Chapter 11

“Sorry, sir,” Uncle Eddie’s bodyguard muttered to Julian, which surprised Rafi.

“Don’t worry, Lyle, I was expecting as much,” Julian replied, which surprised him even more. “Rafael, may I introduce you to my uncle, Edward Gault—”

We’ve met, said the glance between Rafi and Eddie, but neither of them said it aloud.

“—and my cousin Christian.”

“I’m not your cousin,” the boy said waspishly.

“You are, in fact, since my uncle has legally adopted you,” Julian said serenely. “Uncle, Christian, this is Rafael.”

Rafi found himself staring at Christian. At second glance he looked older than Rafi had thought, closer to thirteen than ten. He was a pretty child—dark curls, big blue eyes, a delicate elfin face—but nothing Rafi would have stared at, except that he looked familiar.

“Oh!” Rafi said. “Christian Petrie! You were in that horror movie, with the haunted orphanage.”

The boy’s sullen expression lifted, perhaps pleased to be recognized; unfortunately Rafi’s mouth was still moving.