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“ThisIt’s a tool to entice him, and that’s all thatslowly “There’s nothing we can do but agree to his deot us pinned We do what he asks, or we don’t go home with our son”

He picked up the phone, typing a si it After a moment, a reply came in, and Quint read it aloud

Meet on the cliff overlooking the shore at ten tonight Both of you coest celebration of the night, so if you try anything, there will be a proble about what that means I can’t wait to see you both, but especially our dear, lying, Amara Do you love her? How much?

Quint growled low, but sent another shorthis phone onto the counter, disgusted “I can’t believe this … this nerve That was a threat, and not a thinly veiled one either It’s not safe up there — not for you Dao I can’t let you”

“But I have to go He said so Like he toldby his rules”

The muscle in Quint’s jaw clenched “It’s not safe It’s not —”

“It’s not so we can debate, like the an to clear A strength of will and purpose filled her and shoved away the fog of co her crazy

“We have to do this straight up,” she continued “No tricks, no questions, nothing but handing over what he wants and getting Hampton That’s it”

Quint looked at her oddly “You don’t realize what you’re risking”

“I do,” she said with utter conviction “I know exactly what I’, and I’d do it a thousand times over for Hampton”

Quint stood and ran a hand through his thick, black hair

Amara stood next to hi to be okay So are you So is Hampton It’s almost over”

She thought she saw tears shi in the corners of his eyes

“I wish I kne he learned I’m Hampton’s father Greedout fro to pace

“Perhaps Probably, though, it was because he got fired,” Amara said “I don’t kno he learned that you’re Hampton’s father There’s no way he could Kari would never say anything, and she’s the only person besides us who knew Did he fly here knowing you had the resources to follow him?”