Grave Attraction Read Online Free Page B

“What were you doing in Budapest?”
    â€œBusiness. Not the kind that would have resulted in something of this nature.” His face pinched up in a way that made it clear he had no intention of discussing the matter further. “Where exactly did you find me?”
    â€œIn the backyard. Naked. You really don’t remember?” God knew there wasn’t enough brain bleach in the world to scrub that image out of Adam’s head.
    â€œIf I did, why would I be asking?” Samuel scowled. His eyes squinted in concentration and then widened with apparent surprise. “I’ll be damned.”
    Uh-oh. That couldn’t be good. “What is it?”
    Samuel rubbed a hand across the stubble on his jaw, and almost a full minute passed before he answered. “It appears my abilities have somehow been ... neutralized.” Teeth gritted, he squinted his eyes again. “Nothing.”
    â€œWhat? How is that even possible?”
    â€œHow should I know?” Samuel snapped. Anger heated his gaze for a moment or two, but then he blinked, and the cool façade slipped back into place. His back straightened, his chin tipping up as he focused his attention on Adam. “Until I regain my powers, I’m going to require your assistance, and you must maintain the highest discretion.”
    â€œYou got it, boss.” Like he had much choice in the matter. Sure, Samuel might not have his powers right now, but once he regained them, he’d probably lay waste to anyone who crossed him during this vulnerable time. And then there was the issue of Fate. Samuel served as her right-hand man, and whoever treated her subjects poorly usually suffered a swift and severe punishment. Either way, it was in his best interest to help Samuel in any way possible. “What do you need me to do?”
    â€œFind who did this or find a way to restore my abilities.” He said it simply, as if the answer was obvious.
    â€œHow?”
    â€œI don’t care how you do it; just get it done.”
    Ah, so this was why every reaper in the business wanted to smack the shit out of their boss. Adam bit back the smart-ass response that was perched on the tip of his tongue. “Fine, I’ll give David a call and—”
    â€œNo!” Samuel leaned forward, his voice sounded genuinely distressed. “No other reaper must know of my . . . condition.”
    â€œThen how am I supposed to pull this off? I’m new at this, remember? I don’t have the kinds of contacts David has.” His former mentor had been a reaper for over sixty years, and in that time, he’d accumulated a wealth of information. And if David didn’t know the answer to a question, he probably knew someone who did.
    Samuel pursed his lips together. “Contact Mr. Stavitsky. His sources are just as extensive.”
    Momentarily stunned, Adam stared at Samuel as if he’d grown a third eyeball. “Dmitri? You sure that’s a good idea?”
    Personally, he thought it was a recipe for disaster. Cool and efficient, Dmitri was one of the best reapers Adam ever worked with. But he was also no longer a reaper. During the course of their final mission, Dmitri and his wife had been stripped of their immortality and now lived normal lives. And from what he’d heard, the incident had left them with less than warm and friendly feelings toward their former boss.
    Samuel’s fingers fidgeted with the blanket covering the lower half of his body. “Despite his numerous shortcomings, Mr. Stavitsky is a professional. He’s not the type to allow personal feelings to interfere with the course of business.”
    â€œYou are talking about Dmitri, right? Big guy, funny accent, shitty attitude?” He was also the guy who’d trashed Adam’s last truck. From what he’d been told, it was at the bottom of a mountain somewhere in the backwoods of Vermont.
    Judging by the look on Samuel’s face, he was