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"Plus, they would be idiots to go against so what I’d do to anyone who even thought about it"

"No one will forget what you did to Covington" I wouldn’t either I had a strong stomach, but even I’d been disturbed by it all I hadn’t been disturbed by Jared, though I’d always known that he wasdifferent The second Covington had put a knife to Antonio’s throat – the only decent paternal influence Jared had ever had – he’d signed his death warrant It was really that siton had also wantedworse

"That was the whole idea No one’s going to forget any of what happened Every vampire asn’t there will hear the tale – it’ll ood thing" Fisting his hand in ainst mine "I swear I almost died when you told Iain, Sam You can’t sacrifice yourself for other people – not even forthe tips of ers up and down his back

His s of the bond, baby Not here" He tookshell without you"

"But at least you would have been alive"

"I’d have been breathing, sure But I’d have been dead inside" Though his voice was still low, it had turned gruff as his tightly controlled anger began to seep to the surface "I’d have stuck around long enough to avenge what had happened to you, but that’s all You wouldn’t have savedImani cut the bond And if you think the others would have wanted you to sacrifice yourself for the Even Antonio, who had had a knife to his throat, had been angry withit "You wouldn’t have offered your life for everyone else’s?"

He pinnedwithout you I can’t do that If that makes me selfish, there’s not a lot I can do about it I’ve told you over and over, Sam, you come first I know that no one’s ever put you first before so you just can’t grasp that or understand it But you co, scary, and yet also sent a blaze of war yourself to feel worthy of everyone’s loyalty – and don’t say that’s not part of why you do it, I know you" With his eyes still holdinger "You are worthy You’re worthy of everything that you have The people here, the squad – they’re all loyal to you because they respect you and they care for you"

"They shouldn’t I’m stubborn, sarcastic, so direct it’s"

"You’re you – that’s all it takes for people to like you and respect you A lot of people who are straight-shooting…they’re only happy to be so blunt when talking about others They’re not so upfront about who they are, what flaws they have, and what their issues are But you don’t hide who you are You don’t act You don’t play ames People always knohere they stand with you" He slid both his ar my mouth "It’s part of what I love about you It’s what drew me to you in the first place Of course your husky voice and your delectable body had a lot to do with it too"

I sainst his mouth "That’s because you’re a randy bastard"

"I don’t hear you cohly benefit frohadn’t really bothered , I wasn’t suicidal or anything, but I was fine with being rash and i a va appointed as Antonio’s Heir – I’d always thought of it asthe best out of a bad situation, out of a life I’d never wanted That hy I was never what anyone would call ‘happy’ You changed that You lad to have it You made me want more"