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He almost didn’t bother to correct the bishop It was better that the Brethren think Alexandra was dead "My sister is still alive She’s with Cyprien now" He wouldn’t say she was one of them, because he didn’t quite believe it Could his sister really be a vampire?
"For God’s sake, then, coed "I’ll explain how Stoss and Cyprien manipulated you between them If these creatures have Alexandra, then the Order is the only thing that can keep you safe now"
"I knohat the Order can do" John shook his head and rose to his feet "I’ll take htower removed a slim wallet and opened it
"I can’t accept--"
"You said you’re done being a priest, Johnny As soon as I file the paperwork, which to respect your wishes will be today, your income will stop The maledicti won’t permit your sister to help you, and if you try to lay claim on her estate, they will make it vanish" The bishop held out a handful of bills until he saw that John wasn’t going to take therimaced and put them back in his billfold "You can’t do this on your own"
"I can" John expected to work, and he wasn’t too proud to take any job He couldn’t afford to stay in hotels any longer, but there were efficiencies, and even hoain
"Let htower lumbered out of the chair and rested a hand on John’s shoulder "I won’t try to pushback to the Order or the priesthood I’ve h mistakes, my son From this point forth, I’ll support whatever decisions youto a son that I’ll ever have," Hightower said sihtower had come to meet him on his own, and he had never condemned John for his actions The fact was, he would need some help to all Hurley is looking for help at the Haven," Hightower said "Hurley es the place, and he’s an ex-priest, but he has no connections with the Brethren The Haven is a shelter for runaway teenagers The church provides so for it, but that’s our only involvement Hurley handles the place on his oith a small staff, but he needs more help for the kids"
John knew of the Haven, which was located a half dozen blocks from St Luke’s, his former parish It had been in operation for more than twenty years, and had an excellent reputation "I have no experience working with runaways"
"You took a couple of psychology courses in the seminary, and you’ve worked with troubled children in the past These youngsters are desperately in need of guidance" Hightower sighed "Dougall does ith the practical side of things, but he needs soodsend, John"
The last tihtower’s wishes, he had been ied, tortured, and driven to rape
It has nothing to do with the Brethren, John thought If it doesn’t work out, I can walk away "All right," he told the bishop "I’ll go see Hurley and apply for the job"
Chapter 5
A soft, polite tapping on the bedrooed Jema from an exhausted sleep "Yes?"
"I’m sorry to disturb you, miss," Micki, the upstairs maid, said from the hallway, "but your mother would like to see you downstairs"
The clock on her bedside table read 7:02 aet up in time for work She must be ready to read me the riot act "I’ll be down in fivesound of her own voice
"Thank you, miss" Footsteps retreated quickly
She sat up and tried to yawn "Ugh"
Soue to the roof of heron a dirty penny Because she often experienced nosebleeds during the night, she checked for stains
Five sht where her head had dented the pillow
She felt her nose with cautious fingertips, but so made her lower lip throb The source turned out to be two deep, san to sting the second she discovered theue Her chin itched; she scratched and looked at her hand Flakes of dried blood were under her fingernails; streaks of the saers and palm