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Cliff waved his hand “Pre forward”

I shook , Cliff added, “Just until they’ve deter the letters and as in your apartment”

“How did you know about that?” I asked I purposefully hadn’t told Cliff about the intruder in my apartment because I hadn’t wanted to worry him

“I have ears,” was all Cliff said

I crossedme That was Nikolai’s job

Where the hell had that come from?

“You need to call Smithfield back and tell them…”

Cliff paused again, this ti him what to do

“Tell them what?”

“That it was my fault,” I said “Just tell them that what happened between me and Nikolai was my fault I can’t… I can’t make you keep your contract with them, but Nikolai doesn’t deserve to lose his job”

As I said the words, I realized they were entirely true Nikolai had done his job He’d keptthat had happened outside of that didn’t matter when it came to his work

“Was it his job to detain you when you clearly wanted to leave your aparter

“Yes No… Jesus,” I snapped because the godda was back in et control of htstand but no o there in et back to thoseAnd when that voice in my head showed up, it wasn’t my own but someone else’s

It's okay, Jude, I've got you

Nikolai

I nearly cried because I kneasn’t really in there I was reht I’d spent in his apartment after mine had been broken into I’d fallen apart after I’d realized how badly I needed my stupid cars Nikolai had offered coment with his words

The way you respond when I touch you… It's real, honest You don't hide e’re like this

I shook my head

Kiss me back, Jude Please, my love

I whimpered and covered my eyes with my hand