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"No," Nick says "I’et her She’s not staying here"

"You ca One would be here with the file"

"Won’t he?" Nick asks "You sent hi Harper He killed her, did you know that? He killed her and Tet saved her life"

"Is that a debt you feel the need to pay back?" the Admiral asks hi a creak on the stairs Both ht theht’ve

"Well," I say loudly "Look who’s back It’s good to see you, Nicholas"

He tips his head atHarper away from me?’

"She’s not your prize, Vincent She’s not a coht and sold"

"Nicholas," the Admiral snaps

I put up my hand as I descend the rest of the stairs and cross the polished wood floor where they are standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling s that look out at the back yard "Admiral, please I think I may have a solution that will satisfy everyone"

"What’s that?"

"All we have to do is ask her, Nick She’s a grooh to make up her own mind Why do you assume she hates me?"

I stop and watch their reactions

"She does hate you," Nick finally answers "She doesn’t want this"

"So let’s ask her"

"Ask me what?"

The three of us turn our heads up to the voice She’s standing at the top of the stairs in that gorgeous silver gown Her hair is exactly as it was co out of the shower Wispy and unkempt She has no makeup on that I can see I’ve never seen Harper in makeup And on her feet are the cutest little silver shoes She steps down, flashing the adorable"