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“Trust oes without saying to watch your six while you’re here Probably not a bad idea to stick together”

“Seriously?”

“Do I think you’re gonna be attacked by a ht that Cecilia was safe at the club in Sacramento, and look how that turned out I know the old tiotta work on the assumption that there’s a mole, even if there isn’t”

“You know I can take care ofwhen she saw the look on my face “Yeah, okay, I hear you I’ll keep my eyes open”

“Good”

I sighed as I took a sip of ht, and now that the sun was beginning to rise, exhaustion was riding o days with no sleep, and I’d had to do that sometimes in the past—my line of workhome, in the safety of the clubhouse, was like a warm blanket on a cold day Instant drowsiness

“Hey, stranger,” Brenna said as she strode toward us “Nice of you to stop in and say hi”

“Hey Brenna,” I said, accepting the hug she offered The s in the car with her to theholes in the ends ofshe’d bought me New sneakers and a pair of flip-flops One pair of jeans and three pairs of shorts One hoodie, three t-shirts and two tank tops All nas my mother would have never been able to afford

She must still wear the same perfume

“You guysout to squeeze ot some open ones”

“Sounds good,” I said as I stood I finished offas it burned all the way down

“You could’ve brought it with you,” Brenna said with a laugh

“It’s habit,” Lu said with a smile “Finish it up while you can—don’t knohen you’ll have another opportunity”

“I have a feeling you have tons of stories about this one,” Brenna said, pointing at me “I’ll have to pick your brain later”

“Hey,” I complained

“I’ve got soreed

“Well, if you’d visit more than once a year,” Brenna said as she led us to the hallway, “I wouldn’t have to ask your friends about your life”

I glanced across the roo on Cecilia onewith her ar about her posture that indicated how unco about her stanceher out of there