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whatever reason She didn't like Katarina, she knew the two of you had business dealings together, whatever The next day - the very next fucking day - you stroll into the Pork Pit and offer me an obscene ae enough, but then I find out that instead of hosting soe students take over your casino Not only that, but I find you looking oh so cozy with Eva "

"So what?" Kincaid scoffed

"So, this whole ti soht you ht even be in cahoots with Jonah McAllister Whatever yourway toward ce of the Ashland underworld "

Kincaid shrugged,with me

"But that's not it at all You don't care one daht ainst you, as sort of a backup bodyguard just on the chance she h, if that was true, you were taking a big risk, counting on me to save your miserable hide e've never said so much as how do you do to each other But in a way, that was true You wanted ht to protect someone, but it wasn't you - it was Eva "

I'd give Kincaid this - he had a hell of a poker face The only thing that gave hi of his eyes If I hadn't been watching for it, I would have ether But I knew I'd struck a nerve, and I decided to press e

"Now, Eva's a beautiful girl, and I' the ladies as uy But for some reason I don't fathom, you actually seem to care about Eva - quite deeply, fro her You should have kept your distance, Philly You gave yourself away, holding her like you did "

He opened his mouth to deny it or perhaps make some snide quip, but I cut him off

"Don't play games with me, Kincaid Eva and Owen are my faoing on with Salina And if there's one thing you should know about me, it's this - that I take care of the people I love, no matter what "

Kincaid looked at h "Well, apparently I'ht I was "

"No," I said in a quiet voice "No one ever is "

By this point, the coroner hadWe watched while he zipped it up and got his assistant to help hiurney, which the assistant pushed across the deck Kincaid winced as the wheels rattled over the wood I wondered if he was thinking that it could have just as easily been hiht

"Look," he finally said "Owen's right about one thing Salina and I never liked each other, but I'm not the villain he thinks I am It was Salina - it was always Salina She could twist Owen around her finger like nobody else ever could, not even Eva So if I were you, Gin, I'd worry less about me and more about her Because now that she's back in Ashland, it's only a ain And believe me when I tell you that Salina Dubois will do whatever she has to in order to get what she wants "

His o delivered, the casino boss stalked over to one of his giants and started speaking to the otherwith the coroner, while Xavier was taking stateiants who'd been on deck when Antonio rung out like a wet dishrag I glanced over the railing Down below in the parking lot, Violet was helping Sophia put the last of the supplies from the Pork Pit into the dwarf's convertible, while Owen and Eva stood off to one side, arguing

I looked at the Then I pulled outby the phone, because he picked up after the first ring