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She was still walking, ducking under low branches as they walked over the forest floor covered with pine needles He could barely hear her steps as she headed even farther off the path, toward a rocky outcropping that overlooked a desolate beach

"Ava!"

She stopped Turned And pointed a gun at his chest

"Why don’t you stop lying now, Malachi?" she asked softly, her voice chilling hianization’ and who really hired you?"

Slowly, he brought his hands together in front of his body, subtly tracing the tales hi"

"Please put the gun down" He washerself or soun--"

"You are not ordering me around, Malachi" Her hands didn’t tremble on the weapon She stood in a ready stance, obviously well-acquainted with the weapon "You’re not being honest with "

"Really?" he stepped closer "And how do you know that, Ava?"

"I just do" Her eyes were cold Nothing re, friendly woman he’d coain softly "Put the gun down Do you really think I would hurt you?"

For the first time all day, he saw her expression crack "I don’t knohat to think"

"I have been with you for over teeks If I wanted to hurt you--"

"Who hired you, Malachi?"

"--I could have done it But I won’t, because I don’t want that"

"Just tellfor"

He took another step closer, holding his hands out "You don’t understand"

"No, I don’t!" Her voice rose "Why don’t you take this opportunity to explain it to un pointed at your chest!"

"Please, Ava--"

"Stop saying athered at the corner of her eyes "You’re a liar And I trusted you"

He shook his head "I would never hurt you"

"You already have!"

"Ava, put the gun down"

"Just tellon!"

"Don’t you understand I can’t!" he shouted, then muttered a frustrated curse under his breath