Chapter 1 - The Boy Who Refused to Leave Me
My name is Adrian Cross.
For twenty-five years, men had whispered it in rooms where decisions were made in darkness.
Some called me the Reaper.
Others called me a monster.
I never corrected them.
Fear had always been more useful than respect.
But lying beneath six feet of Appalachian snow, I discovered something fear could never buy.
A second chance.
And a promise.
The boy who saved me was named Noah Bennett.
He was nine years old.
Small.
Thin.
Quiet.
And far braver than most grown men I'd ever met.
When they brought him into my hospital room, Goliath followed behind him.
The enormous German shepherd immediately walked to my bed.
I raised one weak hand.
Goliath placed his head beneath it.
Noah smiled.
“He likes you.”
I looked at the dog.
“He saved me.”
“He doesn't like people much.”
“Why?”
Noah shrugged.
“People usually hurt us.”
That answer bothered me.
“Who?”
“My dad.”
The room became quiet.
I looked at his grandfather.
The old man stood near the door, his face tired.
His name was Samuel Bennett.
He was seventy-one.
He had spent forty years working these mountains.
He looked at me like he knew exactly who I was.
“You're Adrian Cross.”
It wasn't a question.
“Yes.”
Samuel's jaw tightened.
“I know your reputation.”
“Most people do.”
“But my grandson doesn't.”
Noah looked between us.
“What's a Reaper?”
I glanced at Samuel.
He shook his head.
“Nothing you need to know.”
Noah frowned.
“You're famous?”
I almost laughed.
“Something like that.”
Then my right-hand man, Marcus Vale, entered.
His expression was grim.
“We need to talk.”
I looked at Noah.
“Can you give us a minute?”
Noah nodded.
He walked outside with Goliath.
Marcus closed the door.
“The man who buried you has been identified.”
“Name?”
“Caleb Voss.”
I knew the name.
My stomach tightened.
Caleb had worked for me for nine years.
He had access to everything.
Routes.
Safe houses.
Financial accounts.
Personnel.
And my trust.
“Who hired him?”
Marcus hesitated.
“We're still tracing it.”
“Find out.”
“We will.”
“And the assassin?”
“Already moving.”
“How long?”
“Less than twenty-four hours.”
I looked toward the door.
“Noah.”
Marcus followed my gaze.
“He's a liability.”
I stared at him.
“Don't ever call him that again.”
Marcus blinked.
“Adrian…”
“That boy saved my life.”
“He's a civilian.”
“He's a child.”
“Exactly.”
I sat up despite the pain.
“Get him and his grandfather somewhere safe.”
Marcus nodded.
“Where?”
I thought for a moment.
Then I gave him the location of one of my most secure properties.
Marcus stared.
“You've never sent anyone there.”
“I'm sending them now.”
“Why?”
I looked at the hospital door.
“Because someone tried to kill me.”
Then I lowered my voice.
“And now they're threatening the boy who saved me.”
Marcus understood.
The Reaper had returned.
May you like
But this time, I wasn't hunting for revenge.
I was protecting something.
