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"Youmy chest squeeze painfully

"I don’t think that I never would"

She blinks, and a tear slides over the row up Because this is what happens"

I’ain "Listen to ht--they’re like poisonous snakes that hide behind the colors of harmless ones That’s how they survive It’s not your fault You couldn’t have known"

"You would’ve known"

I tilt enerally o byAnd it tears at irl who’ll leap off a cliff without bothering to look--she’ll take a running start and launch herself off it Ar to take that away froood in people, Ellie You trust That’s a good way to be, a brave way I’ll watch ain You just be who you are Leave the rest to me"

She wipes her eyes dry "So it’s like ayou ju?"

"No" I take her hand in ainst her knuckles "You jumpand I’ll be there to catch you"

Slowly, I lean forward and press a gentle kiss to her forehead, like it’s the er on her petal-soft skin, inhaling the scent of orange blossom and a touch of jasmine

Then I turn around, and walk back down the hall

The next security shift arrives at eleven pm, like always, to relieve Tommy and me We take the lift down, but rather than head out as usual, we circle around and wait in the alley by the back exit of the building Toainst the wall

I check my watch and count, four, three, two

The door opens--and Nicholas Pely while To, Your Highness"

His features go s about I was just going for a walk"

"Yeah" Tohs "A walk all over the cunt’s face who put his hands on Ellie"

The Prince clenches his jaw and I gesture between Tommy and me "That’s why you keep us around"

"To keep you out of trouble," Toonna sue us--we don’t have a pot to piss in or ato throw it out of"

I shrug "We all look the same in these clothes anyway--no one can tell us apart"

Nicholas tries to argue, but I go on, "And besides, you’ve got bigger tasks to handle"

"What sort of tasks?"

The door opens at the top of the steps and a few seconds later, Lady Olivia steps outside

And she’s carrying her bat

"Like ives his wife an exasperated look But she’s unrepentant

"Like you weren’t thinking the exact sa"

A voice drifts fro down, arms crossed She reaches towards her sister with a scowl

"Let’s go, Negan--hand Lucille over"

Olivia rolls her eyes and gives up the o Noant your proht now, that you’ll leave it alone" She looks at her sister first "Liv?"

She’s unhappy, but she gives in "Fine I promise I’ll leave it alone"

Then Ellie lays eyes on her brother-in-law A man knohen he can’t win "You have my word, Ellie"