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He didn’t need to hear her growl to know it had This h

“The cops are here,” he said needlessly, since the thin s didn’t block out the sound of approaching sirens “One of the goons is in the building across the street watching from the ”

“The police will protect ether before she shook the to toss off the nerves “Won’t they?”

Castillo turned, his careful gaze assessing as they swept the rooed

“Probably But they don’t knohat they’re up against, so whatever protection they offer h”

“You can tell them,” she insisted

“No can do, sweetheart Missions are confidential If my superiors want the cops filled in, they’ll do it But I’ve gotta warn you, they’re out of the country for the next little while A week, at least”

“But my apartate”

He had to hand it to her—she didn’t get hysterical or dramatic Her tone was even, her expression caler and just a hint of fear Since she was a wo and experience told him that she’d be safer if that fear stayed front and center So he went for honesty instead

“Yep Chances are the police will suggest you stay with a friend while they do” He eyed her living rooot any friends with disposable furniture?”

“You’re exaggerating”

“Okay” Doet a woree with her It didn’t put them in a friendlier mood, per se Mostly it tended to s his way out of sheer contrariness

Was it any wonder he loved them?

“I’d guess you have about threethe distance of the sirens and the traffic “You wanna take your chances with the cops, deal with the results while they figure out what’s going on, that’s fine You wanna corab your stuff I’m outta here in two minutes”

Biting her lip, she glanced at the broken glass splintered across her floor, then at the

“Would you be takingshe didn’t know anything about what her nonexistent brother did for a living