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But sorier part of onna save you, Snowball Treat you like the queen you are

“What’s the Julii paying you for the kids?” I ask, trying to distractnut”

“That is not your concern,” Sefi says “Your answer”

Ti

“No fealty,” I say “I’ on Mars You draw up a contract with Amani Guild specs—”

Xenophon produces a holodocument from a datapad and flicks it to the table Sefi sirl I glance through it It’s Ae blood oath Maybe the world is changing

Sefi sips her wine as I eye the particulars Three-year sunset clause Contract void if I take zoladone What is it with everyone? Recognition of skuggi deathmark on my life if I skip out That’s fun, and probable I breeze to the rele

The girls in six weeks A quarter kilo of grade-A dia bonus of twenty-fiveby a kilometer

“I want the girls on signature”

“No,” Xenophon says predictably “You are a flight risk”

“Then double theirls need retireins to say no, but I cut it off “Listen,up Sparedyou can’t do And I’i” None of them react, but that’s not sa

ying much for these folk “You can’t et it But thatYou’ll tellhazard pay, because I’onna be manic”

“You think highly of your talents, Mr Horn,” Sefi says “Or very little of your life…”

“Now it’s one kilo Wanna go for two?”

I put my hand out for the kill