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But I knew Ray wasn’t the cold-blooded killer he thought he could be and regret would haunt hi the thrum of his tension in the set of his shoulders How could I help him?

"She’s all yours, Ray Make your choice" I raked her with my eyes and pinned her where she stood

"You froze her" Ray turned and faced et away fro Or let her go Lucky’s promised to leave town I don’t think she’ll be interested in co in

I’d left Lucky’s eyes mobile and she blinked frantically as if to say she was lanced at her then back to ain

"She doesn’t deserve to live, Glory" His voice was low as he leaned his forehead againstthis ever since…"

"I know, Ray I do" I slidbeard "Look at me Please" He leaned back and it took h to step back and let you take her out if that’s what you need to do But please let Lucky go" I felt his jaw tighten under ertips

"Glory…"

"Don’t do it for me, Ray, do it for yourself You’re vampire Done deal We can’t turn back the clock"

"That’s the problem, babe" He looked down at the stake, the sharp point too close to his own lean stoain God knows I’ve done everything in ain "Sorry, but you kno I feel about losing daylight If I’d had a choice, like you did… Shit But I didn’t" He gritted his teeth "She took the choice out of my hands and that’s what I just can’t accept"

"Well, accept this, Israel Caine" I gripped his hand that held that stake "You’re stuck Get over it" I sighed and kissed his cheek "I’d hoped you’d becoh by now to realize how th, enhanced senses Daainst it Find the beauty and stopwhat you can’t freakin’ have"

"Shit" One ar ain "Guess I have turned into a whiny SOB, haven’t I?" Ray’s ht smile "But I want to kill her so das But I’ve got to believe that soet what she deserves Divine justice What goes around, comes around Karet hers in the end Can’t we leave it at that?" I took the stake froood man, Ray That’s just one reason I love you, whines and all What say we let her go now and then get the hell out of here?"

"Yeah I want to hold you, be with you, before you leave And, no, I’ for me in Scotland But I’ll send Will with you How’s that?" He kissed rily "Damn, Glory I can’t believe I let you talk me out of this"

"Neither can I" Ian walked into the rooo stand by the terrace doors, then release Ms Carver, Gloriana I’ll deal with the fallout" Ian nodded toward Lucky "I’ve got a note here for Cae passed by Kilpatrick Will you take it forto aggravate the feud, is it? I don’t trust you" I stared down at it I was too anxious about Ray right now to get into Ian’s thoughts I was pretty sure they were still in that indecipherable Gaelic anyway, the note too I aardly held that stake, not about to hand it to Ian, though I was desperate to be rid of it

"It shouldn’t if Campbell is reasonable" Ian smiled like he doubted that "Good luck" He nodded at Ray "I’ll see you another night Enjoy your daylight"

"I always do Now if you get the urge to poison that bitch"--Ray glanced at Lucky--"go with it No great loss"

"I’ to see that some people think so Please just take off Gloriana?" Ian raised an eyebrow

"She’s thawed" I stuck the note in my bra then ran out the door behind Ray We shifted, only stopping long enough to get Will from the front lahere I handed hiot there it was quiet and Ray pulledroo me down the hall to either the playroo to evade the shon