Part 172 (1/2)

”Don't, Johnno. it's important to him to do this his way. He'sLuke's

trying to tie up his loose ends. He needs to tie up his loose ends.”

”Oh f.u.c.k. Oh b.l.o.o.d.y tucking h.e.l.l.” The grief and the fury raged inside

him. There was nothing he could vent it on. It did no more good for

him to curse the disease than it had done for him to curse fate for

making him what he was. He took out another cigarette, fingers shaking

as he fought with the lighter. ”I arranged for some very discreet, very

expensive testing about six months ago. I'm clean.”

He dragged in smoke while he crumpled the letter in his fist. ”No nasty

problems with my immune system. Nope. No problem here.”

Because she understood, her voice was brisk. ”It's incredibly stupid to

feel guilty because you're well.”

”Where's the justice, Emma?” He smoothed out the.letterthe letter, then

carefully folded it and slipped it into his pocket. ”Where's the

frigging justice?”

”I don't know.” She laid her head on his shoulder. ”When Darren was

murdered I was too young to ask myself that question. But I've asked

it, Johnno, hundreds of times since. Why is it the people we love die,

and we don't? The nuns say it's G.o.d's will.”

”It's not enough.”

”No, it's not enough.” She searched her conscience. She supposed she'd

known all along that she would tell him. ”Luke's in New York. He's

staying at the Plaza for a few weeks. He didn't want me to tell you.”

He tightened his arm around her. ”Thanks.”

When the limo pulled up in front of Brian's London home, Johnno kissed

her. ”Tell Brian ... tell him the truth. l'll be back in a couple