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Our final stop is acafeteria, with trays installed on the seats There are a group of kids studying, eating, and playing video games in the corner I turn to Damion and press my hand to his chest “This is all because of you, isn’t it?”

“No This is all because of Dehlia”

I don’t miss the tenderness in his voice “I’d like to meet her”

He motions me to a door across the room “Like your mother was, she’s always in the kitchen”

We enter an industrial-sized kitchen with e table, where a short, sixty-so at an eh flour!”

But the eie, with her red hair piled on top of her head, and the flour that is not in the bowl is on her face “Dehlia,” Maggie co me Last tih”

“Two years you’ve been helping,” Dehlia says, holding up two fingers “Dos! You still cannot read a recipe” Dehlia seeaze cuts to us “Daain Are you sure she reads well at the casino?”

Maggie tosses flour in the air and Dehlia rambles in Spanish

Dah, and he warns, “She doesn’t take any junk Be warned”

“That’s right,” Dehlia agrees, dusting off her hands and walking toward us, as Maggie gives ers “I don’t” She stops in front of us, all five feet zero plu me, hands on her hips “You must be Kali”

“I …” I glance at Da smile, and then back at her “Yes I’m Kali”

“Well, then,” she says, “give ht You are lovely”

My cheeks heat “Thank you” I gaze at him “Thank you”

He and Dehlia share a look “And polite,” Dehlia says “You were right She has ot a plan to finally dethrone you”

Dain” He leans down and kissesbattle You’ll be okay with Dehlia?”