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Silas thought of the gun in his pocket, remembered the fear and detere and rediscovered how badly her world was messed up "That’s why I want to pull her out"

"We can’t" Allen’s eyes caught the overhead glow of the store’s OPEN sign "If we pull her out before it’s done, the alliance will never trust her She’s gone too deep, becoive us Opti on a platter before anyone in the alliance will trust her to resume her full responsibilities She either sees it to the end and makes the decision to side with the alliance--with her still oblivious about her beginnings--or she goes doith Opti That goes for you, too"

"Me!"

Allen’s chin lifted in anger "Peri got a few points for freeing you, but you didn’t take her back to the alliance You ran off with her and the daughter of the head of the alliance, not to mention their best cleaner"

"So she could finish it," Silas said, re his fruitless conversations with Fran

"Is that what you told Fran?" Allen saidwhat they sent you to do"

Silas’s head thu Peri in as a traitor, yes, and now the alliance suspected hilanced at the storefront and then the da lot "The alliance trusts olden parachute"

"Got this all figured out, huh?"

"Yup" He nodded, infuriating Silas "You need to find another way That list you set your sights on is gone They couldn’t find the chip, so they torched her apartment"

"You son of a bitch," Silas whispered "You knew that was her ticket out How could you let theo of me," Allen said coldly, and Silas pushed the srabbed Allen’s coat "She can still clear her naet his coat straight "It doesn’t change anything"

"She gave her life for this," Silas said softly, not knowing how to help her anymore

"We all did," Allen said flatly

Silas’s jaw clenched To pull her out noould destroy her reputation and her future He had no choice but to see it through, possible MEP or not Son of a bitch He hated feeling helpless "She’s going to kill you before this is over, Allen" And if she doesn’t, I will

"Maybe I deserve it," Allen said

Silent, Silas turned and walked away, hands in his pockets and his head down against the light rain "You think I’ "You think I’d risk her life like this if I didn’t think I could save her?"