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The chopper touched down The blades stopped

Bartholomew removed his headset, in a black leather jacket with a black shirt underneath His gun was at his hip His eyes were on me as he waited for the blades to come to a complete stop “You need a minute?”

“No” I yanked off the helot out

They aiting, the guy with the s with his cattle-skull fiends

Bartholorabbed my arm and steadied me “I handle this You do not speak”

I stared at hi that soddamn face Blood everywhere All over the snow All overhis face like a Halloween pumpkin…was indescribable

Bartholoun fro for the knife

“We ht need it”

“My words are enough”

I didn’t withdraw my knife

“Benton”

“He lied to us—”

“Benton—”

“Why the fuck do you protect them?”

His hand remained lifted between us “That’s hter back if she’s alive Now giveknife so I can do my job”

I yanked it out and threw it in the snow “Like I need it anyway…” I turned away and began the , my eyes focused on the freak with the saze like he found this whole exchange a

Bartholo closer, boots crunching against the snow

Then they came to a standstill

It was just like before, but there was no bag of bones at my feet

Forneus stared at me for a bit before his eyes flicked to Bartholohtful”

I could crush his skull withinto the sockets first until the blood poured down his face and he was pere his jaith my hands, rip it out of place—

“Same business opportunity—amended”

It took all hter But I wasn’t e, and I wouldn’t be able to handle this the best way possible I just wanted violence Bloodshed Vengeance

Forneus continued to smile “What are your requests?”

“What you owe me” Bartholomew kept his calm, and in between his simply spoken words were the subtle threat, a threat that he didn’t need to voice “Let’s get it right this time”

Slowly, that smile faded

That’s right, motherfucker

Silence Forneus wouldn’t ad or show his hand

Bartholomew let the silence stretch on indefinitely

My eyes flicked past theround My patience was getting the best of me