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And so had Sydney

The girl and her parents had lived in the next house over, and when the h at Gentry’s place, they went next door and started in on Sydney and her family They’d decided to hole up there and wait for Gentry to return so they could kill her

Sydney was the one who’d actually killed the uns, but not before they’d raped and murdered her mother and killed her father Finn hadn’t been able to tellthe time they’d held her captive-and I wasn’t sure that I wanted to know

Gentry had co in the ruined rerief Despite her own heartbreak, her own loss, Gentry had taken the girl under her wing That had been o, and the two had been inseparable ever since I iined all that hy they’d come to Ashland in the first place-Gentry had needed the bounty on Bria to get back on her feet and to provide a better life for Sydney

Gentry nodded "Fair enough But what about the girl? Sydney’s caused you quite a few problehtened her spine "I’ave her an amused look "Sure you are, sweetheart Enjoy it while it lasts"

Sydney opened her mouth to protest, but one stern look from Gentry shushed her

I gestured at their clothes "Well, I see that you’re treating yourselves to the nicer things in life, since you collected on your bounty Alife more comfortable"

Gentry winced a little at my pointed barb "I don’t care so much for the irl here is a different story Her parents ca after her Now I’ve got enough e so she can get a real job"

"But I want to be a bounty hunter like you, Gentry," Sydney protested

Gentry gave her a fierce look "You irl needs to knowtoo, you know"

Sydney didn’t say anything, but I could see the determination in her face No es, she’d alant to be a bounty hunter, just like the old woain, I saw e new mentor that I didn’t know quite what to make of I wondered where Sydney would be in seventeen years If our roles would be reversed, and I’d be in Gentry’s shoes by then

The thought irl, Gentry stuck her hand into her jacket pocket

"Gently," I cautioned her "I’ht twitchy today So is Sophia here"

"Hrunted

"Of course you are," Gentryin her jacket pocket and ca her movements small and steady Then she handed me a business card with a cell phone number on it A rune was also stamped on the card in black foil A revolver The syiven what I knew about the bounty hunter

"Sydney and I have decided to leave Ashland behind for a warive me a call," Gentry said "Because based on what I saw in that courtyard, I’d sure as hell like to buy you a drink someday"

I probably should have ripped the card into pieces Or better yet, stuck it on the end of h Gentry After all, this was the woman who’d kidnapped my sister and carted her off to be tortured by Mab But Gentry was also the reason that Bria was still breathing, which was so I just couldn’t overlook So I took the card and slid it into the pocket of ht do that"

"Well, Gin, I can’t say that it’s been a pleasure doing business with you, but it’s certainly been an experience"

"I would say the saave me a run for my money, and you earned every penny of that million that Mab paid you"

"Ah, now you’re just flattering an old woman," she said, but a pleased blush crept up her leathery neck

"That’s so else you should know about rin creased her wrinkled face "Either way, Sydney and I need to be going There’s a bus that leaves for Charleston in an hour, and we plan to be on it So you take care now, Gin I hope we ain someday"

"You too, Gentry, Sydney," I said and meant it "You take care too"

Gentry nodded, before she and the girl turned and left the restaurant for the final time