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“You’re not a meal ticket”

“You can write other books but this is ours…our horror, our pain…it shouldn’t becoain”

“I have a contract The book is already in production—”

“They can’t publish so if you don’t turn it in”

“I do not not turn things in It would kill my career if I failed to deliver”

“You’re not allowed to change your mind?”

“Not after I’ve been paid”

“Give the money back”

“It’s not that simple”

“What if you got sick? What if you couldn’t finish it?”

“That won’t happen”

“What if you were no longer able to write?”

“Is that a threat?”

“I am not prepared to tell my six-year-old that his e I am not”

“I’m not unsympathetic—”

“Bastard” The oath was followed by Trey’s right fist, colliding with Shane’s jaw

Pissed off, as much by the blow as by the curse, Shane responded with a swift, hard undercut that would have sent anyone else flying, but Treyback for more

Jet wasat the punches, quick, controlled blows, hter, Shane would give him that, but Shane had skills, too

He would have never survived if he hadn’t learned to protect hi hi hi who he really was

Not some hipster writer from Manhattan, but a Sheenan

His “brothers” , just as coo the distance

“What the hell do you want?” Trey growled, slaut

Shane coughed, the wind temporarily knocked out of him, but he came back with a swift fist to Trey’s face Blood spurted from Trey’s nose

“What are you asking?” Shane asked, tasting blood from his split lip

“Tellfor this book and I’ll pay you the same not to publish it”

“You couldn’t afford it”

“You’ve no idea what I can afford You’ve no idea about my finances” Trey landed a blow on the side of Shane’s head “Asshole”

That one made Shane see stars He blinked and quickly wiped the blood froures plus And then there’s the filhts Audio” He threw a punch at Trey’s jahich Trey blocked this time

“Total it up I’ll draft a contract We’ll make the deal”

“But there’s no deal” Shane was able to land a low one, in Trey’s belly “My book and my business—”

“About my wife” Trey slammed his fist into Shane’s cheekbone, and then a quick second into his nose

Again Shane saw stars He was beginning to tire but there was no way he’d give up Not now Not ever “It’s not about her,” Shane gritted, feeling blood on his upper lip now His nosetoo, now “It’s about a crime no one solved, and it should be solved” He danced back, dodging Trey’s fist “Unless there’s a very good reason why it shouldn’t…can you think of one?”

“What kind of question is that?”

“Maybe a Sheenan was involved Maybe one of your brothers—”

Trey connected this tiled to stay on his feet “Don’t ever say that again” Trey gave Shane a hard shove

Shane pushed hiht back “If you care so much about your wife, find out who killed her family! Don’t you think she deserves that? Doesn’t she deserve closure? Or is she supposed to go through her whole life wondering what the hell happened to her family? What the hell happened to her life?”

It wasn’t until Shane had his hand wrapped around Trey’s throat that he realized Trey was no longer fighting back

Trey was just standing there, staring into Shane’s eyes “I don’t want her hurt anyh”