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"Coffee would be better," he said, returning his gaze to my face

"I have tea"

He lifted one corner of his ed "Tea it is then"

He followed me to the door and I paused No time like the present "Let yourself in Like you did last ti him access to the door and lock--"when you came to snoop at the caed and added, to , "And the ti boss to wait forto pull soht about that for a hter and the flowers in the garden began to wilt and droop "You angry about that?" he asked, sounding honestly curious When I didn’t reply, he explained, "It’s part of the job as Leo’s security You should understand that"

"And if he told you to kill a little old lady, would you do that too?"

He thought about that, aed by tilting his head to the side "If she needed killing"

He was serious Ice shot through my veins Beast crept forward "And if she didn’t?"

"Then Leo wouldn’t want her killed"

I snorted It was a Beast sound, originating at the back of my throat, full of nostril movement and derision When that was all I did, Bruiser turned and pulled a ring of keys froht about ripping the theetboss Bet Leo would hate it when I used it on him

Inside, I unstrapped and lay the Benelli and loves, neck collar, and various weapons The crosses As I removed steel and stakes, mud crusted off my jeans and pattered to the floor in little shushes I could smell my sweat

Bruiser set one hip on the table and watched as I divested myself of weapons His eyes were hooded, but that small smile still played over his lips He said, "Aarter when you’re done?"

I laughed I couldn’t help it And Bruiser grinned I set the kettle on to heat, then spooned Nilgiri Tiger Hill leaves into the strainer and set it inside the open h to maybe suit a coffee drinker And it wasn’t so expensive that I’d care if I had to throw his out I placed the teapot in the kitchen sink

He took a chair, resting his forearms on the table I noted that he instinctively took the seat to the side, so thatand front and side doors ithin line of sight and the sun didn’t blind hiar, and sat at the foot of the table to his right Second-best seating from a security standpoint

"You want to tell ?" he asked

I started to say that I heard screa, it woke me up, and I rushed over But I doubted that a hu I said, "I keep weird hours I ake, in the back garden, when I heard screarabbed a feeapons and raced over"

"Naked"

"What?"