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Chapter 2
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Nick looked up when an elderly man, dressed in an
expensive suit came walking into his small hospital room, looking not too
friendly. He eyed the young man in the hospital bed with his grey eyes, not
even showing any kindness. So that was the young man who became precept of the San Francisco house, he
looked young, too young to be a precept. He had read the file, every little
detail about it, and knew this man was in his late twenty's. He looked younger
though, and he doubted he could take care of his team. He sat on the chair next
to Nick's bed, and cleared his throat, locking his eyes with the hazel ones of
Nick.
"Good morning Mister Boyle, I'm mister Giles, ruling precept of the London
House, but you can call me sir."
His accent was British, and his voice high pitched, not very pleasant to listen
to when you had a splitting headache, feeling like you were hit by a truck or
something close to that. Nick winched, frowning at the voice. The man before
him was bad news, he could tell that much. His cold eyes showed no compassion,
and his mouth was set grim. He eyed Nick as if he was a bug, needed to be
squashed as soon as possible. It was best to play along, for now.
"Pleasure to meet you, sir. What can I do for
you?"
Giles raised a brow, as if he was surprised with Nick's politeness. He had
hoped Nick would be aggressive, or reluctant to talk to him, then
he would have a reason to call him unfit for the job. He had wanted his son to
take over the San Francisco House when Derek was no longer there, but this
little brat had spoiled it all. There was no way he would be precept. There was
one difficulty though, Derek Rayne had given his ring to that 'Thing' over there, and that made him
precept. He stared at the young man before him, thinking of the most shocking
question to ask him.
"I understand you were the one who gave Rayne the explosives?"
Bingo! The pale face before him fell, a look of hurt crossing it momentarily.
It was replaced by a look that gave nothing away, but the flicker of quilt
remained in the hazel eyes.
"Yeah, I gave Derek the c-4, because I was under the impression Derek
would get out, he promised me he would get out in time."
The cold eyes narrowed, and Nick knew this wasn't over by a long shot. He
didn't know what the guy wanted, since he was already the ruling precept, but
what ever it was, it did not involve him.
"You gave him the explosives, and you claim to be certain Rayne would get
out alive? But didn't he give you his ring, his precept ring, a ring only taken
of when the owner has passed away? Shouldn't that have alarmed you? But no,
Mister Boyle takes the ring and claims he was certain that his precept would get
out alive!"
The last part was said in a loud voice, the voice shrieking in a high pitch
tone. The ex Navy Seal gasped at the way his answer was twisted in something
horrible, something so not true. He had not known Derek was planning something
else. Derek had been persistent, leaving Nick no choice but to take the ring.
He had taken it, with one promise, 'you'll
have this back when this is over," he had said. He glared at Giles,
his hazel eyes as cold as the grey ones.
"That was not what I said. I took the ring because it made Derek relax; I took it because I believed it would be on Derek's
finger again. I took it because he had told me to. And he was my Precept!"
Giles smiled, a small one, full hatred, knowing he had reached a sensitive spot
there. He knew Nick cared, had cared for Derek Rayne, and that the relationship
he had shared was the thing that would take the young precept down. He leaned
closer to Nick, his face inches from that of Nick.
"Who are you trying to fool, Mister Boyle, me or yourself? You gave Derek
those explosives; you gave him enough to blow up the house, and himself. You
were the one that couldn't find him when you went back in that house. What if
he had heard you, shouted your name? And he died, knowing his hero didn't come
to his aid? That his security chief failed to do his job, to
protect the house and the team?"
Nick's face became ashen, no colour left in it, his eyes full of pain and
quilt. He had never thought about it like that. Was it true? His mind recalled
that night; it was already two days ago. He had listened to Derek, and the
precept had lured him out of the house, making the chief to fail his job. He
had failed, to save his precept, his house and to
protect his team.
"I failed..."
Giles' smile grew wider at the whispered words. Yes, he had the boy almost
ready to give the ring to him, to give up being precept. He hadn't noticed
Rachel coming in with Alex. Rachel needed one look to get a clear picture of
what was going one. Nick's pale face, the smug look on the London precept, it was crystal clear. She
looked at the older precept with a look of disapproval.
"I suggest you leave Mister Giles, and I mean it, as a doctor."
She knew he had nothing to say about that, and he sighed, standing up, while
looking at Nick.
"We'll continue our little talk later, Mister Boyle."
He quickly excited the room, giving the two ladies a cold stare. Alex had
rushed to Nick's side, worry etched on her face. He didn't respond to her
question if he was alright, only a dull gaze was thrown to her side of the bed.
Rachel muttered something under her breath, thinking about the London precept. They had just made a new enemy. An enemy who won't have the
chance to hurt Nick more then he already did. Nick had retreated into himself;
she saw it at the way his eyes looked at them. She sighed, cursing, and went
over to Nick, to pick up the pieces that Giles had left behind.
