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“I know the policy,” I respond tightly

They think I’ve taken her as collateral, but the idea of giving her back setsher father will never come up with the o back to that hovel

I’ Grim to stay out of my business But then, Fawn leans back and slays un,” she whispers, her gaze trailing downto tremble “Are you a bad man, Benny?”

Swear to God, I alun into the swamp

This girl believes so bad aboutin my life Worse, the answer to her question is yes I am a bad man It’s true

Maybe this is good, though—her realizing I’e and unpleasant to look at I’ll wither and die inside when she cli to do withfor her What is the alternative? She stays within e the fact that she’s out of ue by a million miles More

She’d realize it eventually Better to have her shy away from me now, afraid of my violent profession Afraid of me

“Yes, Fawn,” I push through stiff lips “I’m a bad man”

Her eyes ith tears “No”

“No?”

“You don’t want to be bad,” she whispers, laying a hand on un at Gri but stare into her beautiful golden eyes and let her disarood man like the heroes in my stories”

Not for the first ti up these stories and my curiosity isabout, baby?”