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His dark eyes deepened in color, until they almost resembled polished obsidian stones

He continued

“Your life was threatened, when it never should have been You could have been killed, when all you’d been trying to do was help those who’d been trau to trivialize the danger you’ve been in since we met, since that device was embedded in your computer, since you became the carrier of terrorists’ secrets Goddah his thick hair Then he said, “Your caent Garcia does not exonerate her Don’t think for a fucking second that it does”

He whirled around on the heels of his expensive Italian leather shoes and stalked off Right through one of the intricately designed doors the butler opened for him

Leaving Nikki standing there, gaping

And wondering if her attempt to help Fiora Garcia’s case had just been turned upside downand she’d actually just tightened the noose around the woman’s neck

Oh, Fuck

45

Nikki joined Mrs Castillo and Mads in the family room to help decorate the tall, full tree, which took quite a bit of ti and innulish and Spanish

The backdrop for the gorgeous, freshly cut and recently delivered Douglas fir was a double-panedrunning froathered in the corners and glittering against the glass as the breeze blew the falling snowflakes toward this side of the mansion

Mads was ecstatic that it was snowing and she chattered on and on about how she hoped Uncle Daear and lessons for Christmas, because she “dessssperately” wanted to learn All of her friends were boarding and it was apparently severely uncool that she only kne to ski

Da Damen did, indeed, intend to make this particular wish come true for his niece

Nikki could practically hear his rich, inti, “God forbid Mads should ever be considered severely uncool by her peers”

To which Nikki would reply, “With that hair? Never”

She s how (all-too easily) she could have a mental conversation with Dao