If He Dies, He Dies

s surgery. He'd poured everything into Vicky's startup, Sterling Innovations, his own garage bu

college flame, was holding court. Julian, a "conceptual artist" Mike private

k playing on his lips. "Thought you might like something with

ly what his doctors had warned him against.

," Mike started,

n't hurt," Julian insi

esigner dress. "What's this, dar

eer Mike up," Juli

portion onto a side plate and pushed it towards him. The press

ut. He doubled over, a gasp escaping hi

as laughing at something Julian

not feeling too well himself, actually. He thi

. "This isn't... a joke.

ntment to Julian. He's got a terrible sympathetic flu, all

out, agony making his vis

're always making things about you. Julian

e, his fingers slick wi

ard him speaking to the dispatch

hissed. "You're tryi

her finger

nda, materialized, her face

commanded. "He's just jealou

, grabbed Mike's arm. He tried to resist

cky... I'm

ser, her eyes col

en, right where the surgic

raw, tearing soun