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"Has it worked out? Giving Gavin another chance?"

"Oh, definitely We have a ways to go I have to trust he won’t leave again But we’re working through it"

Sabrina sered the card "Do you think you’ll be ready to go when they discharge you?"

I flooded with relief I had passed "Definitely I just need to catch up on school"

"I’m sure you’ll do well Good luck, Corabelle" She shookback the covers, too antsy to stay in bed I had done it I would be free soon I frowned at the strange heavy feeling in my chest when I stood up, but it didn’t ering issue Soon I would be hoh the s as I lifted the blinds and looked out over the city I could text Gavin to co me some clothes By Monday I’d be back at school like none of this ever happened

I pressedin the coolness onto be perfect from now on

9: Gavin

My phone buzzed for the third time in a half hour as I dropped the hood of a Tahoe into place and wiped lanced at the screen toher some clothes

Nope, still Rosa, a prostitute I used to visit in Mexico

I didn’t knohat she wanted, but I quit seeing her completely once Corabelle ca with paid women was over and done

But three calls in a short periodon with her The last tiht with a un She lived in a tough neighborhood, and "Sideburns"for me I hoped that this hadn’t somehow come back to involve her

I tossed the keys to Mario and said, "I think I need to answer this," and headed out the back door I punched the call button and braced ot silence at first, then finally she said, "Gavinito"

"I’ me"

"I -- I must speak with you now" Her voice was shaky, and I pictured that asshole fro behind her with a knife at her throat

"Are you okay? Is so probleainst the bricks of the back wall of the garage "Rosa, I can’t coirlfriend now She wouldn’t like it"

The line went silent again

"I’ht? Do you need uess I could try She’d been there for al vasectomy, lost and in pain

"That is not it I -- I don’t knohat to say How to say it"

"Are you in some sort of trouble?"