Time seemed to freeze as I processed his words. It wasn't possible. It just wasn't! Sure, Gerald and I had our differences and we argued occasionally, but murder?

We'd stayed up late cramming for finals together, pooled our money to buy instant ramen during the harder times… He was the closest thing I'd ever had to a brother.

Shaking my head, I grit my teeth and glared at the thug, hating the knowing smirk all but stitched across his face. “Gerald wouldn't do this! We've been friends for years, since college!”

I didn't know how he knew about our friendship, but he was clearly making things up. Gerald wouldn't.

The thug snorted. “Yeah, and you've been grinding away at his profits since you set up shop. He's got the second-lowest rate this side of town, but nothing beats free.” He pressed the knife closer, and a sting of pain followed. I flinched, and he smiled in satisfaction.

“When you've got a threat to your livelihood running around, you take it out. It's that simple. Besides, I've heard rumors about that man. They say he's beastly when it comes to money. You really think he'd overlook you losing him thousands per month?”

Okay, yes. Gerald had always been very particular about money and if anyone dared mess with his paycheck he tended to become violent quickly, but…putting out a bounty on me? Unbidden, memories of our latest argument rose, the words taking on a new ominous light.

“You’re a good guy, Nikolas, but giving out free advice and barely charging anything for medicine is going to be the end of you if you don’t put a stop to it soon.”

At the time, I’d laughed him off. Now, I wish I’d paid more attention.

A writhing ball of unease tugged to life in my gut and I forced it down, clinging to the last kernel of hope that this entire thing was just a lie.

“Prove it.”

The words shot out before I could think better of them, and the thug raised an eyebrow. “And just how do you want me to do that?”

I scrambled for an answer, thoughts rushing to come up with something, anything. When the first feasible idea formed, I spat it out.

“Call Gerald. If he did put out that bounty, he'll want proof you killed me and not someone else.”

The thug scowled. “I don't have his number.”

“I do. Just let me get my phone.”

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The thug grunted in agreement, but before I could reach for it, he removed his hand from my hair and dug through my pockets. I grimaced, “Really? I was just grabbing my phone.”

He rolled his eyes. “I ain't taking any chances, doc. I'll be the one to call.” Once he found it and I unlocked the screen, he swiped to Gerald's number and hit dial.

Relief washed through me when, after a few rings, he answered. “You’ve reached Doctor Gerald Dale, what can I help you with today?”

I sucked in a breath, “Ger-!”

The thug shot me a warning look and pressed his knife closer to back up the nonverbal threat.

Then he cleared his throat, “Hey, doc. I heard you have a pest problem, by the name of Nikolas specifically, and I'm about to get rid of him for you. Just wanted to make sure the money is ready for me once I'm finished.”

I waited, not even daring to breathe as the silence stretched. The thug's infuriating smirk stayed firmly planted on his lips as we waited, the continued silence dragged against my nerves.

Had Gerald called the police and was trying to buy time? Before that hope could bloom further, Gerald spoke.

“He sounds very alive to me.”

The floor dropped out from under me and a fist squeezed around my heart. I’d seldom heard the coldness now resonating through Gerald’s tone, and it had always been in my defense.

He knew I was here, knew I could hear all of this, and yet he wasn't denying his part in it all. He wasn’t even trying to say he hadn’t done this. He just sounded…bored.

The thug shrugged, as if Gerald could see it. “He’s gonna be dead soon, and I wanted to make sure my money was guaranteed first.” He hesitated, something registering through the drugs addling his mind. “The offer was real, right?”

The world dulled to a faint buzzing as my stomach rolled, threatening to evict its contents. This was a nightmare, right? Something I’d wake up from and laugh about with Gerald later.

As if to prove that wrong, Gerald grunted from the other side of the line. “Just make it so there’s no connection to me and you'll have it.”

Before he could hang up, I spoke, the words not registering until they were already out of my mouth. “Why? I thought we were friends, brothers. We struggled through the hell that was medical school together. Why would you do this?”

My voice came out rough and ragged with betrayal, and Gerald sighed. “I told you to start charging a fair price. You're a good doctor, Nikolas. That’s why I haven’t done this until now. But I can’t turn a blind eye when half of my profits disappear thanks to your actions. For what it’s worth, you were the closest thing I had to a friend. Goodbye.”

Then, without further ado, he hung up.

I stared at the phone as everything slowly sank in. This wasn’t a lie or some kind of twisted prank. Gerald had put out a bounty on me and even hung up when he knew I was minutes from dying by his order.

I’d suffered through poverty, starvation, and even beatings, but nothing hurt like the knife of betrayal he’d buried in my back.

The thug chuckled, the picture of the cat who got the canary. “Told ya, but I guess it doesn’t matter in the long run. Say nighty-nighty, doc.” He shifted the knife, and I braced, instinct screaming to the surface that I needed to fight. All thoughts about Gerald and his betrayal could wait until I got out of this alive.

If I got out of this alive…

Before I could struggle or even try to come up with a plan, a squeak came from the doorway and, for the briefest second, everything froze.

I knew that noise.

Lurching my head around to the exit, my heart iced over and dropped to shatter on the floor at the sight of Anna, peeking around the doorway with wide, tear-filled eyes. The inhaler was clutched in her hand now, and without a doubt, she’d heard all of that.