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"You disinvited ize You are welco as the club exists

"I don’t care about the dathe truth free "I couldn’t have you near without wishing you near forever"

That word again, insidious and te his ar her wish that this was all there was That there was no Chase, no Anna, no Tre down the door with his deadlines and his secrets No Fallen Angel

Because she did not wish to use him Not anymore She did not wish for him to be anywhere near the falseness that was her future Did not wish for him to have any more reasons to think ill of her

He iana," he spoke to the top of her head, his ar and welcome "The paper The reward"

She turned her face into his chest, reveling in the scent of him "Chase is done for"

He had been since the moment Tremley had made his offer – her secrets for Duncan’s It was an offer she would never refuse A trade she would gladly make Chase and Anna would disappear from the world, and they would be replaced by Duncan’s safety

If only it would be enough

He swore softly "I did it I ruined him" He paused "You I ruined all you worked for"

She would have ruined it herself – still planned to – but that was the final secret she could not reveal to him Instead, she smiled "He had to be done, eventually I could not continue here and preach propriety for Caroline I thought I could… but now, I see the ridiculousness in that plan"

"I will find a way to keep you safe To keep Chase safe I’ll rescind the reward"

She put her hands to his lips, silencing hi line of his jaw "All this ti, you have told me to trust you"

"I have," he said "And now, you must believe that I will find a way --"

She stopped him "It’s your turn, Duncan It’s tiaze narrowed "What does that mean?"

She leaned up to kiss him "Exactly what I say"

"I do trust you" He took the kiss, returned it "What are you planning?"

"That’s not trusting me"

He started to reply Stopped "I don’t want to do this anymore I don’t want to talk" He lifted her in his ar about his waist "I just want to love you All of you Once, before it’s over"