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He went into the back again and I heard hi I saw stars and put ht I was still really shook up

Blade came back into the rooht?"

"I’m okay Just a little dizzy" I felt his hands on my back and

"Hey, what about me? I took an arrow in the hip for your woht, Jerry Valdez was shot to carry a da, all by yourself God, Gloriana, I had no idea…" Blade squeezed my shoulder "You’re incredible"

" I helped Added my power--"

"Valdez, thank you You can believe ave the dog a speaking look

"Now go sit by the front door I want to talk to Gloriana"

The dog sniffed but turned around and headed for the door He put on a pitiful show, head down, liave Blade a dirty look "Can you cut the dog sorateful, of course" Blade crouched in front of ain and took my hands "But about this note Think, lass

Did you tell anyone about our conversation the other night?"

"You think I’ how I could go from incredible to dumb as dirt in a heartbeat The room spun for a moment so I held on to the chair "What about Mara? Maybe she’s a blabber to someone?"

"Of course not I don’t knohat to think" Blade ran a hand through his hair He was letting it grow and it reached his collar The natural curl was probably annoying hi to a susceptible woman Which I was not at the moment

"It would be nice if, just once, you’d realize I’et that off my chest

"Lass, of course you’re no’ an idiot" Scottish Blade put his hands on my shoulders Okay, maybe I’m a little susceptible But I hate it when he tries to charm me

"Knock it off, Jerry Speak American" I lifted Jerry’s hands off my shoulders

"I’ain

He obviously didn’t have a clue how to handle me after all these years And how cool was that?

"The question on the table is how could Westwood know such a detail? Spaghetti, right?"

"Right The three of us were alone here Along with Valdez" Blade looked around the shop, like he’d see a spy hiding behind the counter

"Westwood’s a technology freak" I could see the bookshelf next to the counter "Bugs! Oh, s!" I would have smacked myself in the forehead, but I was more than a little unsteady

"Sit down, Gloriana You’re obviously still upset" Blade tried to guide me back to the chair "Call an exterminator tomorrow"

"Look up there, on the top of the book shelf" I stayed put I wasn’t going to be guided anywhere "There’s a spider It ran when I tried to spray it, but I bet it’s back and looking right at us"

"Fine I know you hate spiders I’ll kill it" Blade grabbed a book

"No! Grab it I don’t think it’s real I just realized, I’ve never seen a single web around here"

"Sit down, lass You’ve had a rough night"

"Oh, great Now I’ain" I walked over to the shelf Oh, God, what if this was a real spider? I shuddered but slapped et away Hard metal or plastic crunched under my palm

"Hah! Here’s your spy" I dropped it into Blade’s hand

"What the bloody hell is this?"

Chapter Nineteen