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"Talk to me"

"It started out with a decrease in street people Shelters and churches who feed the hoers started disappearing"

"Howabout for them to have killed more than a hundred huheads to take on, but since I wasn’t working alone now, and since ere sh to split them up and not take theotiation: tell Big H that I’ll take the job if he pays for housing I liked that place we stayed last tiot a deal"

"You left that place rather the worse for wear You won’t stay anywhere else?"

Rather the worse for wear didn’t half cover it We had been attacked by blood-servants and had shot the old, pre–Civil War one, but I liked the place and I knew for certain that the house, garage, and grounds had been repaired because I’d seen the work order at va yes to a job offer without negotiation h "Nope," I said

I heard keys clacking in the background and pulled off my helmet Cold air bit my sweat-damp scalp "There’s the Hampton Inn and Suites in don," he said "Natchez Inn and Suites looks nice"

I letto talk otiation for real, which ed and kneas out of the picture "Nah That house," I said

"There’s a Days Inn and several other three star B and Bs And there’s the Natchez Grand I can book you a roo my amusement sound inI’d been hiding in et back to you But if you can get the house, you’ll take the job?"

"Housing and all costs above and beyonda tea with you," he growled

"And I gotta pay the boys Yes or no?"

"I’ll have an answer for you by ten am Oh, and by the way, the Naturaleza and soue" The connection ended, and I stared at the cell I hated it when convos ended up with the other guy having the last word I helmeted up for the trip back across the river That had been fun Which was a clear indication thatti ona whole lot better when I pulled into the side gate and parked my bike I patted Bitsa fondly and left the helmet perched on the seat Insidedown to breakfast My plate was in s and a rasher of bacon onto it as I entered I dropped the leather jacket--which was a little tight across the shoulders now--and poured hot tea, sreen This was the best part of having hired the boys My h in protein, and no one griped aboutin Eli, forreat short-order cook

Two eggs later, I realized that no one else was eating, and looked up "What?"

"You’re s," Eli said

"So?"

"You’ve been a bitch for a month," the Kid said