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I turned to Bartholomew

He already knehat I was going to say “No”

Claire pleaded with me, her wet eyes desperate “Daddy…please”

I got to my feet and faced my old ally, my old friend “Let’s take her—”

“No” The other men were in the chopper, so it was just the three of us in the snow Beatrice was in the chopper, but she seeh “That was not the deal”

“Lying wasn’t part of the deal, but they did that anyway” I faced him off, our eyes level “We should take her as payhter—so I owe her everything”

Bartholomew clenched his jaw then looked at Forneus—who hadn’t moved an inch

Claire kept tugging on my sleeve “Please…please”

Without waiting for his agreement, I walked off “Claire, stay here”

He caree to this—”

“And I don’t give a damn” Claire didn’t need to tell me what this woman meant to her because I could see it with hter like I did, who took care of her when I wasn’t there I wasn’t leaving her here to rot

Forneus watched me as I returned

I stopped in front of him, Bartholomeith me “The woman comes with us”

She remained on her knees, her breaths labored, like she couldn’t even dare to hope that she would leave in that chopper with us

Forneus watched me, his answer soft “No”

“I’ to bash his face into a tree until it was so bloody and disfigured that it wasn’t a face anymore “We made a deal—and you lied You lied to the Chasseurs Your throat should be cut right now Your eyes should be inlied” My entire body shook because I was so fucking angry “She coy”

His face e He wanted to kill me

I wanted to kill him

Glad the feeling was mutual

My hand extended to the woman, ready to help her to her feet

Her head turned to hi for permission

He continued to glare, to breathe hard, to suppress all his violent desires

She finally took ht it nearly bruised my hand

I pulled her up, got her to her feet, and pushed her behind me “Freak”

17

Benton