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But thennot about her injuries but the fact that so for her If so, she shouldn’t be alone, and that idea scared her all over again

She gave up and closed her eyes, deterht, fine Stay if you want to, but at least sit down I don’t like being hovered over"

He gently brushed her hair back from her face "I’ll try not to hover Get some sleep"

Then he leaned down to press a feathery kiss on her forehead That was the last thing she re roootten hiers traced the wound on his neck, a re It still weirded him how quickly the cut had healed, and now he had Devlin Bane riding his case That wasn’t going to change in the near future

He supposed he was lucky he still had a job at all Earlier, he’d been in Devlin’s office when the Paladin had gotten a phone call Thea blue streak and io home and plant his ass there until further notice On the way houy parked in an unfamiliar car down the street Duke had just checked and he was still there

Was his house being watched? If so, as doing the watching? One of Devlin’s boys? Or did Rusty have so as he hunkered down on the couch watching TV and cal his nerves with a six-pack

The mysterious watcher wasn’t what had Duke all weirded out anyway When he’d come home and turned on the computer, there’d been another anonymous e-mail with a video clip attached When he played it, his blood ran cold Someone had tried to kill Sasha Willis Thank God he’d still been at headquarters with Devlin Bane himself when it happened At least Duke’s name wouldn’t be tossed in the hat as a possible suspect

The really creepy part was that so whether or not to forward it to Bane for the past couple of hours and still hadn’t reached a decision It anization’s good graces On the other hand, Rusty, most likely the bastard who’d sent it to hi to kill for the cause Duke really didn’t want to offer hiet

Maybe it was tis here in Seattle were getting too damned weird Yeah, sure, he’d insulted the new administrator, but what the hell did she expect when she took up with a freak instead of a human? That didn’t mean he wanted her dead

No doubt Lare for whoever was responsible Once again, Duke traced the raised scar running across his throat, a permanent reive that Other an excuse to finish what he’d started

The phone rang, causing him to jump about a foot in the air He reached for his cell and checked the number The ID was blocked; no surprise there

"Hello?"

"Did you enjoy the video I sent you?" Theit impossible for Duke to identify the caller

"No, I didn’t Rusty, is that you? If so, quit fucking with one after Sasha Willis I don’t want anything to do with that"

"Aw, Duke, you disappoint hed, the distortion ht out of some cheesy horror film

Duke hated cheesy horror flicks, but soain"

"You’re in no position to be giving orders You’re part of us now I’d suggest you do as you’re told When I need your services again, I’ll call"

"And if I don’t pick up?"

"Duke, you don’t want to know the answer to that question And by the way, for your sake, I’ive in to the temptation to forward my e-mail to your friend Devlin That would not have pleased us at all"

When the phone went dead, Duke reached for another beer Maybe he should have bought two six-packs

Lare another healing His energy supply was running low, and he had to keep so in reserve in case he needed to act quickly

The curtain stirred, warning him that someone was about to join them He rose to his feet, prepared to defend Sasha if necessary He relaxed when a fae of the curtain

Laurel peeked in, taking in both hilance She kept her voice to a soft whisper "Okay if we come in?"

"Please do"