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"Raphael Enterprises"

"Duncan, please"

"May I say who’s calling?"

She thought about lying, but this was Duncan, Raphael’s nuuy, his lieutenant and closest advisor He probably wouldn’t come to the phone for sohton"

"One h the wo with nerves as she waited, terrified of hearing a certain honeyed voice on the other end of the line But it was the ever so polite, so proper Duncan who picked up the line

"Ms Leighton, a pleasure to hear from you"

There was a note of sincerity in his voice and Cyn actually believed he ht the press of tears to her eyes, and she thrust the e with ain, his puzzlenored it and pressed on with her own reasons for calling

"I have soht not want to answer, but I really need the information It’s a matter of life and death, and I er?" he asked quickly

"No, no Well, no more than usual You knowvampire, let’s say five years reborn" She used the vampire’s own term for the transition "tries to leave her Sire’s territory, will he sense it? Will he know?" She could almost hear Duncan’s frown as he listened

"How old is this young vahteen when turned, and barely that"

"Jabril Karihton?"

"Why does everyone keep asking o where the job takes hton--"

She could hear the hesitation in his voice, hear the wheels turning "If Raphael co up, Duncan I hed "Why aht? Are you in Texas? Tell me that much"

"Yes," she admitted

"I don’t knohat possessed you to deal with that one, but it no longer matters You need to leave as soon as possible I don’t believe you quite understand what’s at stake"

"You know, Duncan, forget it I’uys? Fine, I fucked Raphael a couple of times But he’s the one alked away Not ht to dictate the rest of hton--"

"--wherever I want--"

"Cynthia!"

Cyn stopped, drawing a deep breath "Will you answer the fucking question or not? There’s more at stake here than Raphael’s dick"

Duncan choked back a laugh "I have ainst all odds, I have e you to leave Texas i protest "But, the young wo it--has been under Jabril’s influence a very long tie, and Jabril’s , he will exert every effort to stop her, regardless of the cost to her, physical or otherwise Do not expect her help in this, Cynthia She will not be able to give it, even if she wants to She will fight you"

"What if I do it in the dayti and the sun affects her ly But Jabril will never release her to you"

"Leave that to me Once we cross out of his territory, will his hold weaken?"

"Certainly it eaken But it will not disappear until replaced by a stronger power"