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“But if she tried to go after the to sound tough, even though his hands were in the air

“Taylor,” Sauardhouse”

Taylor bounced into the guardhouse She was on a hair trigger, ready to bounce back out again But she saw no one inside

Outside, through the , she saw Edilio’s soldiers piling out of the last car, uns ready Howard stepped out of the SUV, scared, cringing And slowly, like he was an old man with arthritis, came Orc Hoas a tiny shadow beside him

Taylor bounced to them

“No one’s in the guardhouse,” Taylor reported “And no Brianna”

Dekka looked at Saet the chance to walk away”

“Dekka, we need to play this smart,” Sam said

“No, Sae ferocity “Anyone who hurts that girl dies”

Taylor expected Sam to put Dekka in her place Instead, he said, “We all love her, Dekka We’ll do what’s right”

Taylor bounced next to Dekka She put her hand on Dekka’s strong shoulder The girl was tre

TWENTY-FOUR

18 HOURS, 1 MINUTE

SAM WISHED CAINE would co A straight-up fight, out in the open Last tiht, Sam had won

But Caine wasn’t going to step outside