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‘Don’t ever put yourself in har her cheek with er’ Her voice is sepulchral

‘You don’t knohat she is capable of’

She starts suddenly, her body tense Fuck, I shouldn’t have said that

‘What is she capable of?’ she asks, hoarse with fear

‘She won’t hurt Sorab He is her bargaining chip’

She sags with relief She’s falling apart in front ofI can do about it ‘Why didn’t you tell ?’

‘Because you would have said no’

‘Dao’

‘I’m sorry I screwed up’

‘Don’t be sorry You didn’t screw up Tellshe said and did It could be important’

So we sit beside each other and she tellscalmly and clearly while I listen intently When she is finished I am so furious I want to kill that mad bitch I try my best not to show the fury

She searches one Or at least I should have had a plan I’ things and ceone, but I try to sound war you have said or done has changed the outco you was only one small aspect’

‘Why do you say that?’

‘She wants to see me tomorrow at ten am’

Her eyes becoht after you left her So you see it was all planned First hu table’

‘What does she want? You?’

I curl my arm around her possessively ‘No Not ive a dae I just don’t knohat that entails Yet’

Twenty

Blake Law Barrington

I walk into the red brick building and suddenly I am in a different world I pause for a moment at the entrance The air is cool and filled with an air of slow dreaerously busy world outside The air of lethargy pervades the staff They talk to me slowly and clearly—all their movements are calm and deliberate

One of the reception staff shows me into a private room There is a ith floral curtains, and a fe, blue-gray padded seats A plastic coffee table with a few outdated, well-thu her down shortly,’ she says quietly, and closes the door quietly I walk to theand look out MyI realize I aile Lana looked thiswhen I touched her cheekbone ‘Don’t think about me,’ she whispered fiercely ‘Only him’

‘Hello, Blake’

I whirl around I was so lost in hts I did not hear her enter For aheld by Brian and another man while she clawed and screamed bloody murder Now she stands before ined I had expected wild-eyed passion, a burning desire for revenge Not this angel of mercy act

‘Hello, Victoria’

She co a dress, blue with polka dots It doesn’t suit her The dress rides up her thighs and she pulls it down des, but sits with her knees close together I’ll admit she has me confused

She looks up at me There is amusement in her eyes My God, she has taken the upper hand I aetI have been about Victoria I walk to the seat next to hers She watches me carefully I spread hs, and fix her with an even look I don’t know if she buys my relaxed pose I a face

‘How isin the lap of luxury’