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Silence

Who knew that the parking lot to a private club could be this quiet? Just the huh a few trees swirls in the cold air I stare at Alice as she starts to shiver, and I’ her into my warmth

“I mean it, Alice I’m here for you Now Forever Tell me what you need and it’s yours”

She looks up at me with tears in her eyes, and her voice is shaky when she says: “My sister—”

“Alice!” The voice co glance and she falls silent

“Finish what you were saying, your sister, what?”

“This is uy with the scar? That’s Popcorn Lydia owes hi here to pay forLydia to pay off her debts, otherwise I would have quit I was supposed to rand to use the money to pay off the debts, then quit You wouldn’t have known if you hadn’t come here And, why are you here?” She frowns “Did you follow ?”

“Sorry, it’s just…it’s me”

“What’s you?”

“I’m the person that wants to buy the brooch It’s a family heirloom That’s the only reason I’m here”

“Really?”

I don’t notice the bouncer until he clears his throat standing about ten feet away “It’s true, Al, he’s the guy that asked for you”

I nod “Alice, how much money do you need?”

“A lot The offer youto cover it”

“Do you trust me?”

She nods

“Then let’s go sort this mess out”

11 – Alice

“Howa growing black eye around his blind white eye and there’s tissue paper stuffed in his nose so that when he speaks it sounds like he has a cold

“Get the fuck out of my club, before my bouncers throw you out”