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"Good ," he said He was A

"Goodbreakfast," Phillip said He nudged the shoulder of the younger ht "Victor, move Letman simply picked up his plate and moved a few chairs down at the massive kitchen table, which was spread with all es and bacon Thick slices of brown bread and cheeses, along with the stuffed peppers he’d ss Pâté It was a feast fit for the group of massive men who filled the room

Phillip waved to the chair and Malachi sat down Rhys took the chair opposite hirin "That is, she would be if I’d cooked any of it"

"Who cooked?" Malachi asked, i to fill his plate For some reason, he felt as if he hadn’t eaten in days

Phillip nodded to another man who stood at the sink "You can thank Tas He may be froed and reached for a pack of cigarettes by the"I kno to cook because I’m from the country, you Alish He lit up the cigarette, scraping a hand over a jaw that looked like it hadn’t seen a razor in days

Phillip sh to uests, aren’t I?"

Rhys and Malachi shared a save what Malachi guessed was as close to a smile as he ever reached, then he turned back to the stove Phillip spoke again as the quiet huot in so late last night we didn’t get a chance to catch up"

Rhys said, "Life has been… interesting lately"

"I heard about the fire," Phillip said, shoveling eggs onto the edge of his toast "And that Damien went to the city to petition funds to rebuild" Phillip cast his eyes around the room and shook his head "Good luck to hiet promised funds for years now The bureaucrats are not very receptive I’ you’re on your way to join hilance with Rhys

Rhys said, "It’s a bit more complicated than that, Phillip" He directed his eyes toward the younger scribes at the other end of the table Phillip caught the glance and barked out so that sounded like an order Within minutes, the men had filled their plates with food and abandoned the roo Malachi, Rhys, and Leo alone with Phillip and the sullen Tas, who grabbed an ashtray and joined them at the table, a cup of black coffee in front of him

Phillip said, "Tas issaid to me can be shared with hi on? You seem different What’s happened to you?"

Leo said, "You don’t reen eyes er than you’ve been alive, boy"