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Brandon gave me his politician’s smile, the san He hadn’t announced anything yet, but I’d known for a while that he planned to run for King County Prosecuting Attorney when the position opened up in two years The current prosecutor would be retiring, and as head of the criical successor

“Sit down next to the bed,” I said quietly “We need to talk”

“Of course,” he replied, all concern The portrait of a loving husband Too bad there wasn’t a can poster, so long as they Photoshopped some color onto my cheeks

“She was a little girl,” I told him I hadn’t known ahead of time—I’d wanted it to be a surprise “They don’t knohy she died They said that soenetic abnormalities”

He sighed heavily, then looked down, shaking his head God, but the ood actor Guess that was my consolation—I wasn’t the only one who’d fallen for his shit There was a reason he alith juries

People wanted to believe him

“It’s probably for the best,” he said slowly “She wouldn’t have been healthy, and you have so n starts—”

I studied thethe drone of his voice There was just the hint of a bald spot on the top of his head Nothing serious, but I knew he’d s Drea it down through his skull Bone was hard, but I kept my knives very, very sharp

God, but I was a fucked-up excuse for a hu

“It’s over,” I said shortly, sliding er Brandon’s head jerked up, and he stared at enuine for once

“What?”

I held the sparkling jewelry out toward him, but he didn’t take it

“It’s over,” I repeated “This whole e was a mistake and I’d like you to leave now My laill be in touch—I’ll ask Ss, the better”

“Baby, I’etic, I could see the little vein in his forehead starting to pulse Brandon was angry Good

I was angry, too

“Get out of my roo across my empty stomach

“Tinker, they’ve obviously given you drugs for the pain—you’re not thinking right We need to talk this through You’ll see—”

“Oh, I see already Your as in the hospital, your child was dying, and you cared more about your conviction rate than our survival I think you’ve made your priorities clear”

For once—maybe for the first time ever—Brandon didn’t knohat to say He just sat there, staring atas that was, it wasn’t enough He needed to go away and never coe was over I should have felt liberated, but I couldn’t feel anything at all Probably for the best Grief yawned ahead of e to escape Wasn’t sure I wanted to

“Get out”