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He was smart, and cold

I could feel it in the air around him, and I suppressed a shiver

His gaze locked onback to Raize “Why are you here?”

Raize looked at aze blank as usual He often reminded me of a robot, with no emotions—even when he killed He did it sensibly

“Bronski sent a man for one of mine”

See? He spoke like he was giving an order at the drive-thru

“What man?”

Raize shrugged “I didn’t get his name”

The guyhis eyebrows “Where is this guy?”

“I killed him”

No emotion None So matter of fact

The desk guy regarded Raize for ahis chair back He didn’t stand He re off into the distance

Then he turned back “What was the reason for you killing one of Bronski’s men?”

“Because if I didn’t, Bronski would’ve gotten to you before I could”

Desk guy’s mouth pursed, and he nodded as he stood He stayed behind the desk, his gaze falling toto fill in the dots as to why Bronski sent a man for one of yours?”

“It’s the girl,” Raize noted

So flat

Desk Guy’s eyes skirted back to Raize “Are you fucking her?”

“No”

Desk Guy askedyou?”

“No”

“Was Bronski fucking you?”

I didn’t answer

Desk Guy noted this before turning back to Raize “Was he fucking her?”

Raize nodded once “Against her will”

Back to me “He raped you?”

He did not seeave a fuck

My tongue grew heavy My throat started to swell This wasn’t a conversation any survivor or victim wanted to have, but here it was so blasé that I wanted to vomit all over everyone in the room

I was quiet a moment

Raize’s jaw tightened

They were all waiting

I shifted on my feet, but maintained eye contact with the head boss “Yes, it was rape”

“You fought?”

Really, really wanted to vomit

Everywhere

Bile moved up in my throat I rasped out, “Yes”

Ies of us came back to me

Hi my arms down

Me kicking, straining

The smell of his breath God His horrible, horrible breath

“You said no?”

God, he was so cold