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"I’ll tell hilances "I knohat it’s like to lose your fauys do, too," I added in a rush They’d all lost someone in the war "But with me, the loss is fresh Jaclyn was his twin, and he loved her more than he loved hihed "Very well"

Colebefore Mr Holland was escorting Justin to my bedside He sat down opposite Cole, his expression closed off He had no idea why he was here My chin trembled as I said, "Justin, I met with a man named Dr Bendari"

He nodded "You’ve mentioned him before"

"Yes He washe was killed in front oftrack marks, I was sure

Justin softened "I’m sorry"

"Before he died, he told roan, he ju behind him "I know Don’t say it Don’t you dare say it"

"You know?" Cole asked

Justin closed his eyes, drew in a shaky breath But that was it, his only reaction And yet , because I’d done the sarief and shoved it deep, deep inside

He would feel better for a little while Then, one day, so, or he would see soative e out, and he’d be helpless to stop them He would break down

"The leader, Mr K, showed me pictures"

"Mr K?" Mr Holland said "What does the K stand for?"

"I don’t know It’s all anyone ever calls him" He lifted his chin "Mr K told e But I couldn’t kill you, he said Just had to spy on you" He offered us a cold smile "He didn’t realize I knew you better than that and knew you’d never hurt iven hih to aritted out "And you dared to send me on a wild chase? Why? To distract me?"

"Spy?" Mr Ankh and Mr Holland said in unison

"No" Justin shoved his hands into his pockets "You’ve got a traitor in your midst I never lied about that, I just don’t knoho it is Every bit of inforave you is true I want Anima taken down, and I want to help you do it"

The fierceness of his expressionthe chilling deter off hi the truth

"Spy," Mr Holland repeated

"I’ll talk to you about it later" Cole nodded stiffly to Justin, a silent command to continue

"My parents think Jace ran away They worry about her,myself to tell them that she’sthat she’s Because I can’t prove it, and I can’t answer their questions And now you know everything I know So we’re done here" Justin turned and stalked fro to chase, but I grabbed his arht now"

Mr Ankh and Mr Holland watched as Cole settled back in his seat

"So them away

Mr Holland rolled his eyes and left Mr Ankh opened his mouth, closed it Then he, too, took off

"I know you probably have more questions, but I want to talk to you about Veronica first About what happened with her after our breakup"

"No," I said, anger suddenly rising

He continued anyway "I told you she went down on , but I didn’t tell you that I stopped her beforejust before And I don’t think you have any idea how difficult that was With souy likes the girl or wants soive you a e of what they’d done

"Yes No" He banged his head against the side of ain"

"There’s no reason to hash this out--"

He looked up, his gaze beseeching me "There is When you called ht enough to ensure I couldn’t break free "Nothing was going on, I proetting over you and that I would be with no one but you"

My heart dropped into ive in

I’d warned him

Take your refusal one step at a time Otherwise I’d cru at the sheet coveringthere You’re a relationship runner, not a sticker, and I can’t go through another breakup"

He held hter "Correction I was a runner I’ fearso for the expiration date Not just with you, but with all irl dance for joy and sob with despair at the salad you realize that, and that you’re determined to ot over soirls?"

"That’s not possible I want you And I know you warnedback I know II can pro after you with everything I’ve got"