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Bruiser One placed the chair next to the foot of Leif’s bed Then he pulled a key from his pocket and unlocked the restraints around Leif’s wrists before stepping quickly back His meaty paws hovered near his weapons Everyone in the roo for Leif’s reaction

He sat up and rubbed his ar back into his hands Weak from days without food or water, and with his ankles still secured, he had no option but to play nice--for now

The man approached and held out his hand "Bruns Jewelrose"

The naer This was the son of a bitch who had hired an assassin to kill Yelena He drew in a breath to calrasped Bruns’s hand "Leif Liana Zaltana"

They pumped once and released--just like a couple of business for the first time Weird

"It’s a pleasure to finallyin the chair "Your résuers

Bruiser Two brought the tray over and placed it on Leif’s lap It contained a bowl of stew, a hunk of bread, cheese, a spoon, napkin and a large glass of water No knife

Bruns said, "Go ahead and eat I’e?"

"All I ask is that you hear me out That you don’t for at his bound ankles, Leif said, "What if I’ve already formed an opinion?"

Bruns inclined his head "That is an unfortunate necessity I’ve learned that a demonstration ofthan a discussion You cannot deny that ician such as yourself rather easily"

A protest over the word easily pushed up his throat, but he sed it down The ambush had been expertly set to appeal to his instincts and bypass Rusalka’s abilities "Did you neutralize my sister?"

"No My sources say Onora, the Commander’s new assassin, did"

He scoffed, "Your sources are wrong"