Curse (Blur Trilogy Book 3) Read Free Page A

lifespan.
    He placed a hand on the screen, touching the image of his brother, remembering that day, all their days together, and how they’d been cut short by a man with no conscience. Then the picture flipped to a landscape shot from when he was lecturing in Scotland last year.
    Adrian let his hand linger there for a moment as he thought of how our lives are like that—here for a moment, and then abruptly, without warning, and all too suddenly, they pass away.
    Then he went back to his paperwork, but was interrupted a few minutes later when a text came through from his associate Henrik Poehlman: He’s on the move. Can you meet me at the Estoria?
    Adrian knew that the kinds of things they would be discussing would best be done in person. And the safest place to do that was at the old Estoria Inn, which now served as their research center.
    He replied that he would be there as soon as he could.
    Then, thinking of his brother and how this meeting would help honor his memory, he went to get his car keys.

CHAPTER FOUR
    The X-rays only take a couple of minutes.
    The doctor checks my ribcage as well as my ankle, just to confirm that it’s only sprained and not broken.
    She’s reviewing the results in the room across the hall when Kyle and Nicole arrive.
    Even though most of my friends are into basketball and football, Kyle’s the one major exception. While it’s true that he did go out for track this spring, organized sports normally aren’t his thing. He’s more into writing lyrics for his band, reading graphic novels, and making up recipes for hot sauces that will burn the taste buds right off your tongue.
    Kyle is taller than me and kind of spindly. Tonight he has his surfer-style hair pulled back in a ponytail. He lopes into the room first, but Nicole is right on his heels and hurries to my side before I really get a chance to greet either of them.
    “How are you?” she asks worriedly.
    I’ve known Nicole since grade school, but onl y caught on last ye ar that she wanted to be more than just friend s—r eading girls isn’t exactl y m y strong suit. We’ve been dating since right around homecoming. Although she’s usuall y quick with a smile, tonight I can see she’s seriousl y alarmed b y what’s happened.
    “I’m alright, Nikki,” I tell her.
    “Are you just saying that, or . . . ?”
    “No, I’m good. A little banged up, but nothing worse than after a football game.”
    “Bro.” Kyle gulps down some of the Dr Pepper he’s holding. “I heard you dislocated your shoulder and then popped it back into place yourself. That is sick .”
    “Where’d you hear that?” Then it hits me: The paramedic has a son in our class. “Wait, let me guess—Gavin’s dad.”
    “Yup.” He nods. “Told Gavin and he texted me. Word travels fast in a small town. And seriously? You were hit head-on by a logging truck? That’s gonna make for a sweet story.”
    Kyle’s a natural taleteller and in his hands this night could easily become a campfire or road trip epic. His stories have a way of taking on a life of their own, though. By the third or fourth telling he might very well be the one who got hurt. And I wouldn’t be surprised if he threw in a few extra broken bones just for good measure.
    “What was it like?” he asks. “Was yo ur arm hanging wa y off to the side, like in that football game last ye ar whe n—”
    “Can we not talk about that part?” Nicole looks a little faint. “Seriously, I don’t need to be thinking about arms hanging out of their sockets.”
    “Fair enough.” Then he says to me, “Mia would’ve come over, but she’s watching my little sister. She said you better not die or else she’ll kill you.”
    Yeah, that sounds like Mia.
    She and Kyle have been on and off for a few months now. Things are kind of in flux and I’m not sure if they’re going to make it in a relationship, but they’re good for each other, so I hope it works out. Besides, the trip to Georgia will be