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A flamboyant dancer, Cary claimed a wide space on the floor, which made him and Ireland the focus of much attention He, however, only had eyes for his partner, playing the part of a completely spellbound date to perfection Even heartbroken, Ireland couldn’t help but be charh often, her cheeks prettily flushed with exertion

I’d missed that oops moment with Rick I’d hoped to witness, but I saw the result He was dancing with his girlfriend, woefully unable to compete with Cary in either skill or looks There was no , since both he and the blonde kept glancing at Cary and Ireland, ere clearly having far more fun

Terrence and Anne Lucas danced, too, but ise enough to stay on the other side of the dance floor

"Let’s go ho ended and we slowed to a halt, "and put some sweat on those diamonds"

I smiled "Yes, please"

We went back to our table to retrieve his plaque andus with my mother beside him

"What about Cary?" I asked

"Martin will take hi themselves"

It took us just as long to leave as it’d taken us to arrive, with soGideon and Stanton for the first tiratulations, butbrief but incisive coe and was inspired by it We’d have to talk about that when the ti delayed for so long was that it gave tiht around When we finally made it down to street level, Raúl informed us that the limo was only a block away Clancy shot me a quick s up now

Paparazzi waited outside Not as ether to in the lobby

"Sounds good" I pulled back "I could use a day at the spa"

"What a lovely idea" Her sed Stanton good-bye; Gideon shook his hand We stepped outside and the camera flashes burst around us The city welco traffic and the gentle war as su more time outdoors Autu I’d only enjoyed previously during short visits

Get down!

The shout barely registered before Gideon tackledoff the brick and ringing in ht beside us

We hit the carpeted paveht as someone threw themselves over Gideon Another bark of noise Then another Another …

Crushed Too heavy Breathe My lungs couldn’t expand My head pounded Oxygen God

I struggled Clawing at the red carpet Gideon clutched hter His voice was harsh inin my head

Air Can’t breathe … The world went black

14

"Christ Eva" I ran frantic hands over her lias pedal hard and the li me back into the seat

My wife lay deathly still across my lap, unresponsive to own or skin A pulse, hard and quick Her chest lifting and falling with each breath

Relief hit ainsther close "Thank God"

Raúl barked orders into the mic at his wrist The moment he shut up, I demanded, "What the fuck happened?"

He dropped his arun and opened fire Clancy got him"

"Was anyone hurt?"

"Monica Stanton went down"

"What?" My slowing heartbeat lurched back into a pounding rhythm I looked down at"Jesus How bad?"

He exhaled harshly "I’rabbed Mrs Cross and Mrs Stantonh the city