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She hesitated, sent hiht”

Caden wasn’t sure she truly believed hih of relief Yes, he wanted to find Anka, right Lucan’s life, return to Dallas But he did feel the urge to protect Sydney He would ive you uest chair once h for another article?”

“Not certain yet”

She was holding backand he didn’t blas badly before Today hadn’t been loads better, but a least she no longer looked hostile “Will you share what you know? Please”

For a longto read his thoughts Finally, she shrugged “Since you’re ned partner, I’m supposed to ith you And you’ll read the details when they’re printed

“According toMathias rose from an exile that was supposed to be like death and last forever Apparently, no one kno he did it, but everyone knows he wants to overthrow a terrible class systeoal is to help them rise up”

Caden had never heard such a load of tripe “Or so he says”

“Indeed But it le that since he’s arisen like a savior, ickind will eo was one of many to throw off the oppressors, and stay tuned for h he couldn’t tell her ithout revealing too much Besides, Sydney was an independent creature The , she’d do the opposite

“So you’re glorifying the man who raped this poor woman?” he asked

She paused, then wrinkled her nose “That’s been le that this witch was an enemy of his utopia and he dealt harshly with her I couldn’t see another slant”

“Mathias is no hero You know bollocks about coaressor needs the , he ical people? What if he’s claiain? What if he’s convinced the poor that he can lift thee ruse?” He clenched his fists, and his shoulders tensed, as if he was barely restraining hi on the desk “And what if he raped that poor woht side, and Mathias knew he could crush thathis woman?”

Sydney’s jaw dropped, then she scraood at this Much estion”

“If I talked to your source, in addition to protecting you, perhaps we could craft a better story together”

“Can’t” Sydney didn’tdown notes “I’ve told you, the poor witch is terrified Aher own grave She’d never talk again”

“Tell me about her Maybe I can find some way to ease her fears,” he went on “You could assure her that I would never harm her She trusts you”

“Very little She jumps at a shadow No offense, but you wear that soldier mien a bit too well You could never soothe her”

“Perhaps I should talk to her on the phone first, allay her worries, and pave the way for a face-to-face ain unless I’, Sydney looked up from her notes “She doesn’t want her picture taken”

Caden couldn’t tell if she believed hi with her source without him And he could neither lose his only possible lead to Anka nor allow Sydney to risk herself

“So I won’t take it”

Sydney shrugged “Convincing her will be a challenge Besides, she’s gone for a bit”

“With Aquarius on holiday? Where?”

“I don’t know Their plans weren’t set Said so about Paris, perhaps”

Damn! Aquarius and Anka, if she was indeed Sydney’s source, could be anywhere

“I have a bad feeling about this story,” heyou to hold off unless I can be certain you’re safe”

“I think you’re worried more than necessary It’ssweet of you, but Holly wants another story now I’ down his frustration, he reached for logic He had to get through to this woman, stop this story “Where is the picture your previous photographer took of the battle afterh one of the folders on her desk When she found the photo, she slid it across the desk to him “Here”

He slid it back in front of her “How lanced at the picture, then away “It’s too dark and grainy to tell”

“More than a few?” he challenged

She hesitated, as if sensing his point before hefor a way to refute it “Yes”

“Dozens, in fact Wouldn’t you say?”

“Perhaps” She shrugged

“No Obviously These werefrom their uniforms, many were soldiers, which means they were trained in co the words sink in “If Mathias wanted this story hushed, do you think he’d have any co you?”

Sydney didn’t answer, but Caden knew by the look on her face that she understood his point

“By all accounts, there was blood everywhere Severed heads and liunshots, and a lot of death What do you know about avoiding those?”

Looking about, she fiddled with a pen, tapped her toes She didn’t like the truth

“Sydney?”