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"Wow"

Bones came back inside I didn't look up, but concentrated on my food When I was done, I rinsed my plate, put it in the dishwasher, and started back toward my room

"Just a moment, Kitten," Bones said I paused, half up the stairs He held out soht "Did you want this back?"

I glanced down at otten about etof Denise and Randy's safety, then not even re That whole tortured-and-al No wonder Bones was treatinglike one

"Thank you," I said, looking him in the eye "I do want it back, of course"

No ht, ht Bones to see the error of his ways over treatingup on us Not now, not ever

Bones allad to hear it"

He came up the stairs I stretched out , Bones slid it on er The cool touch of his skin on le of his powerall of itet about the world around us

But there was soon than just the two of us, and hoe felt Who would have ever guessed thatout to be the easiest part of our relationship? I reest obstacle to our having a life together Now I knew the stakes were her

"I'ive me the location where you'll be I'll pick you up afterward"

I let my hand slide from his "What time?"

"Before dawn, but not by much"

It wasn't even eight Bones had along party planned for Max "Uh huh," was all I said

He inhaled with a slow breath Maybe he was gauging my emotions by my scent "I love you," he said at last, and then left without waiting to see if I said it back

He was already down the stairs by the time I murmured my reply

"I love you, too"

I gave the interior of the new building a once-over "Cozy For a bomb shelter"

"It will be much more difficult for anyone to monitor," Don pointed out "The exterior looks like a private airport, and the underground levels are extensive We'll add upgrades each day until it's completed"

"Oh, I like it"

Rattler, Zero, and Tick Tock looked around with curiosity as well Don hadn't been wild about three strange va ue with Bones Rodney, Cooper, and risly field trip Juan didn't, so he was perusing the facility as well

"Where's the team?" I asked

"On the fourth sub-level They're busyroom"

I sed It would be a huge undertaking to get everything up to speed, and it was all my fault I was the one with the homicidal father who'd found out where our last facility was, after all

"I'?"

Don shook his head "No I' to check on so routed correctly"

I left hins Juan and my three undead watchers trailed me

I did a couple hours of lifting and s into so those three undead bodyguards came in handy, since they could hoist cars on their shoulders if they wanted to We made the most of them with the really heavy iteh I was sure this wasn't they had in mind when they were told to watchplatform in place when Don walked in He waved me over, an odd expression on his face

"What's wrong?" I asked at once, checking my cell to make sure I hadn't missed any calls

"Nothing Co you should see"

"Why does everyone think being cryptic is cool?" I wondered Don didn't answer He just headed back up and leftand followed as well If only my team were so obedient

I was still gruot to Don's office His door was closed, and I yanked it open-and then stopped in my tracks

Tate stood on the other side of it Indigo eyes ringed with green gazed at lanced at ht, only a day since he'd been changed

"He's h to be let out for a short while," Annette said She was standing a little off to the side behind him "Remarkable, really"

Pink tears slid out of Tate's eyes as he stared at me

"I'll never forgiveBelinda as bait on jobs, and it al sorry"

I touched his face, wiping away those pink streaks "It's not your fault, Tate No one saw this co"

He grasped otten to you I had to see for ht"

Tate grabbedme so hard, I knew I'd have bruises He was probably unaware of it, not having had th

I pushed at hi me too hard"

He let ered "Oh Christ, I can't do anything right!"

It hadn't escaped uards were very close by Their energies coiled in the air, as if the snow, coal, and Western-themed vampires were just about to strike

"Ease down, guys," I told them

"You shouldn't be so close to a new vampire," Rattler said "It's not safe"

Tate's eyes went green "Who the fk are they?"

"Bones's way of being overprotective They're ets here sometime later"

Annette cocked her head "Is Crispin dealing with Max tonight?"