Dragon Gate by Gary Jonas

her?”
    “He will protect her,” I said. I didn’t want to tell him that Jonathan wouldn’t sacrifice himself for her. That wouldn’t do her any good. If he died, whoever killed him would then kill Rayna. To protect someone, you have to be alive. You’d think that would be common sense and obvious to everyone, but people rarely seem to see things like that clearly.
    The driver pulled into a shopping center and dropped us off at the front entrance to The Steam Room. I got out of the car and scanned the people in sight for any danger. My eyes swept the rooftops and the parking lot. All clear. I escorted Graham to the door.
    Posters of men with flexed muscles and glistening bodies plastered the windows. The posters of the women were less muscled, but definitely the athletic type with the sultry eyes that Jonathan always went for. The slogans read, No Pain, Still Gain, and Let Off a Little Steam.
    I pointed at them. “Cute.”
    “They’re also true,” Graham said.
    I entered the center before him and saw no threats. I allowed him to follow me inside.
    “Shall I take you to your office?”
    “I’m safe in here.”
    The temperature hovered in the nineties. The inside was huge with various body-sculpting machines arranged in rows. Over each workout station, a misty steam drizzled down on the people exercising.
    I gave Graham a grin. “Take a shower while you work out?”
    “Not exactly. We have a particular blend of chemicals in the steam. All harmless, I assure you. In any case, the chemicals ease the lactic acid, so people don’t hurt from the workout and they don’t pay the price a few days later. They can work out as often as they like. We do limit people to an hour a day, though. You should try it.”
    “I don’t feel pain.”
    “You’re also in incredible physical condition.”
    “Always.”
    We moved through the heated room toward his office.
    “Why so hot?” I asked.
    “Helps people sweat out toxins.”
    I looked at the people as we passed. They all worked hard. They all looked almost euphoric. I was probably the only person in the building who would welcome a bit of pain. I figured there were no masochists present. I hadn’t felt any physical pain since I was eight years old. You wouldn’t think you’d miss it, but pain reminds you that you’re alive.
    When we entered Graham’s office, I felt like we’d stepped into a blast furnace.
    “Your heating bill must be enormous,” I said, thinking Jonathan would have had a great joke about it. Well, the old Jonathan would have. The new Jonathan probably wouldn’t make a comment unless I prodded him.
    “I like it hot. Where I come from, the temperature rarely dips below ninety.”
    “So you chose to live in Colorado?”
    He shrugged. “I didn’t choose. My parents and Lucas made that decision. I simply never left.” He sat at his desk and turned on his computer. “I’ll be awhile. If you want to look around, feel free. I’d appreciate it if you remained on the ground floor once you’ve cleared the building completely, though. The Upper Echelon is for private workouts. I don’t mind you checking it, but those customers pay extra for privacy.”
    I glanced around the room. There were no windows and only the one door. “I’ll keep you in sight, so unless you’re going upstairs or I sense danger from up there, I couldn’t care less about whatever goes on in the Upper Echelon. I’ll give it a quick check but that’s all.”
    “Thank you.”
    I cruised through the building, upper and lower levels. The upstairs was vacant at the moment. Once I’d verified things were safe, I took a position next to Graham’s door. Waiting was easy. I simply stood and watched the people working to tone their bodies.
    The heat and humidity didn’t bother me. Evidently it didn’t bother anyone else either. I suppose that particular blend of chemicals worked wonders on people. Would it be as effective on someone new to working out? I scanned the crowd and