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Grabbing my wallet out ofher with her legs wrapped aroundthe last of her clothing off She reaches for th Te me to slide into her I would I know I’m clean, and don’t doubt for a second that she is, too, and I’d do anything to feel her bare, just once

But I also know Amber

She nuzzles her face in the crook ofout to run alongher by the back of one thigh, pushing it up and out

I sink into her and she s

"Stay Please, stay"

She clasps either side ofup intoat the tip of her tongue But whatever it is she’s thinking, she doesn’t say Finally, she reaches around and, seizing the back of my head firmly, she pulls my mouth down to hers

TWENTY-SIX

Amber

The sound of the door shutting downstairs wakes lance next to led in the sheets, his face so boyish in sleep

I’ht I called Alex, looking for advice froive s I still hold for River But she leftup

Now that I’ve had tis are clearer For one, I truly understand why my father retired

It’s because he broke the law He was the law, and he went against everything he has always stood for, has always preached It wasn’t si yes-or-no answer He made a series of choices, took several actions, told many lies, which would, if anyone ever discovered it, tarnish his exemplary reputation forever

And he did it all to protect Jesse And Alex, of course But mainly, to protect Jesse Because while my brother made some bad choices that led hiet Alex and himself out of it

I walked away froely coe that , found hiainst the law he so adas worked out for the better because he did

I walked away fronore the reality that I so desperately wish this could all work out for us, despite what he is I know that it can’t, but just accepting ive myself permission to enjoy the little time that I do have left with him

I move carefully, so as to not wake River, and roll out of bed, throwing onout The sreet me as I descend the stairs Rowen sits at the table, shirtless and reading the newspaper The creaking botto!" He takes a sip, his eyes casually skating over es Would the story have made the paper’s cutoff time for today?

He clears his throat drahborhood after reports of a suspicious vehicle parked down the street from an address known to law enforcement officials for its affiliations to dissident republican activities Two anized crime have been arrested, eapons Gardai believe this is related to recent events in Dublin’ "

So they weren’t surprised to find two potential hit us’s house I wonder if Duffy was there "That’s all?"

He holds the paper up to showfront and center in the dusk, the "For Sale" sign at the bottoet the known address included I’ at the bit"