e.l.l, but n.o.ble."

Then Lonzo punched him on the arm. "However, if there was ever such a thing as a do-over, I suggest you reconsider your decision. We all like Reggie. A lot. In fact, if you didn't already have dibs . . . but you clearly do."

Not exactly the answer D.J. had been hoping for. Then he noticed Lonzo had left the engine running. "Aren't you coming in?"

"No can do. Wish I could stay to tuck you in, but Trahern needs me back at headquarters. You gonna be okay on your own?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine."

"Don't forget that Laurel ordered you to take the next week off. She said if you show up, she'll get Sasha to dock your pay double for every hour you're there."

"I remember."

Although how was he supposed to spend a full week with nothing to do and no one to do it with? Physically, he was back to normal. That didn't mean he was ready to be alone. Yeah, he'd told Reggie to go home to Portland, but it still p.i.s.sed him off that she'd actually gone. He wasn't being reasonable, but right now he didn't give a flying f.u.c.k about reasonable.