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"Ash," he said quietly Unafraid of her, he nonetheless knehen a wounded animal required a softer approach than he would usually consider He crouched close enough to see her features, not about to touch her if she was close to exploding "Ashley Are you ready to leave?"

She shifted and lifted her head Her eyes were haunted and her features tight "He was here"

"Who?"

She wordlessly handed hi Jonny smelled the blood before he opened it and saw the severed hand He nudged the top off the ring box next and observed the body parts before hie they were pieces of her brother He had hardened himself to violence and what his people were capable of

"Do you think they can sew it back on?" she whispered

"No, Ash, I don't"

She nodded as if expecting the answer "We have to find him, Jonny"

"We will" In that moment, he was surprised to realize how serious he was Brandon had been a side h the future of his va Ashley's tortured look, however, left hi cold inside

"We better go" Gathering her knives, she pushed herself to her feet with effort

Jonny rose as well "You okay?"

"Does it matter?"

It shouldn't "You're in shock, Ash"

"I'ue He had seen shell shocked vaanization Hell, he had spent his first two years in a state of shock and disbelief Such phases nor he had on his plate, walking Ashley through this wasn't a task he had planned for

"C'aze lingered on it She put her weapons away and accepted his offer Jonny Traveled back to the Virginia hideout and materialized outside of her room She released hiht?" she asked acidly

"Get cleaned up I'll wait"

She didn't acknowledge hilanced down at the boxes he carried He had a feeling tossing the the but neither did he blink at the thought of keeping severed body parts in his fridge The s, the scent of human blood detectable to his sensitive nostrils no matter where he stood in his suite

He Traveled to the kitchen in his suite and left the boxes in the fridge before returning to Ashley's room