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I sent up a prayer as I raised h wooden door

Seconds later, I heard movement inside and a muffled voice I waited, and the world seeht in front of me, but I knew my husband and his friends were there, and they would play their roles perfectly

“Hey Donaldson,” I called “You want ain with you”

A few moments passed in silence, then I heard his scratchy voice “That’s good because I have so to trade”

He wrenched the door open, and I took a step back He had a gun to the head of the girl who’d sold us our wreath She looked terrified and even younger than she had the day before I s to coht The thought that she would have been his next victi in my throat

I raced through scenarios in e All my evidence said he killed his victi theio had a clear shot, but with Donaldson holding the girl at gunpoint, Giorgio couldn’t risk it Donaldson could kill the girl before he went down hiet her away from him

“It’s good to see you, Detective Daniels” Donaldson’s sh me

“It’s Marchesi now, and I’er a cop”

“I heard that So you’ve decided following the law isn’t for you after all?”

“I’ve decided justice doesn’t get served when I’m forced to follow rules”

He nodded, his expression sympathetic “People can be a bit lax in their jobs and also easily bribed”

“Did you bribe so while I pondered my next move

“That makes it sound so simple It was more complicated than that, but essentially yes”

“Let her go” I tilted irl

“You know it’s not going to work like that Come inside We’ll sit down and have a chat”

If I stepped through the door, I was dead and so was the girl “I’ames”

“Really? What else did you think would happen if you sought me out?”

“Let her go and take me instead” Devil appeared at ? I was the one as taking the lead I would’ve traded myself for her He was supposed to stay hidden

Donaldson looked back and forth between the two of us

“Just think,” Devil said “You want to hurt Joe What better way than taking his husband? Let her go, and I’m yours”

I turned toward Devil My stomach churned, and s were supposed to go

“No” I focused on Donaldson again “You can have me Everybody else walks away I’m the one you followed I’m the one you want”