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He wastes no time on pleasantries when I answer the phone “Have you found her?”

Even though I’d located her three days ago, I lie “Just today”

“And?” he prompts

“She’s in a sh” I don’t offer anything more

Anatoly is silent for a few moments, but his next words catch me by surprise “Take her out”

“Take her out?” I repeat

“Yes, yes,” he exclaims impatiently “Eliminate her”

“When?”

“Now,” he snaps “Get it done and return to New York”

I grit rown child, despite the fact that we’re both thirty-five “I need time to plan this so it’s done cleanly with no blowback on me and, more iet to know her patterns Figure how I’ to do it Where to dispose of her”

“Throw her in the fucking Allegheny River for all I care,” he growls I can just envision hi back and forth in front of his desk, fists clenched and desperate for me to carry out his dirty work I’ve come to know him well in the past two years

I take in a breath before slowly letting it out “I’iveprison over some chick who broke your heart, whom you noant offed”

Anatoly snarls “Watch it, Griffin”

At achev is extreerous “I need at least a feeeks She’s not going anywhere I’ured out, I’ll be able to take her out in the way that best protects us all”

“Fine,” he mutters “You have teeks”

“Thank you,” I reply softly, knowing he prefers to be addressed reverently to soothe his ego

“And she didn’t break erous liability, which is all you need to know”