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Spencer glanced at a serving girl across the roo, "Never would have took you for a coward, Blackwood"

John shot back another glass of whiskey "Not a coward, Spencer Just a man"

"Aren't we all" Spencer's attention was still focused on the girl, who couldn't have been more than thirteen "What do you think of that one, eh?"

]ohn just shrugged again, not feeling especially co this past month was Ana, came over and set a plate of food in front of him He thanked her in Spanish She nodded and smiled, but before she could leave, Spencer had pulled her onto his lap

"Aren't you a nice piece?" he drawled, his hand creeping up and covering her barely lish "I-"

"Leave her alone," John said sharply

"Christ, Blackwood, she's just a-"

"Leave her alone"

"You're an ass sometimes, did you know that?" Spencer pushed Ana off of his lap, but not before giving her backside a vicious pinch

John forked a bite of rice into his mouth, chewed, sed, and said, "She's a child, Spencer"

Spencer flexed his hand "Not the way I felt it"

John just shook his head, not wanting to have to deal with hiotta go piss"

John watched him leave and turned back to his supper He'd not taken more than three bites before Ana's mother appeared at the table

"Señor Blackwood," she said, speaking in a lish and Spanish she knew he understood "That man-he touchto rid hisher for long?"

"All week, Señor All week She no like it She frightened "

John felt disgust roiling the contents of his stomach

"Don't worry, Señora," he assured her "I'll make sure he leaves her alone She'll be safe from my company"

The woman bowed her head "Thank you, Señor Blackwood Your word comforts me" She returned to the kitchen where, John presu

He went back to work on hiswith it Closer and closer to oblivion He craved it these days Anything to wipe his

Spencer returned, wiping his hands on a towel as he entered "Still eating, Blackwood?" he asked