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Instead of freaking out the way I had the night before, I felt oddly resigned I should have been worried, scared, and confused; instead I just wanted everything to be over

"If you tell et there, I’ll turn myself in to the police"

His head jerked inhis jaw line and the way his eyes flared

"You are not turning yourself in, not to anyone" His words were soft "Besides, they’re just saying that you’re a person of interest"

"I’ you doen" I sat up and noticed that my shoes were on the floor Had I taken those off or had Ohen he put me on the couch?

"Stop it, Ava" He closed the computer and sat it on the floor next to hi me down?"

"Well, yeah, a little When was the last time you slept?" I adjusted my sweater so it wasn’t twisted around ht that we’ve been here" It was still dark in the room, and the sun wasn’t fully up yet I watched hi about all that he had done for ive uard and you can slip away I’ll tell everyone that I ed "I’rew up on action movies They’ll buy it"

"No"

"Owen--"

"No They can’t protect you the way I can I realize I’ine, but I’ve got the skill set you need right now" He frowned "So players in the business are disappearing Soone Vanished No one has heard anything fro to need h it And you’reon You’re not the only one on the news They are reporting about Song and say he was the head of a sex slave ring, but they believe sos from behind the scenes Somehow you’re connected to all of this"

"So, I’m a means to an end?" I scrubbed at my face Made sense

"Yes No I don’t like it, but we need each other You won’t last long without et any information without you If I could, I’d ship you off somewhere reain" His voice took on an earnest tone and I caught a glimpse of vulnerability in his eyes