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I halted then took a long turn back to him

He was closer to me now, because he’d stepped forhen I stepped away In a long-sleeved shirt with his bulging muscles underneath, he didn’t look like a

“That sounds like a threat”

His eyes burned once he had ive her back to me”

I stared hi between the lines like it ords on a billboard “I have a better idea” I pulled the knife from my pocket and moved forward “How about I just put an end to this, so you never have to live without your precious fucking—”

Bartholorabbed me by the arm and yanked me away “Listen—”

“He just threatened me—”

“Listen” He dropped my arm and lowered his voice “Let hiive her back Problem solved”

“I can’t do that”

“Because she protected your daughter?” he asked incredulously “That was before you knew this psychopath was obsessed with her She’s not worth it Throw her to the wolves That’s life”

Claire was

“Give hio back to the street”

My eyes stayed on his

“I’ll do the dirty work for you”

“Or we can kill hiht now and be done with it”

Bartholoh ene on a ith a cult”

Claire wasConstance when she was asleep Bartholomeould pick her up and make the transfer I’d o back to normal

But I couldn’t do it “The answer’s no”

Bartholomew just stared, his eyes hard, eyebrows furrowed “If she didn’t protect Claire, another woman would have stepped in—”

“That’s not why”

His gaze hardened

“She’s family” I stepped away “And I’m loyal to my family”

Bartholoht now”

I pushed him off

“She’s not worth it—”