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"We were following--"

"Who was it?" The stored in me, ready to strike I contained it Barely

"We were following the Bartels’ crew"

I nodded and bent down to scoop up Eot into the elevator with me

Histhem They looked at me, and I saw their concern But those weren’t my men They were his, and they didn’t know er to him No, not Cole Not hi We saw the attack fro back, ent in to help"

My men were dead

My woman could’ve been

I didn’t care about the details

The elevator doors slid open, and I walked out, cradling E the bottouns

He barked out "Stop! Put ‘eed to keep up with rabbed my arm and pulled me to a stop

I looked over his shoulder His men could hear us, and I said, "Leave"

They melted backward

"Look--"

"I’ him Emma was hurt She was bruised She had bled I would not let them break her "This is me, onlyto tell you sooing to do, I will back you And I know the elders will, too It’s you They went after your woo and do whatever you want to do"

When I said nothing, he rolled his eyes "I’ ainst the for theh so you could do the dirty work But after we talked, I changed ot these reith I went to school with them, and I trust them They’ll do whatever I tell thelanced away, his voice softening, "I know you hadher They knew that They had other cars with theainst yours, and I know you still have a few h"

E I hadn’t let her go thisthe Mauricio soldiers?" I asked

"I can’t Not until I knoho to trust And that’s the other thing I needed to tell you Those ht not trust lue in our faht now Whatever you need, we’ll help you"

I nodded, then turned and left When I carried Euards Most were dead The few left alive, I had let go so they could return home, mourn their brothers As I bundled her into the seat and walked around to the front to drive hoot her home, I didn’t expect to see anyone Instead, Michael, Peter, and Drake met me They weren’t in their suits, but had dressed in dark sweatshirts and jackets with jeans