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“I have uses for them,” Sebastian explained

Of the three brothers, Egan was the youngest andothers Sebastian considered it a weakness, but, then, Egan had been only fourteen when their father passed He’d not learned firsthand how to be hard

“I’ll an said, and left by the main hall

With the two of theainst thedown the hall toward hiest member of the family

Calista was fifteen years his junior and as different froht and day Unlike theh with only half as ht Today she wore black fro a cowboy hat, which she took off and placed on the head of a priceless statue

Her short hair wa

s dyed the color of coal Her nails were painted darkly, and she’d done her eyes with enough mascara that she resembled a raccoon

“Hello, Calista,” he said “Where have you been?” “Out riding,” she said

“And dressed for a funeral, I see”

She put an arm around him provocatively and reached up to set askew his perfectly centered tie “Is that what’s on the agenda today?”

He glared at her until she stepped back

Restraightening his tie, he spoke bluntly “It will be if Acosta does not return what he’s taken from us”

She perked up at that “Is Rene co here?”

“Your personal interest in him bothers me,” Sebastian scolded her “He’s beneath you”

“Sometimes a cat plays with a mouse,” she replied “Sometimes she kills it What concern is that of yours?”