Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon Page B

just didn't think you'd hear about it."
    "It's okay, Boo. I'm just glad you're all right. It's so good to hear your voice. The police wouldn't tell me nothing about the victims. They said they hadn't notified the families so I was waiting for them to come to my door and ..." She broke off into sobs.
    Nick cringed until he was sick. "I didn't mean to scare you, Mom."
    "It's okay. It's all good. You're safe and that's all that matters to me. Where are you?"
    He looked at Kyrian, who was giving him an "I told you so" glare. "I'm at Mr. Hunter's now. I was at Bubba's store, helping him out this morning since they canceled school. He said he'd pay me double time for it."
    "But you're safe?"
    "Yeah, I'm safe."
    "Oh, thank God."
    Kyrian took the phone from his hand. "Mrs. Gautier? It's Kyrian. I wanted to let you know that I'll feed Nick and have him home about seven if that's all right with you?" He paused to listen to her. "Yes, ma'am. I'll take good care of him and won't let anything happen to him. Promise." He hung up the phone.
    Nick scowled at him. "Why do you call her 'ma'am' when she's younger than you?" "It's a sign of respect."
    That he didn't understand, but he was grateful for it. "Not many people have shown my mom the respect she deserves. I really appreciate it that you do."
    Kyrian put the phone in his pocket. "I learned a long time ago not to judge people by what they look like, sound like, or by the clothes they wear. Just because a house is nice and shiny out front doesn't mean it's not rotting on the inside. Your mom's a good woman with a good heart and I'm glad you're mature enough to appreciate that about her."
    Nick found a whole new respect for him. "You know? I think I can work for you."
    Kyrian gave him a tight-lipped smile. "Glad to hear it. Now shall I show you around?"
    He liked the formal way Kyrian spoke sometimes. He went back and forth from typical slang to some old-world expressions that were tinged with an accent Nick couldn't place. "You shall indeed."
    Kyrian rubbed his eyes at Nick's bad English accent. "Your duties here will be light. Nothing too strenuous, and if anything aggravates your arm until it heals, don't do it. Last thing you need is to set your therapy back."
    Nick followed him to the staircase. "Why are you doing this, anyway? You know what I was into that night and yet you'd let me in here around all your stuff? Aren't you afraid I'll steal something?"
    Kyrian turned around on the stairs to give him a harsh glare. "There's nothing you can steal from me that I can't replace. Things mean very little to me." He took a step closer to Nick.
    "As for why I'm helping you ... I believe in you, Nick. You remind me of a kid I knew once. Hardheaded to the point no one could stand him. He wouldn't listen and had a massive chip on his shoulder because he wanted to show the world how tough he was--that he didn't need anyone hand-holding him through life, or doing anything for him. Everything had to be learned by his own hand ... the hard way." "What happened to him?"
    "He rebelliously joined the army against his father's wishes and met a man who changed his life. For whatever reason, that man had patience. And where others would have justifiably killed the arrogant snotnose for his attitude, his commanding officer saw potential in him. He changed that kid's life and I'd like to pay that debt forward with you."
    It took Nick a second to realize what exactly he was saying. "You're the kid?"
    Kyrian inclined his head.
    "And this dude who changed your life?"
    He looked down at the ring on his hand that rested on the shiny banister. "A man named Julian."
    Nick shivered at such a god-awful moniker. "Isn't Julian a girl's name?"
    One corner of Kyrian's mouth twisted into a sardonic smile. "Trust me, Nick. He was the toughest SOB you've ever met on a battlefield. No one ever defeated him in a fight. He made Jackie Chan and Chuck Norris look like poseurs."
    "Is that how you learned to fight like you did