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I gave ers, and then, embarrassed by the attention, I nervously pulled out hter When Grizzie hissed, I cursed as I realized my mistake

"What the hell did you do to your hair?" she dehed I ed from Conleth’s Boston attack unscathed, but my hair hadn’t The first time I went to brush it out after the attack, I’d realized that my brush strokes were shorter in the very back I really needed to get it fixed, but I was afraid a hairdresser would cut all of it off, and I’d always had long hair

That said, I did look like I had an inverse mullet Plus, my hair was a constant reminder of the aeek I’d just had When I’d first gotten back to Rockabill, I’d been terrified every et a phone call while at work that my dad had been barbecued, or a phone call at home that Grizzie and Tracy had been torched in their beds I wasn’t big on getting attacked htened about my family and friends

Nell, however, had been a constant presence, popping up in the ive me a little wave of her chubby hand and a reassurance that she’d just checked on everyone Also, when Ryu hadn’t been able to get hold of Anyan, he’d sent Daoud and Caleb back with laoatier half, they’d i poker with my father and had only stopped to sleep and eat since Luckily, they played for pennies or I think both supes would have been wiped out financially They’d assuod father beat them at nearly every hand

Thankfully, however, there hadn’t even been a wisp of smoke to indicate that Conleth was in any are of who I was or where I lived He was definitely still in Boston, taking potshots at Ryu, Stefan, and their deputies whenever he got the chance But he see everyone and anyone as he had been the first round Which oing about it in the only bass-ackward, violent way he kne

Caleb and Daoud were scheduled to stay another few days, and I did finally feel safe again So even though I still hated the idea of leaving Ryu behind with a very powerful and veryRyu didn’t have to worry about et back to "nor, and for Ryu, thatdown baddies

And for Grizzie, itout about my hair

"Seriously, what the fuck did you do to it? It looks like it’s been burned It looks like shit…"

"Grizzie!" Tracy barked

"What?" my ever-so-honest friend whined "It does I mean, look at it!"

I buried my face in my hands as Grizzie picked up the sizzled bit at my nape and held it up for Tracy to see Even Tracy was flu this fixed,to let it grow out," I gasped, panicked

"Hell no You can’t just let that shit grow out It’s awful"

"I know, but I know a hairdresser will just cut it all, and I don’t want short hair! So I’row--"

"Nonsense," Grizzie snapped, pulling out her cell phone When I ain, she silenced me with a stern purple look And a kick to the shins

"Salim?" she cooed "I know this is last e En See Like of biblical proportions… No, not ht? But, yeah, she looks absolutely craptastic… If I get her there in one hour, can you work yourinto the phone

"C’o now to make it to Eastport in tilared up at her mutinously "I don’t want my hair chopped off!"

"Salienius And you look like a mental patient, Jane Even more than you did when you were a

"You are such a bitch, Griz" Then I reone crafty "I’ll go with you to see this Salio when you disappear" I figured I had her there That was her biggest secret, the thing no one knew besides Tracy She’d never agree to tell ly, her lips pursed Tracy appeared to be holding her breath Finally Grizzie nodded sharply

"Fine, Jane I owe you the truth after all these years And I’ve been wanting to talk to you, anyway We’ll kill two birds with one stone So get your coat"

Shocked, I did as she toldbehind her to her car I couldn’t believe, after all these years, Grizzie was going to tell me her secrets The question was…