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"The jewel of the world," Justin repeated He raised his unlit cigarette in a toast The sa he felt whenever anyone talked about the RUNA All the drinking and drugs and other vices in Panao away

"I’m sorry," said Huan

"It is what it is It has been for a while"

A hint of Huan’s old smile returned "I don’t suppose you’ll ever tell me the real reason you left?"

"Nah I kno much you like the Penelope story Wouldn’t want to ruin it for you"

"I thought it was Phoebe Or Pamela"

Justin waved it off "Doesn’t ht You’re better off without her"

"Exactly"

Huan chuckled and held out his hand "You going to be okay if I go?"

Justin shook it "Depends if I can keep the coat"

"Sure I’ve got lots more where that came from" Huan moved to the door "Until next ti the other o Party noise flared briefly as the door opened and then faded once more A dark mood settled on Justin, and he welco outside was a habit from the RUNA No one cared what or where you smoked here, but there were strict laws back ho a pleasant buzz that enhanced the alcohol, which had already arettes like these back home either The RUNA was conscientious of its citizens’ health Of course, seeing as the RUNA had stopped caring about hiured he elcome to whatever self-destructive behaviors he wanted Huan’s words replayed in his mind

Beautiful and perfect The jewel of the world

"Goddaod? asked Horatio

Whichever one sent nus’s reply, the ravens were back in insolent odshis life, the ravens were always talking about gods

Quiet, Justin told the to have a ures suddenly looht shone off Paolo Jessup’s shaved head, along with the uel, and Justin soon recognized the other thugs as Jessup-faht be closer to Huan’s hell than he’d realized

"Hey, Paolo, how’s it going?" Justin ed a smile and wondered what the odds were that this wasn’t about Blanca

"Don’t fucking waste et aith that? You think you could just take advantage of ood

Tell hinored him

"There’s so to Blanca"

"That’s not what she told Dora Rauel

Dora? And Ana? How many people had Blanca talked to? Justin at least hoped she’d been coht

He also wondered where the hell Cristobal’s security was The outsides of his establish with henchmen, and Justin speculated on whether the Jessup brothers had bribed theine Cristobal would be happy about the untiuest…or would he? Cristobal would certainly get a lot of ic tale Justin could practically hear the big uel took a fewlike one of Cristobal’s badly trained dogs He kind of s to rip you apart!" he yelled

I don’t think Blanca orth it, Horatio told himatic: Your Valkyrie