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My dad had castto see if I was going to sell him out He cut me off financially, disownedI could bring his lux and ostentatious world down around hi to make sure Dovie was insulated from him and his desperate machinations My father knew that Bax was in Dovie’s life, knew that no one was getting to her unless they went through hi her safe was top priority, always It was one of the iti

In all honesty, I was born to run numbers I had a mind custoraphic memory I remembered every name, every face, and every dollar amount owed and borrowed of the people I dealt with I didn’t need a spreadsheet, didn’t need to write anything down The feds would never find a little black book, never find incriin, safe and sound Itthe lines and the spreads easier as well I had endless scores, a to be recalled when needed It was pretty sweet forwhat they didn’t have to lose I didn’t forget, so there was absolutely no wiggling out of a debt, no tying to argue ed, which is why the garage was full of boosted cars waiting on their owners to be accountable

I poured another Scotch and was stripping down to hop in a shower before bed whenIt alent off People wanted to place bets, wanted to ask fortone trilling throughout the loft belonged to Dovie, so I droppedwith the shower There was nohot or freezing cold

“Bax just left He should be there shortly” It was a twenty-minute drive from the heart of the city to the burbs where Bax and Dovie lived, which meant he could make it in ten

She laughed a little It always made my heart swell to hear the unfiltered joy she had inside of her now

“He’s home already I just wanted to check on you Brysen mentioned there was a shootout at the party, and Bax told ain”

There was censure there I never would’ve thought I would be in a place where un

“They were just kids It was fine”

“Whenever sootten hurt”

By “someone,” I assumed she meant Brysen They were close and Dovie didn’t haveI needed to be ritty tied to s

“I ot out safe”

Dovie sighed “Thank you, but I was talking about you too, Race I can’t have anything happen to you”

We all had wounds that were still trying to ether in the aftermath of Novak’s fall

“I know, girly I know”