2157年9月8日,晚上六點,商業中心B區,咆哮飯店456Please respect copyright.PENANAHCiZTa84IQ
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和派翠克聊完,在陽台抽菸的尼可拉斯揉著太陽穴,試圖釐清自己亂糟糟的思緒。456Please respect copyright.PENANA1tk0kGOxPV
456Please respect copyright.PENANA75Du1CpPDM
派翠克的天賦是「蜜液」,他的身體會分泌一種紫色液體,混雜在他的體液中,包括汗水、淚水、血液……等。這些蜜液毒性極強,具有腐蝕性,中毒者十秒內必定死亡,派翠克能自由控制是否放毒。這樣的特性被尼可拉斯說像箭毒蛙,派翠克不喜歡這個比喻。456Please respect copyright.PENANAfvGx8pGeva
456Please respect copyright.PENANAdNYm5mcCWU
另外,派翠克告訴尼可拉斯:他的祖母、雷蒙一家的現任領導者──薇奧拉.雷蒙(Viola Raymon),就是第一代水果塔「公爵夫人(Duchess)」。她讓派翠克與白絃碰面,警告派翠克不能被高宇維發現,否則將引來殺身之禍;但為什麼要和白絃碰面、為什麼會被高宇維殺,這些問題都被派翠克迴避掉。456Please respect copyright.PENANAWA5somiY5N
456Please respect copyright.PENANAOewkBfq35q
總之,尼可拉斯很煩躁。原本只是去圖書館,卻在地鐵遇到紅鶴,扯進派翠克的事裡。如果派翠克只是「紅鶴會殺他」,事情還好辦;但如今的狀況是「紅鶴和高宇維都會殺他」,這讓尼可拉斯非常尷尬。456Please respect copyright.PENANAbf3r3GfSHP
456Please respect copyright.PENANA6QvFygIF81
抽完菸,尼可拉斯兩手撐著圍牆,思緒稍微清晰了些。456Please respect copyright.PENANA9WI69r9G2k
456Please respect copyright.PENANAE9lZpooOaR
認識不到一天,又是自家老闆的潛在目標,尼可拉斯沒有理由幫助派翠克,他大可一通電話撥給葛蕾絲,或親手了解這名美麗的男人,那能讓他的忠心大大加分。然而,偏偏出門前尼可拉斯在思考──高宇維到底在隱瞞什麼?456Please respect copyright.PENANAcikNe4ZyYJ
456Please respect copyright.PENANAk3rvCVR9s7
檸檬的惡夢、紅鶴的離開、派翠克的人身安全……事情湊巧地都搭在一起。派翠克離真相太近,哪怕只有冰山一角,尼可拉斯都想賭一把──賭高宇維是否會把背叛的罪名,套到擁有懷特血統的他身上。456Please respect copyright.PENANADoYUP1ICn8
456Please respect copyright.PENANA5ML2VCt8yh
首先,他們要躲開紅鶴,尼可拉斯只有一個禮拜的時間,能帶派翠克去安全的地方,過程不能被神與畜發現;再來,他要得到派翠克的信任──這不難,因為派翠克莫名信任他,尼可拉斯也是,這也非常奇怪,尼可拉斯無法形容這種感覺,彷彿他們生來、就把彼此刻在基因裡。456Please respect copyright.PENANAAegyIZcHIo
456Please respect copyright.PENANASUeaVdSscN
尼可拉斯不笨,很快就想到一個可能──「相似的心能互相共鳴」,派翠克就是他的共鳴對象。尼可拉斯不明白「共鳴」具體是什麼,或許,他該找個人問問?456Please respect copyright.PENANAtGMpTm5vDF
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「……。」456Please respect copyright.PENANAAub5aKGR8V
456Please respect copyright.PENANAxrFPAsdk1Y
用神與畜的戒指叫出投影視窗,尼可拉斯思考要不要聯絡葛蕾絲。出門這麼久,媽媽遲早會打來,尼可拉斯索性來直的,選擇通話。456Please respect copyright.PENANAKIDAmhI4mM
456Please respect copyright.PENANA6RcjctMuBs
「哈囉?」葛蕾絲已經回仙境大樓,尼可拉斯聽見她在廚房切菜的聲音。456Please respect copyright.PENANArd56X6QDKU
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「媽,是我。」尼可拉斯告知:「我這幾天不在家,幫我和大家說一聲。」456Please respect copyright.PENANAdcS5u86YK6
456Please respect copyright.PENANAOTkT2SHNS5
「欸?你不是去圖書館嗎?」456Please respect copyright.PENANAQrWJGr4vwx
456Please respect copyright.PENANAHaQkkOHCqm
「才不是,我是出來玩。」尼可拉斯故意說:「帶小孩很累,我從監獄出來後就沒好好休息,反正最近沒什麼事。」456Please respect copyright.PENANAx4ceAn5ZFf
456Please respect copyright.PENANAz8P61gRWxB
尼可拉斯以為媽媽會生氣,結果葛蕾絲說:「為什麼不找我一起!媽我也很想出去玩,整天跟你沒表情的舅舅混在一起,我也很累吶!」456Please respect copyright.PENANAbcCAxhG40F
456Please respect copyright.PENANAedaXyVgH10
「呃。」尼可拉斯一時不知道怎麼回,「我玩的東西又跟妳不一樣。」456Please respect copyright.PENANAX3HMLIg85H
456Please respect copyright.PENANAgtjIN24N8j
「哪裡不一樣!我都回春了,你們年輕人哪個東西我不能玩!?」456Please respect copyright.PENANAN8f7yZwNDk
456Please respect copyright.PENANAbdN6Tl01l8
「媽,不是年紀的問題。」尼可拉斯口氣尷尬,「是性向的問題。」456Please respect copyright.PENANAbGn809zK36
456Please respect copyright.PENANAGLtRkpSwvR
「……。」葛蕾絲愣三秒,「啊哈哈!抱歉,媽媽忘記了……沒錯,那個我不能玩,玩了你爸就要哭了,哈哈哈哈!」456Please respect copyright.PENANAJ0EoGl8JOk
456Please respect copyright.PENANAGgGRRIXQCK
媽媽樂於接受自己出櫃的事實,尼可拉斯高興歸高興,但葛蕾絲接受度太高,常常害尼可拉斯很尷尬,比如現在。456Please respect copyright.PENANAuGkOBQs5lK
456Please respect copyright.PENANA9qlDrTk8Cr
「你好好玩,我會幫你跟大家說。」葛蕾絲不知道在雀躍什麼,「如果有喜歡的男孩子,記得帶回來給媽媽看!」456Please respect copyright.PENANA64Oyup389U
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「好啦!」456Please respect copyright.PENANAx0mZ21BXvz
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用不耐煩的聲音結束話題。看葛蕾絲心情好,尼可拉斯趁勢問:「媽。」456Please respect copyright.PENANAIaRgVubsMB
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「嗯?」456Please respect copyright.PENANA26kuabEcmy
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「假設我被紅鶴襲擊,一時又無法聯絡你們,」尼可拉斯套話:「我能去什麼安全的地方避難?」456Please respect copyright.PENANAhzPKuXM0qz
456Please respect copyright.PENANASgTEgOJkTE
葛蕾絲想了想,「如果敵人是紅鶴,又聯絡不到我們,只能找還活在世上的第一代水果塔。公爵夫人一直都在雷蒙一家,找她最快。」456Please respect copyright.PENANAmK2KyvMt68
456Please respect copyright.PENANADNVygS32Up
尼可拉斯當然知道,問題是,雷蒙一家向來親高,現在的公爵夫人幫派翠克隱藏行蹤;萬一東窗事發,難保她不會為了大局、犧牲派翠克,以維護和高宇維的關係。456Please respect copyright.PENANAghBUEEwiUc
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「也可以找艾莉絲。」456Please respect copyright.PENANAlWyJ4bz0uW
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葛蕾絲突然又說:「艾莉絲的夏家在B區,具體位置我可以傳給你,但你不能沒事去叨擾她,她現在的身分很尷尬。」456Please respect copyright.PENANAxg7JTA9WPf
456Please respect copyright.PENANAKkceJT5BLn
「尷尬?」456Please respect copyright.PENANAXJM2GW2nYO
456Please respect copyright.PENANACjfVUUdYP8
「孩子,你要知道──現在的掌權人不是她,是宇維少爺。雖然艾莉絲的地位比宇維少爺高,宇維少爺的權力又來自於她,但你作為下屬,要知道自己效忠的是誰,不要像赫密士一樣白目。」456Please respect copyright.PENANAWHgYDY3WmV
456Please respect copyright.PENANAB3xKUc26eM
說到赫密士,又是一個謎,他討厭高宇維討厭得要死,卻誓死捍衛艾莉絲體系,某些時候又比高宇維保守,也是尼可拉斯搞不懂的人。456Please respect copyright.PENANAKs22c1BDFe
456Please respect copyright.PENANACKOO82PVC3
葛蕾絲將艾莉絲的位置傳給尼可拉斯。夏家離咆哮飯店不遠,一個禮拜絕對可以到達,但把派翠克帶去夏家好嗎?艾莉絲會不會告訴高宇維?456Please respect copyright.PENANAg1jpZDHyKk
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「對了,尼可。」456Please respect copyright.PENANAdrEa7rMtLy
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尼可拉斯思考時,葛蕾絲突然問他:「你最近,有和你爸聯絡嗎?」456Please respect copyright.PENANANHG4hB4rjU
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尼可拉斯微愣,「……沒有。」456Please respect copyright.PENANA4KtfbF9uXa
456Please respect copyright.PENANAfagBZDbsiB
「什麼!?」葛蕾絲有點生氣,「你出獄的事呢?變成神與畜、我復活,這些都沒跟你爸說?」456Please respect copyright.PENANA2jkhqzDxEB
456Please respect copyright.PENANAv4KQAV7rWh
「這要怎麼說!」尼可拉斯回嘴:「老爸只是普通人啊!」456Please respect copyright.PENANAIYO2I867Gj
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「家人之間不可以有秘密!」456Please respect copyright.PENANAjsk52I1O31
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尼可拉斯滿頭問號,這才不是秘密的問題,覺得自己被罵得莫名其妙。456Please respect copyright.PENANAKDiznlttJV
456Please respect copyright.PENANAneqgqRmOMc
「算了,我自己打給他。」葛蕾絲說:「我不知道這些年你們怎麼了,但他是你爸,你今天的成就都拜他所賜。我明天再問你詳細,先忙煮飯了,拜拜。」456Please respect copyright.PENANAC7WfNolWNF
456Please respect copyright.PENANAIaQ9nRX96U
語畢,葛蕾絲結束通話,留下茫然的尼可拉斯。雖然搞不懂媽媽,但母子感情好,尼可拉斯非常愛葛蕾絲,慶幸有這樣活潑開朗的母親。456Please respect copyright.PENANAIe5SnqEvEW
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但爸爸就不是了。456Please respect copyright.PENANA69yYx7WHk3
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「……。」456Please respect copyright.PENANAWjKFhwSfRD
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仔細想,李博洋和他爸很像,都非常喜歡看書。李博洋看書是興趣,尼可拉斯的爸爸以書為生,走到哪都拿著書,開口閉口也都是書,會為了絕版的書搭飛機、去其它地區一間一間找,像瘋子一樣跟葛蕾絲炫耀,說這本書多好多棒、這個作者的立場和誰相反、哪幾本書應該搭在一起讀……葛蕾絲總是耐心地聽他說,還會給回饋,是天生一對的夫妻。尼可拉斯的學識,也是爸爸一點一滴教起的。雖然爸爸很怪,但尼可拉斯不討厭他,覺得這樣的家庭也不錯。456Please respect copyright.PENANA96YgakYOvx
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直到葛蕾絲死亡的那一天。456Please respect copyright.PENANA73JCb3Z1hV
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──媽媽被里奧.懷特殺了!我親眼看到!456Please respect copyright.PENANA8DlwvfuVrw
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右手抓著圍牆,尼可拉斯想起那個晚上──他告訴爸爸葛蕾絲的死訊,但爸爸頭都沒抬,眼睛始終盯著那本絕版的書,彷彿書比葛蕾絲還重要。456Please respect copyright.PENANAAjmD6cQqc0
456Please respect copyright.PENANAU5Yb2QDe4X
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──那是你老婆!每天睡在你旁邊的人啊!456Please respect copyright.PENANAesxkPgNB5I
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不論尼可拉斯怎麼說,爸爸就是沒反應。如果里奧是給尼可拉斯打擊的人,爸爸就是二度傷害。456Please respect copyright.PENANAwWQcwRGGNT
456Please respect copyright.PENANA0Z3DcKI3D9
從此,父子形同陌路。尼可拉斯被其他醫生排擠、執照被吊銷、入獄……爸爸都沒表示過一句,尼可拉斯沒再見過他。如今葛蕾絲復活,確實是該回家,但尼可拉斯不知要用什麼表情回去。456Please respect copyright.PENANAKPL5PzN4qG
456Please respect copyright.PENANANcPrS95imD
而且,爸爸能接受「老婆復活」這種違背常理的事嗎?他和葛蕾絲是神與畜,爸爸只是個普通、滿腦子都書、連醫師執照都沒有的希波克拉底人。媽媽為什麼要告訴爸爸?高宇維和里奧不會反對嗎?尼可拉斯的頭越來越痛了。456Please respect copyright.PENANAU9aQwcwYLa
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「唉。」456Please respect copyright.PENANAaJ502NixS8
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菸差不多抽完,尼可拉斯從陽台回到房間,發現派翠克躺在沙發、似是等自己等到睡著。尼可拉斯把外套蓋到他身上,確定派翠克對自己毫無戒心。456Please respect copyright.PENANAEUgAYRXRq1
456Please respect copyright.PENANArLdJEy21RR
看來,他們只剩夏家能去了。雖然不確定艾莉絲的立場,但她是能溝通的人,尼可拉斯決定跟艾莉絲交涉看看,說不定能從艾莉絲口中,得知一部份真相。456Please respect copyright.PENANAAzZ4ufZ7Pm
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「……。」456Please respect copyright.PENANAwnrZNpQFLt
456Please respect copyright.PENANAQQffLrNG9V
看著派翠克的睡臉。雖然對顏值無感,但不得不承認,派翠克真的非常好看。精緻的五官、細緻的皮膚、完美的輪廓、彷彿漫畫才有的長睫毛,藍色的頭髮十分柔順,肩膀以男生來說有點太窄。瘦弱中帶點堅強,高貴中帶點祥和,這樣的派翠克正蓋著自己的外套、毫無防備地睡覺,連尼可拉斯都很難不動心。456Please respect copyright.PENANAhoGFil6Xtm
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但,既然和派翠克保證過,尼可拉斯就不會碰他,反而坐到離派翠克有點遠的床上,滑著手機。456Please respect copyright.PENANAmnBGCxruVC
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「唔……」456Please respect copyright.PENANAH1xJEnCOUd
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尼可拉斯抬頭,發現睡夢中的派翠克正在皺眉,發出破碎的低吟。456Please respect copyright.PENANA3biDGeqsXt
456Please respect copyright.PENANAfhM03BhpVR
「唔……嗯……唔唔……!」456Please respect copyright.PENANAZDRYsWYcA8
456Please respect copyright.PENANAmukYO5CqQB
眉頭皺得越來越緊,派翠克緊抓尼可拉斯的外套,表情痛苦、冷汗直流。尼可拉斯上前,呼喊派翠克的名字。456Please respect copyright.PENANAfOnNXLX4za
456Please respect copyright.PENANAkpZYbHckbW
「喂,派翠克!」尼可拉斯搖他的肩膀,「派翠克.雷蒙!」456Please respect copyright.PENANAnhNWQKgbLk
456Please respect copyright.PENANAXqodVAtzuT
絲毫沒有醒來的跡象。派翠克的神情與今天的檸檬重疊,尼可拉斯立刻明白發生什麼。456Please respect copyright.PENANA8rzBSaVL3L
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派翠克在作夢。456Please respect copyright.PENANAjffKMgpyfO
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一場關於第一代水果塔,令人十分不快的夢。他們這些後代都無法避免,彷彿詛咒一樣的夢魘症。