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Her brother stared at her “What are you doing here?”

“She’s with me” No charm in Janvier’s expression now, only a cool, deadly intensity that had never been directed at Ashwini “You aren’t one of the cattle”

Arvi flinched “Certainly not I was called here to provide medical assistance”

“I wasn’t aware you did house calls,” Ashwini said, her brain running on automatic

“It was a favor for a friend” He pinned her with the near black of his eyes “I’ll expect you for dinner in the next week”

Ashwini stared after him as he strode past her and down the pathway on that coh the silver in his hair ht be a touch more apparent, his face ree into handsoance And his s seen it only once since she was nine

“He’s the one, isn’t he?” Janvier asked, voice rough and expression dark “The boy whose photo you carry in your phone, the one who hurt you”

She realized he’d gotten the wrong idea, but the door filled with another body before she could correct hireen eyes were round orry until they alighted on Janvier “Janni!” She leaped into his ar eer in evidence when he said, “Petite Marie May”

Folding her arirl tried to kiss Janvier on theelse, taking the kiss on his cheek before setting her down “What are you doing here, Marie?” he asked hat Ashwini recognized as genuine concern “Last I saw you, you were set on beco a star of the silver screen, non?”

Marie beamed, her expression so earnest, it was scary “I live with Giorgio” She stroked her hands down her ankle-length gown of crea “I serve him”

“When did this happen?” A soft question “You are barely out of pigtails”

Marie’s curls bounced as she slapped Janvier playfully on the chest, clearly not realizing how angry he’d beco sparkled on her index finger “Giorgio and I met at the studios—he’s a producer, you know”

“I see He plans to share your talent with the world?”

“Not yet” Mariefor the piranha pit and should be twenty-one at least before I start He got h”—a clap of her hands, the sh beam—“so I’ll be ready when it’s tiio, Ashwini held her silence while Janvier whispered in Marie’s ear, the rich brown strands of his hair sliding to touch the gold of hers The sight should’ve made Ashwini jealous It didn’t Because Janvier’s capacity for loyalty was unrelenting and she had his unspoken proive it back, regardless of her desire to hoard it close

S away to a faded watercolor of its previous self, Marie bit down on her lower lip, her lanced over her shoulder “I shouldn’t say” It was a whisper