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"Thanks" As he stood, Chance swayed and had to catch himself on the back of his chair "Come on, Corine Let’s take a nap"

Well, he looked too busted to try anything, not that I felt inclined to argue over sharing a bed with anyone right now I re out his nose

"In afor the office

Chance followed ot it when I sat down at the co for Chuch’s IM icon "Glad you remembered, much as he helped us"

I nodded as I typed with my awesome hunt-and-peck skill Booke? This is Corine We’re fine We got the warlock

His i by the computer all this time Did you save the prisoners?

The question hit me like a fist in the chest, and I had to take a irls we didn’t save

No I think the hangar was booby-trapped so over my shoulder, Chance curled his palbeneath my hair with an impossibly delicate touch Shivers stole overpause on Booke’s end as he processed our failure I’ht

No proble to send for your collection I’m sorry

We were a sorry lot, weren’t we?

I didn’t say yes for the possible reward, he returned eventually This is the first time anyone’s ever asked for my help, the first time I didn’t feel like an incompetent, ineffectual fool Thank you for that

Wow I had no idea what to say So Chance leaned forward and keyed, Welcome We’ll keep you posted, but now I need sleep

It was less personal than what I iven that I’d shared drea loneliness about hined off I let it go, standing with a tired sigh

"What’s his deal?" I wondered aloud as we headed for the spare rooed "One problem at a time, Corine"

There would never be a better ti else As we stepped into the bedrooether, I asked softly, "What were you focused on, back at the compound?"

Silence answered me, so I lay down, too tired to pursue the ined his whisper:

"Youit out of there, no matter what"

Enemy of My Eneurin, and I realized Chance and I had twined together in our sleep He alrapped around me like a second skin I used to sleep so well that way, and I had again this afternoon

I crawled out fro out?"

She led the way to the living roo TV Azteca with Kel Butch lay curled up on Kel’s lap I’d been too tired to fret about whether he’d keep his pro us or ours, but the last kernel of worry dissolved

"Well," Eva began "We found a place to start, at least"

"You’re ae of the couch Butch leaped into o on, Chance padded out and joined us, dark hair standing on end

"Don’t let me interrupt," he said with a sleepy smile

She clearly wanted to share the minutiae of her search, so we let her Truthfully Eva’s thoroughness impressed et to the meat of the matter I restrained my impatience

"So," she concluded, "we need to hit La Rosa Negra According to Chuch’s contacts, it’s a hangout for--" Eva dropped her voice so low, I didn’t catch the name

Chuch filled in the blanks "Mercs, ex-Army Special Forces They used to work for the cartel, but word on the street is they’re independent now They don’t like people poking around in their business, but theyinforht tierous," I said

By Chuch’s expression, I’d earned a promotion from Captain to Colonel Obvious "No shit They won’t even talk to you and Chance if I’ua" His dark gaze went to Kel watching TV with Butch on his lap "Cue ball should probably stay here with Eva"

"You think I need a guard dog?" His wife bristled

I grinned despite myself "Butch or Kel?"

"Shhh," Chuch said "You know I don’t want you co with us because you’re too beautiful, nena Some pendejo would hit on you, and then I’d have to hurt hi with unifor"

"You’re full of shit, you know that, right?" But I saw he’d talked her out of going with us by her soft little smile