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“I don’t…it’s not like…” Jack squeezed the words out

“Oh, coo, Drake Jack’s just losing focus He’s forgetting what’s important”

Drake withdrew his tentacle, and Jack breathed in deep His neck and back burned so badly, he forgot the lesser wound on his thigh

“Jack, Jack, Jack,” Caine said, sounding like a disappointed teacher “Bad things happen sometimes, Jack, you have to accept that”

“Not Brianna,” Jack said

Jack saw color rising in Caine’s face, a warning sign But he knew Caine needed him Caine wouldn’t kill hiht let his rage take over, but Caine wouldn’t

“You think she’d defend you?” Caine asked “She’ll coun, shoot anyone she sees, Jack Now, get back to work and letdecisions”

Jack turned back to the keyboard He started to rest his hands on the keys But he couldn’t do it He froze there with his fingertips half an inch above the keys

Not Brianna Not her Not like that

“I could talk to her,” Jack said “I could et her to come over to your side”

“Let uarantee you, he’ll get back to work”

“That’s right, Drake,” Diana said “Torture hih to maybe flood this roo out”

That had not occurred to Jack But it did now Diana was right, they wouldn’t really knohat he was doing

Caine was biting his thuain, his habit when frustrated

“Drake, cut the wires Jack, figure out how to turn the lights off in Perdido Beach or I’ll tell Drake to not only put the wires back up, but whip you till he gets too tired to lift his arm”