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"Get a kindness, pass it on" That was his mother’s motto Apparently Gabi lived by it Ma the computer down, he poured himself a brandy In his backyard, he took a chair and propped his feet up on another Above the city lights, the stars shone brightly in the black sky, a co assurance that the universe continued on, despite the disasters on one tiny planet As he watched, a meteor streaked across the sky and fell

Well, he knew some of the little sub’s past now, and from the articles, she exemplified both dedication and compassion A softhearted woman Guilt pressed on his chest Good job there, Atherton Jesus, could I have screwed up any ht fall to its doom on Earth In the club, she acted like a brat for the killer It explained her idiotic rebellions like thefact in a trial All those tihten her shoulders and spit out sohtened as he remembered how ive him?

He’d acted appropriately for what she’d allowed hi that didn’t help at all How the hell would he e, his wife had deht He dry scrubbed his face, his stubble rasping over his pal would

In the distance, an eh Hard world He did his best to try to make it a better place Now to discover he’d hurt someone he’d come to…come to what? Care for? Maybe

Probably She’d appealed to hieous behavior Of course, not all that brattiness was acting Marcus smiled and took a sip of brandy No, she had ahe did know attracted hihter "I felt sorry forthe sidewalk" He wanted that laughter in his life

"They shot my Danny and Rock I was so mad, and I wanted to hurt them" So matter-of-fact when she’d told hie weren’t re her wistful voice "You know, he’d buy me romance novels We were broke, but so to mean so much to her He wanted to be the one to comfort her To take care of her He smiled To buy her romance novels

But she’d undoubtedly run from hiht not want to give hihtened, and deterravity

Such a shaet what she wants

On Monday, Gabi rode the elevator in the Clearwater hotel two flights past the FBI agents’ floor, then took the stairs back down Her dread of the co interview increased with each step closer to the room

She opened the stairwell door, stepped into the hallway, and trudged across the thick carpeting She and sleep hadn’t been on speaking terh water

At the door, she hesitated What could she say? She still didn’t understand what had happened to her last Saturday, so how could she explain it to the agents?

Maybe Master Z had called? But all contact was supposed to go through Rhodes And she already knew his reaction Her mouth twisted When she’d finally reached him late Sunday, he’d co with you? You’re undercover--un-der-co-ver--or doesn’t thatto you? So he fucked you and you decided to spill everything What is that--pillow talk?" He’d finished his rant hat she’d expected "I’ to have your ass for this"

Even before she’d called him, she’d known her career in the FBI was over Finished Termini No one would understand They’d siation to a whole lot of people Yeah, serving as a decoy wasn’t her real job; yes, she’d volunteered to do it; but after destroying a covert operation, it wouldn’t et this over with and then start seriously job hunting She tugged her T-shirt dohy dress up to get fired?--straightened her shoulders, and knocked on the door

The door opened, and the big agent, Vance Buchanan, let her in He wore faded jeans, a blue T-shirt, and beard stubble He looked her over slowly as if assessing her condition "Bad week, eh, Gabrielle?"

At the rough sympathy in his voice, tears burned her eyes She turned her head away and sucked it up "I’ve had better"

"I bet Z gave us a call yesterday" He pointed toward the L-shaped couch and chairs where Galen waited "Go sit"

As she took a chair across froerator, opened it, and set the can on the coffee table in front of her

"Thank you" Okay, confession time Rhodes had already told them--God, she just bet he’d told them--but she needed to also "So undercover It’s my fault" She started to pick up her drink and realized she couldn’t s past the lump in her throat Instead she folded her hands in her lap and forced herself to meet Galen’s eyes "I told them By accident But it’s stillup a hand "I’ic You have a doh that Zachary Grayson trusts his you up, drives you straight into subspace, and asks you questions Why the hell do you think that’s your fault?"

"But--"

"Shut up and drink your soda" Galen’s baritone was actually kind