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"So…about that confession" She winks at hten my shirt, tucked inside et to sit bound to that chair," I say "I’ to make sure that we use every lastbladder"

"I have a strong everything," she says "You wouldn’t believe how strong my will is"

"That will be for Gustavsson to prove, I suppose"

"If he shows" She has little confidence in that, the same as everyone else, it appears

"But Victor, there’s soh"

I look at her with inquiry but say nothing in response because soerous even

"I’ve been watching you for a long tih you’re a very difficult et information on, out of anyone I’ve ever studied, you are by far the "

"Am I supposed to be moved by that in some way?"

"No," she says, "you’re not really the type capable of being too ain, how long that will last is up in the air"

"What is your point?" I say, beco more intolerant every time she makes Izabel a topic

"My point is"--she lowers her voice to a whisper; an atteh I doubt she cares whether anyone else hears her or not--"that I’ve never been intrigued by anyinto a mirror, I think you and I could offer each other a very interesting kind of relationship"

I look down at her with a suspicious sidelong glance

She smiles darkly and says, "We could fuck each other as much as anted, and you’d never have to worry about the burdens of loving me, because I’d never love you back Withto worry about o back to doing the kinds of missions you once enjoyed, the ones on the inside like Niklas used to take, getting inti her until she cries out your na back to et jealous"

I shakequietly to myself

"You are unbelievable," I say "Is that what you’re here for? For me?" I point ath I really doubt that is why she is here "That will never happen," I say, slashing a hand in the air in front of h credit She may be new to all of this, but she has more self-control than--"

I hear the door open with boom and see a flash of dark auburn hair whip past ht over the table and spears Nora in the chair like an arrow The table is pushed violently out of the way, screeching vociferously across the floor as Izabel takes Nora doith her

"Izabel!" I shout

Niklas co into the room behind me