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When I return to the condo, I’ve mentally preparedon her side, curled in her fa ht, and a few more hours won’t make a difference

Cli in beside her, I pull her into s there

She always belongs there

Since that first night in Scottsdale, I’ve known she belongs to ht I’d been hired by her husband to watch her Is it possible the wheels I set inmy job, doomed us from the start?

Pressingher scent to relax hts will drive me crazy if I let them Sloan tricked me as much as everyone else, and my role in this has

always been to save her from him

Still,appear to a jury? I can only iine how a prosecutor will take our situation and run with it I’ve worked on prosecution teaainst Slayde Bennett They’ll crucify me

I followed her to Scottsdale, seduced her, then killed her ex-husband

It would drag all of Melissa’s past out of the closet and expose it to intensetruth, and now thanks to me, it could all be put on display for the world to see The beatings, the prostitutes adultery, murder It’s a sensational, juicy story The press would eat it up

Tighteningher to ht of the position I’ve placed her in destroys me

Whenwith ht Melissa’s still asleep, so I slip out of bed and go to the kitchen for coffee Just as I’ve sat down, my phone buzzes Stuart

“What’s got you out of bed so early,” I ask

His voice sounds surprised “I was planning to leave a e”

“Now you don’t have to What’s going on?”

He clears his throat, and it sounds as if he’s been wrestling with his thoughts all night as well “Nikki gave her notice on Friday”