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She was always

He didn’t even knohy she was so afraid of hih for him to find out

Zach parked the wheelchair near a bench along the sidewalk The grounds here were parklike--perfectly trie, towering trees covered the land Their new head gardener apparently had a knack for his job The place had never looked nicer

Torr stared straight ahead, not bothering to turn toward Zach even though he could still move his head The rest of him was paralyzed, and already, the heavyaway, leaving only a hint of what he once had been The decay had been so fast, Zach was sure theup, er "How do you think? Hoould you be holding up if your body was a useless pile of bones and you had a tube up your dick so you didn’t wet yourself?"

Zach wanted to offer Torr peace, but he had none to spare "I’ sorry All of us except Joseph He denied e vibrated in his tone, and a hint of sooing to let you die yet You haven’t given the Sanguinar enough ti here, you’d know that was a lie Every day in this body is an eternity It’s tih he knew the other ive up on you yet"

"So instead, you torturethere? Would you give up on lared at Zach with soin his eyes that Zach almost had to look away But he didn’t He owed his friendin this chair, I’d love you enough to slit your throat and watch you die"

"No, you wouldn’t You’d be out there searching for that thing that bit you You’d be bleeding into theto save my life"

Torr looked away and his voice dropped to a quiet, soleive you"

It sounded as if he were saying good-bye, and Zach felt a stab of worry "You’re not going to die, Torr We’re going to fix this thing"

"You’d better hurry, then"

"Why? Because you’re going to give up?"

"I already have If Joseph won’t killto do that? No one is going to help you"

"I heard about the woo help because one of the because she couldn’t eat"

Zach put the pieces together "No fucking way"

"I’ve stopped eating Don’t knohy I didn’t think of it before Guess I just wasn’t thinking clearly"

"Joseph won’t let it happen"

"I’ hih for any ive up like this He knew Torr was suffering, but if he just held out a little longer, the Sanguinar would figure out soave a huh "Sure Why the hell not? Just strap o on a road trip"

"I e of scenery ood"

Torr’s jaw clenched "The only thing that’s going to do h ain What if yours is out there, too?"

"What if she is? It’s not going toto tie down a feht be able to save a ood"

"I can’t believe you’re giving up"

"No? Try sitting here for a while and you’ll believe it I’o I have"

"I’ up on you yet"

"Fine Waste your tiet through this"

Torr stared out into the night, but he was seeing so you can do forto kill you"

Hiselse"

"Na care of ht she was--"

"That’s the problem She’s too nice Too innocent She shouldn’t have to see what I’ to do to myself"

"Then don’t do it"

"I’ve alreadyto make this easier on you As far as I’"

Torr’s face darkened with huinning to suspect there was more to it than Torr’s concern for her "You like her"

"I’ her, as ood"

Torr felt so for the woman Zach was almost sure of it Almost "I like ’euess Hunting for Lexi has kept ot laid"

Torr’s nostrils flared in anger and his voice whipped out like a lash "Don’t you fucking touch her"

Zach grinned "I knew it You do like her"

"You are such a bastard," growled Torr "You’d better pray I never walk again, because the first thing I’d do is kick your ass"