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He grinned and dropped his shirt "I assume you’d probably like to kno all this happened"

"You think?" I didn’t hide the sarcasht it was a legit Chronos job I didn’t even think twice about it until she told h Moned Chronos jobs "That smells all kinds of shady"

"Exactly I threw her off track and pretended I couldn’t get the Skroll open"

"But you did get it open"

"Not ue before he finished reading all the inforet it back, but yourwas up" Poe stared at his fist as he flexed it "And then, the next day, he was gone"

"I didn’t even know you knew hi story But he believed intold ene worked before he died We know soered it, but we don’t knohat"

"I’ve been trying to help Dune figure it out" He pointed at his laptop on the kitchen table A neat stack of index cards and a crystal skull pencil holder, with lass now?"

"No" He frowned "I’ you"

"They’re different from Chronos in so lass keeps Dune … informed, at least"

"That’s not the only difference I was in Ivy Springs I saw the way they all worked together The kind of jobs they do They help people"

"And?" I asked

"It was iood guys"

"That it? Do we help the people who need it, or the ones who can afford it?"

"I don’t know But the reason you fell for Mo"

"It opened uy anyirl?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"I know you think you’re invincible, Hallie, but you aren’t Every tiet what she wants, the consequences are worse I don’t want to see you on the receiving end of whatever Teague does to manipulate you next"

"I don’t want to see it, either But Dad’s cut her out of Chronos now We don’t have to deal with her"

"I don’t," Poe said "You do She’s your mother"

"That’s just blood And in my book? Choice wins out over blood every ti "Are you always this organized?"

"I actually ao with Poe?" I asked

"Fine" I could see her, trying to convince herself to believe her own lie My hackles rose

"Do I need to go have a talk with Poe?"

"No, no It wasn’t anything he did Just soht up about Chronos And my mom"

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No Not yet But Dune? Thanks"

Instead ofmy eyes, she leaned over my desk and looked at the s-away present "Ever wish you’d stayed there, in Ivy Springs?"