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He ht as well have stabbed me in the chest "Because I’m some sort of power play with Mark?" My throat is thick, my tone choked "Is that what this is, Chris? Or did you want et fired?"

"Why would I take you to Napa and help you meet his ridiculous requireame to play with Mark?" I sound flippant and bitter I am

"I don’t deserve that, Sara, and you know it" His voice is a hiss laced with anger at er to , I want to believe in him, but I don’t even believe in et me fired, it didn’t work Mark has vowed to protect me and teach me the business"

"Protect you" The words are hard and flat, his body rippling with sudden edginess "You want Mark to protect you when you tell me you don’t need protection?"

"I just want to do my job"

"It isn’t about the job with Mark Not with you"

"You can’t know that"

"You’ve read the journals, Sara Who the hell do you think Rebecca was playing bondage games with? It sure as hell wasn’t Ralph"

"It was thewhen last night you orried she was dead?"

"I never said that"

"You inferred it" He inhales and lets it out a sharp breath "You knohat? It’s tirabsincar, Sara, or I swear to you I’ll pick you up and put you thereto see for yourself who and what Mark is, and stop pretending you don’t know already"

"And since you’ve proclaiet to see your deep, dark secrets too?"

His jaw flexes "Yes"

Eer slides away Dread tightensreveal he believes will et in