Midnight Pursuits Read Online Free PDF Page A

die.”
    Her head jerked up. “Don’t say that,” she snapped at her brother.
    â€œBut I am.”
    He sounded so very tired, and although there was no denying he looked like a man on his deathbed, Juliet refused to let him go that easily.
    â€œDon’t you dare give up,” she said fiercely. “I mean it, Henry. You’re going to live, you hear me? You’re—”
    â€œI’m sorry to interrupt,” a male voice said in Russian, and then a short, stocky man in green scrubs entered the room. “You must be Ms. Mason.”
    Juliet rose from her chair. “Dr. Vlacic?”
    The man nodded. “May I speak to you out in the hall?”
    She didn’t want to leave Henry, but the surgeon’s stern expression brooked no argument, so she reluctantly followed him out the door. When they were alone in the hallway, she crossed her arms and met his eyes. “How is he?” she demanded.
    Vlacic had harsh features that no one could ever deem attractive, but his voice was much gentler than she’d expected. “Would you prefer I speak English or Russian?”
    â€œDoesn’t matter. Just tell me how my brother is.”
    Vlacic chose the latter language, proceeding to describe Henry’s injuries and surgery using a lot of technical mumbo jumbo that made her head spin.
    â€œStop,” Juliet cut in, her patience beginning to wear thin. “Tell me one thing: is he going to make it?”
    His brief pause was not at all encouraging. “I’m afraid the damage to his organs was too extensive. They are failing, one by one. He’s also lost a substantial amount of blood and continues to bleed internally. He’s weak. He’s in great risk of going into shock. And signs of renal failure are already being exhibited.” Another beat. “He won’t make it through the night.”
    Juliet almost keeled over. Her chest suddenly felt bruised, ravaged. She’d asked Vlacic to be blunt, but his brusque admission that her brother was going to die cut her right to the core.
    She took a breath, her throat tightening to the point of pain. “There’s nothing you can do for him? Nothing at all?”
    Vlacic slowly shook his head.
    â€œGoddamn it.”
    â€œI’m sorry, Ms. Mason. I wish I had better news for you, but your brother suffered major trauma. Frankly, I’m surprised he made it through surgery.”
    â€œHe’s stronger than he looks.” Her voice cracked midsentence.
    â€œIs there any other family you’d like to call?”
    â€œNo.” She swallowed. “I’m the only family he has.”
    After offering a few more words of condolence, the doctor stalked off, leaving Juliet alone outside Henry’s door. Her heart hurt. It literally hurt, throbbing and pulsing as cold reality seeped into it. Henry was dying. The only person who’d ever truly cared about her was dying.
    She blinked through the sting of tears and tried to collect her composure, then walked back into Henry’s room. She pasted on a smile, prepared to say something optimistic, but he spoke before she could.
    â€œLet me guess. I’ll be dead by morning.”
    Her pulse sped up. “Don’t you fucking say that.”
    â€œWhy not? It’s true. I know that’s what he told you. I . . . can feel my body . . . giving out on me.” His breathing quickened, frustration flashing across his ashen face. “We’re . . . wasting time. The longer you’re here . . . less likely you’ll find him.”
    â€œFind who?” she said sharply.
    â€œThe motherfucker who killed Zoya.”
    She stared at him in shock, and not just because this was the first time she’d ever heard Henry curse. Was he seriously asking her to track down the man who’d shot him?
    Her silence triggered a knowing glimmer in his eyes. “You can find him. I
know
you