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Kennedy climbed into the back of the SUV Kimble slid behind the wheel The doors were locked, and she drove aithout saying anything else When I turned around Paul aiting at the curb

“Ready, sir? We have to tell your father what just happened”

I shoved my hands in my pockets and followed the attorney to our car a few yards away

“I’ll break the news to him,” I offered

“I get paid to do this kind of thing I’ll do it”

I buckled my seatbelt “But you aren’t the reason we lost the hotel”

“I don’t know that Mr Corban will see it that way How can you be sure?”

“Trust me I’m the reason”

I wasn’t afraid of my father I’d seen hoielded power ht me those skills Trained me to take over the business I couldn’t fear what I know so intricately

I’d seen him cut men to their knees with quiet words I’d seen terror cover their faces when they realized Raphael Corban had them by the balls He couldn’t make me cower I only hoped Paul could hold his own because he was going to need all the backbone and spine he could muster to tell my father we lost the Vieux Carre

13

Kennedy

I flopped on h heels that matched my dress to the floor I was supposed to feel triumphant We had won But all I felt was shaky and uncertain That look on Knight’s face on the steps outside the bank It almost made me crumble Almost

There was so to do with business, and everything to do with regret I could see it The darkness The endless spiral of guilt The plea to ht I pulled a pillow under ement

He had gotten under ht about his lips and his fingertips I didn’t forget the hurt The huotten how he cast et that er—the need to feel his breath To look in his eyes again Or the feeling that I was nothing but useless baggage, weighing hiled to weigh the eh the darkness Knight had laid at my feet