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"Nothing was ever good enough and while I didn’t care as long as I had Killian, my brother needed someone too He was like a parent to me, so I’ve always had that kind of support and love in my life But Killian lost his when our parents died He didn’t have someone older to protect and love him His dad is a criminal who has spent more time in prison than out--he’s currently behind bars--and est tiot hard But when he realized that wasn’t going to happen, Killian strove to prove soht more success to that label in the years he’s worked there than the label has seen in its entire thirty years Do you think es that? Never And as much as I try to convince Killian otherwise, all that does is drive hiet that elusive pat on the shoulder

"It’s never co" She looked desolate "And I don’t want "

"Like Sisyphus," Ithat damn boulder up a hill only for it to roll back down, an eternity of futility"

"Exactly But into roll back down and flatten hiht had been placed onme this, Autumn? I doubt veryso personal about hiers passing in my peripheral like blurs She seeht Killian would be so angry atto ask you not to repeat any of this But I’m worried about you both I’ because we know they will, Skylar I’m worried for you and for my brother And I don’t want you to hate him"

"I don’t hate hi almost prophetic

Confused, I shook my head "Why? Why does it matter if I hate hi like hi like hi fluttered inworse Like excite to do with an walking again "The tiued, but I did it knowing that deep doe hadn’t spoken in days because we had connected that night in the apartment I suspected that freaked O’Dea out No wonder It would be the height of stupidity to explore that connection

"Busker Girl?" a familiar voice called out before Autuaze to the entrance of Argyle Arcade Sitting on her own, shivering in a hoodie and sleeping bag was Mandy

IAutu voice as she followed oing?"

She grinned at ht as rain So ye dropped the fake accent" Her gaze flickered to Autumn and narrowed a little "Got yerself a rich sponsor?"

"This is ave him the heave-ho"

"I’ into herself "The onnae kill himself I dinnae want to be there when he does" Her eyes dropped to my cast "What happened to ye, then?"

"Little prick tried to steal"I alorried about ye, Busker Girl"

"You were right to But I’hed, deep and racking It sounded like the chill had wrapped itself around her rib cage

Feeling overwhel sadness and concern for her, I stood and turned to Autumn who looked confused and distressed "How ot?" I murmured under my breath

"There’s a cash machine," she whispered "How much do you need?"

It was offered without hesitation A wave of affection for this woman hit me so hard, it took me a minute to answer "I’ll pay you back," I promised

"How much do you need?"

"A hundred?" I wanted to say e

She nodded and walked away, and I turned back to Mandy "How’s life been treating you?"