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She shoots a dirty look in Ted’s direction

"I apologize,to take down a cri to swoop in and save the day for us"

"Oooh, the Golden Girls I like it I’m Dorothy," Fran pipes up with a sh," ot curvature of the spine!" Fran argues

One of the cops who are guarding Vinnie walks up to Ted "Sir, the a stopped and Mr DeMarco says he’ll do whatever we ask as long as we keep the old lady with the gun away froht be old ladies, but we get the job done"

Ted laughs and shakes his head at her Giovanni is cuffed and dragged out of the building, co the whole way about old ladies who carry bricks in their purses, and how he’s going to sue the depart excessive force The aurney and wheeled outside

My o down to the police station to answer questions, and when it’s finally quiet, Ted turns to me

"Care to enlighten y into thethat happened in here?"

Before I can infor off that mic most likely saved my life, I heartowardme to him

"Jesus Christ Thank God Kennedy wouldn’t let ot a phone call that shots were fired, I thought I was going to lose my mind"

Matt pulls me away from him and runs his hands over my head,for injuries

"It’s okay I’htly ski on oing to kill hiot a head start She shot hilances over at Ted in surprise

"It’s true Paige’s mom and her friends snuck in the back and took care of business, angry-old-lady style: with a couple of handbags and a revolver," Ted tells hi ot a cane that he’s not afraid to use," Matt adds

"Paige, I’ll give you guys a few minutes Meet me down at the station as soon as you can"

Ted pats me on the back and then walks out of the church

As soon as he’s gone, Matt pulls ainst him and runs the palm of his hand down the back ofhappened to you today I knoe haven’t known each other very long and you’re probably going to think I’ you, but I swear I’o but I chickened out"

My heart thumps wildly inmy hand up to cover his mouth

"Not yet I want to say it too, but not while I’m a complete mess with Vinnie DeMarco’s blood on s his hand up and brushes e McCarty, you would still be beautiful to me even if you had blood onup on my tiptoes with a s his head down tolike ht before our lips touch, Matt suddenly pulls back and stares down atof Andy Where the hell is he?"

Just then, we hear a door slam open behind us We turn to see Andy, tied to a chair, hopping and sliding his way across the floor toward us

"Hello?! A little help here!" Andy shouts as he looks back and forth between us

Matt tightens his hold on

"You were supposed to helpforI had to kick that door open all by myself and I’m pretty sure I just broke my toe You don’t even care that I almost died!" Andy complains as he continues to jump the chair closer to us, inch by inch

Matt leans down and kisses rabsfor me to kick his ass when he’s tied to a chair?" Matt whispers

Andy continues to struggle, trying to get out of the bindings, and shoots us another dirty look e finally get to hiuys, I CAN’T FEEL MY HANDS! I can’t live without my hands!" Andy whines

"If you don’t kick his ass, I will," IAndy

CHAPTER 22

All right, Paige, I think we’ve got everything we need Thanks for coet home and relax," Ted tells me as he turns off the recorder in the conference room We stand up from the table and head toward the door

It’s definitely been a long day I’m exhausted and dirty and I just want to take a hot shower, preferably with Matt

"Thanks for trustingup," I say to Ted as he holds open the door to the interview rooe, you didn’t screw anything up," Ted reassures enius From what I’ve been told by Melanie in her interview, you never once lost your calood, kid"

Ted patsarea, Kennedy, Griffin, Lorelei, Dallas, Matt, his father, andwhen they see us and ju to jail, is she? I’ll vouch for her," hs and shakes his head at her "No, Mrs--Ito jail She did a great job today"

My uess this job is better than you taking your clothes off all the ti my eyes at her, I wrap"Thanks, Mohs "Now I don’t have any excuse to buy that Maxi to get my information on s-e-x and relationships?"

Matt’s father walks up and holds his elbow out for her to take "How about you and I take a seat, Miss McCarty? I can tell you about the things I learned at Paige’s photo shoot the other day Did you know h his are information, Mr Russo My friend Eunice toldcalled roofies"