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Star’s doe eyes are round orry “What do we do?” She blinks and a tear falls “I can’t have this asshole threating Cammie She’s too little She wouldn’t understand She’d be so scared”

Her voice goes high, and I reach across the table to grasp her hand “Look atbehindhappen to you or your daughter I promise”

She blinks a few ti with unshed tears, but I can see her body start to relax “I believe you I do I just wish”

Her voice trails off, and Patrick juhter ever lived with you or has she always been with your sister?”

“She’s always been with my sister” Star’s voice drops a few decibels “I’irl”

He sits back with a deep exhale “Well, that fucks my plan”

“What are you thinking?” Patrick ood at our job, and I’ve learned to trust him

“Your condo’s sitting eoing to say Toni and Cammie can hide out there until we solve this Stuart’s across the hall, and Walt won’t let anybody suspicious past hie is secured Unless it’s too stressful for the baby”

“It’s a good thing you’re so fucking sht be more noticeable”

Star looks from Patrick to me “I don’t understand”

Patrick leans forward and smiles that ridiculous smile of his that makes women act like idiots “Hoould you like to live like a queen with your little girl coure this shit out?”

Her brow lines, and I alh She’s unaffected by his charm—probably because she’s already been there “Can you be a little more specific?”

He gestures to e, two-bedroo, and ht across the hall I think you and Cammie should stay there until we’ve nailed this fucker He’ll never knohere you are, and if by soures it out, he’ll have three layers of security to get through”

Star’s eyes flicker to ain, and a note of relief is in her voice “You’d let me stay at your place?”

“Of course I don’t knohy I didn’t think of it myself You’re in this situation because of me This idiot wants me It only makes sense”