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856770a
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Now, Maya, if you can stop gaping at Rafe for a few minutes, we really should come up with a plan." I glared at her. "I spent three days thinking I'd watched him fall to his death." "Leave her alone, Sam," Daniel murmured. "This isn't the time." "I'm just saying it's not the time for either. We need to focus and having Maya moon over Rafe is making everyone uncomfortable." Rafe grinned. "Doesn't bother me." "Because your ego really needs ..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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8df1a78
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You think you're better than everyone else. You think the rules don't apply to you. You breeze into town, working your charm on all the girls, then walk away when you realize they aren't the skin-walker you're looking for. You find her"--Sam pointed at me--"and you use her, too, but apparently, she's forgiven you. Maya's smart and she's sensible, so maybe I'm trying to figure out why the hell she's with you when there are great guys like.....
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Kelley Armstrong |
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62aad92
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You find her"--Sam pointed at me--"and you use her, too, but apparently, she's forgiven you. Maya's smart and she's sensible, so maybe I'm trying to figure out why the hell she's with you when there are great guys like..." She stumbled, as if searching for a name. "Like Brendan. You've got some kind of hold over her, and I don't like it." Rafe leaned over and whispered. "It's a love spell I picked up from a witch over in Nanaimo. But don't ..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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0da2d04
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You've got some kind of hold over her, and I don't like it." Rafe leaned over and whispered. "It's a love spell I picked up from a witch over in Nanaimo. But don't tell Maya."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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4116c77
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You've got some kind of hold over her, and I don't like it." Rafe leaned over and whispered. "It's a love spell I picked up from a witch over in Nanaimo. But don't tell Maya." "You think you're funny." "No, I think you have your own issue with me and I think I know what it is. But it has nothing to do with me personally, so I'm going to try not to take it personally."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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33d4960
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And, while I might be enjoying this--" He lifted his hand, which was still clasping mine. "I know it's as temporary as a love spell. Give it a few hours and she'll hate me again." "Hate's a strong word," I said. "Strong emotion is better than indifference."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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b53f2f3
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You've got some kind of hold over her, and I don't like it." Rafe leaned over and whispered. "It's a love spell I picked up from a witch over in Nanaimo. But don't tell Maya." "You think you're funny." "No, I think you have your own issue with me and I think I know what it is. But it has nothing to do with me personally, so I'm going to try not to take it personally. And, while I might be enjoying this--" He lifted his hand, which was still..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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06a3256
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Next the guys were heading out to find a house we could hole up in--someplace the Cabals wouldn't expect to find us. Sam's leg wasn't up to scouting, and Rafe thought I should stay with her, take a break, get a hot shower, and put on the fresh clothes I'd brought from home. That may have been his nice way of saying I really needed that shower.
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Kelley Armstrong |
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67c6966
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I led Daniel to the master bedroom and closed the door behind us. "What's up?" I whispered. "Hmm?" "You've barely said a word since Rafe showed up. You don't trust him." "What? No. Of course I trust him. The guy fell out of a helicopter so we wouldn't." "But something's bugging you. Is it his story?" "No. It's a miracle he survived, but like you said, he's part cat. They always land on their feet." He smiled, but it was strained. "Then you ..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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72c698b
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I was in the Tillsons' bathroom, still dressed, starting the shower, when I heard a faint click, and I wheeled to see Rafe coming in, holding a card he'd used to pop the lock. His free hand covered his eyes. "Excuse--" I began. "Oh, sorry. Didn't know you were in here," he said, his hand still over his eyes as he frantically motioned, apparently trying to stop me from stating the obvious--that he'd in and knew full well I was here."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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ac00035
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I opened my eyes and when I did, he was right there, and all I could see was his eyes, those amazing amber eyes that I could fall into and-- I stumbled back. "You're not real." "Mmm, actually, I am. Not a ghost." He brushed his hand over the tops of the tall grasses, making them sway. "Not a zombie either, or I'd smell even worse by now. Not a ghost, not a zombie, just a freaking lucky guy." "I saw you fall." "The fall isn't the problem. ..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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fae2cb2
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I opened my eyes and when I did, he was right there, and all I could see was his eyes, those amazing amber eyes that I could fall into and-- I stumbled back. "You're not real." "Mmm, actually, I am. Not a ghost." He brushed his hand over the tops of the tall grasses, making them sway. "Not a zombie either, or I'd smell even worse by now."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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afd9861
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I...I still--" "Can't believe it?" Rafe shrugged. "I'm guessing a regular person wouldn't have survived. But we're part cat so maybe falls aren't so bad. I think I lost one of my nine lives though." He twisted to look at the stab wound. "Maybe two."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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7d180cb
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I saw you fall." "The fall isn't the problem. It's the sudden stop at the end. Avoid that and..." He waved his hands down his body. "Apparently, you can survive." "That's not...You can't..." "Did I mention the insanely lucky part? Great thing about this island? Really big trees. Gotta love those redwoods, especially when they break your fall. Still it was a helluva hit and I've got the war wounds to show for it." He held out his bare arms, ..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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e8e078d
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I...I still--" "Can't believe it?" Rafe shrugged. "I'm guessing a regular person wouldn't have survived. But we're part cat so maybe falls aren't so bad. I think I lost one of my nine lives though." He twisted to look at the stab wound. "Maybe two." I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him, and when I did, I knew he was real--the heat of him, the smell of him, the feel of him, the taste of him so incredibly real that it surpassed anyt..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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efdbc20
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I kissed him until I couldn't breathe, and then I kissed him a little more, until I had to pull back, gasping. "I have to die more often," he said. And he grinned, that incredible blaze of a grin that made me kiss him again. When we finally pulled apart, he brushed his palm over my still-damp cheeks. "Your parents are okay, Maya," he murmured. "They've just left. The whole town left." "I know. That's not..." I stepped back, out of his arm..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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c7e2f8b
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The sliding back door to the house squealed. Daniel stepped onto the deck. Rafe and I were still in the woods, but we could see him, through the trees, and he could see us. He stopped dead. Kenjii raced past him. She barreled down the steps toward us, and gave me a passing lick before jumping on Rafe. He pushed her down, laughing. "See, I am real," he said. "Hmm, still not sure," I said. "Dogs are supposed to be able to see ghosts, you know..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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3bdde58
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She barreled down the steps toward us, and gave me a passing lick before jumping on Rafe. He pushed her down, laughing. "See, I am real," he said. "Hmm, still not sure," I said. "Dogs are supposed to be able to see ghosts, you know."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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67aba19
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On Vancouver Island, hitchhiking is considered a perfectly feasible way to travel, prohibited only on the highway, where you could get hit. In Salmon Creek, though, we got stranger-danger classes from kindergarten. Ours were probably a little different from most--we were taught that anyone in Salmon Creek could be trusted; it was the rest of the world we needed to watch out for. Some kids did start hitching rides into town when they hit tha..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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31f6cae
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It might not be fatal," I said. "Depends on how long it takes you to find your cell phone." I emptied the rifle's magazine. Then I laid down the gun. "I'd suggest you tell the police it was a hunting accident. Otherwise I'll have to tell them the truth." I helped Sam to the truck. As she got in, she winced, then glowered at the man lying on the ground. "If I could kick him without falling on my ass, I would," she said."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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48c43b5
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Wow. I can't believe it, but obviously..." He looked Rafe up and down and shook his head. "Wow." "Holy hell." Now Corey stood on the back deck, staring. He came over and we had to go through the whole thing again. Yes, it was Rafe. Not a ghost. Not a zombie. Not a long-lost twin brother. As ludicrous as all those ideas sounded, though, they seemed more likely than the truth--that a guy fell from a helicopter and survived. "You sure about t..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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a4aa57b
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You sure about the twin thing?" Corey said when Rafe had finished. "Yes, I don't have a long-lost twin brother." "I do," I said. "Or so I've heard." Rafe grinned at me. "Yes, but I'm not him." "Which is good." "Very good."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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233c921
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Our immaturity is scaring her off," I said. "Sorry, Sam. Come back and we'll act our age." "No, I'm just grabbing some food. You two carry on. You've earned a maturity time-out." I let go of Daniel's feet and he pulled them off my lap. "We're home," I said. "Well, not our home but..." I leaned back into the cushions and let out a happy sigh. "Close enough for now."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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a4488f0
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We're home," I said. "Well, not our home but..." I leaned back into the cushions and let out a happy sigh. "Close enough for now." "Feels good, doesn't it?" "Unbelievably good." I opened my eyes and glanced at him. "Thank you. For keeping me on my feet and getting us back here." "Um, pretty sure you did at least half of the 'getting us back here' part. And I needed some help staying afloat, too." He paused. "Well, not as much as you, but th..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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3780a5a
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My laptop should be here." He gestured at the empty desk. "It was when I left." He turned to Daniel. "Okay, obviously between the fire and the crash, Mom hasn't come home. But she didn't take my laptop. She told me to pack it. I didn't." "Why?" Sam said. "Because my homework's on it," he said, in a tone that implied this was a stupid question. "Laptop perishes in the fire? I get a free pass on every assignment." "Which I'm sure she knew you..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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d6606fc
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My laptop should be here." He gestured at the empty desk. "It was when I left." He turned to Daniel. "Okay, obviously between the fire and the crash, Mom hasn't come home. But she didn't take my laptop. She told me to pack it. I didn't." "Why?" Sam said. "Because my homework's on it," he said, in a tone that implied this was a stupid question. "Laptop perishes in the fire? I get a free pass on every assignment."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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1a0fba0
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Corey was already gone, heading for the stairs again. He took them two at a time. Then he pitched forward, hands clutching his head as he let out something between a moan and a strangled cry. Daniel raced upstairs to help him to his feet...and Corey promptly puked on him. "You were done with that shirt, right?"
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Kelley Armstrong |
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952657d
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How did Rafe make it back so fast? Same way we did. He stole a ride. A motorcycle. In his case, though, he skipped all the steps between. No tortuous trek through the woods--he'd landed relatively close to a town. No attempts to get help, because Rafe wasn't like us. His life experience was closer to Sam's. His mom had sheltered him as best she could from the ugliness of life on the run, but he hadn't grown up in a world where you could str..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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1e18a1b
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I pulled his hand from his eyes, and mouthed, "What the hell?" "Play along," he mouthed back. "Please." There was no teasing glimmer in his eyes. They pleaded with me so desperately that I felt a chill in my gut. I went to turn off the water. He grabbed my arm and shook his head. Then he moved me closer to the shower, leaned in and whispered, "Ask me to join you." "What?" He clapped a hand over my mouth and whispered, "Trust me. Please." I ..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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58e20c3
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See if you can find a license or registration in the glove box. The cops are going to get an anonymous tip about this guy." Sam grinned as I started the truck. "You can be seriously awesome sometimes, Maya." She paused. "And I mean that in a totally non-girl-crush kind of way." "You don't have to clarify that." "Yeah, usually I do."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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5157a94
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I screwed up," I said. "I'm sorry." "You got the truck," Corey said. "Seems like it worked to me." "Yes, please make her stop," Sam called from the truck. "She's been apologizing since we got away and it's really getting on my nerves."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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11bc530
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Stopping to whine is only going to get us nabbed by the cops when that bastard calls 911." "I wasn't whining," I said. "Close enough."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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4ed60d7
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Guess Mom's taking the day off," Corey said as we drew close enough to see the sheriff's SUV in the drive. "Considering she thinks you're dead, I'd imagine she's taking a lot of days off," I said."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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83ef1b7
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Better not stick around or I might ask you to join me." Rafe chuckled. "If I thought you were serious, I'd take you up on that. I was just coming in to do a better job washing up. There wasn't any water at your place and my cuts and scrapes are filthy. Guess it'll have to wait." He waved for me to continue. When I arched my brows, he motioned to us, then to the shower. He wanted us in the shower, where no one could hear our conversation. Wh..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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d0cc548
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He turned and waved me into the shower with him. He backed up to give me room, but it was a shower stall--not much room to be had. The hot water beat down, soaking through my shirt. I leaned back into it, forgetting Rafe as I luxuriated in the feeling of hot, clean water. When I opened my eyes, he was watching me. Really watching me. I looked at the water pounding off his lean chest, trickling down to his soaked boxers, and...and I wasn't t..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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fdc9788
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I went to turn off the water. He grabbed my arm and shook his head. Then he moved me closer to the shower, leaned in and whispered, "Ask me to join you." "What?" He clapped a hand over my mouth and whispered, "Trust me. Please." I remembered Sam saying she'd stayed behind to make sure her phone call didn't bring someone running. What if it had? What if they'd come while we were gone and cut a deal with her? Or snuck in and planted bugs, and..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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9155c01
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He turned and waved me into the shower with him. He backed up to give me room, but it was a shower stall--not much room to be had. The hot water beat down, soaking through my shirt. I leaned back into it, forgetting Rafe as I luxuriated in the feeling of hot, clean water. When I opened my eyes, he was watching me. Really watching me. I looked at the water pounding off his lean chest, trickling down to his soaked boxers, and...and I wasn't t..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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5ca3dfb
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I eased forward and leaned up to his ear. "Is this what you wanted?" He chuckled. "Mmm, I'd better not answer that." His gaze traveled down me, then zipped back to my face. "Sorry." "Focus, Rafe." "I am. Just on the wrong thing."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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331d609
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There's no woman in Vancouver is there?" I said as I pushed back my wet hair. The water was cooling now. "No contacts your mom gave you." "No, that's a story they fed me. But we're going to follow it, because getting you guys to Vancouver is the best chance you have." guys. Not us. Best chance have. Not we. "When we get to Vancouver, you'll pretend to suddenly realize it's a trap," he said. "You'll turn on me and you'll run, and leave me..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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befa88f
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I wish--" He looked away, then leaned toward my ear again so I couldn't see his face. "There's no other way. Annie needs me. And you...you don't. Not like that. You can look after yourself and..." He straightened and gave me a crooked smile. "By then you'll be happy to be rid of me, I'm sure." I leaned forward and whispered, "No, I won't." Then I kissed him. Just a kiss, my hands still at my sides. When I pulled back, he looked stunned. The..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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f45d305
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It might not be fatal," I said. "Depends on how long it takes you to find your cell phone." I emptied the rifle's magazine. Then I laid down the gun. "I'd suggest you tell the police it was a hunting accident. Otherwise I'll have to tell them the truth." I helped Sam to the truck. As she got in, she winced, then glowered at the man lying on the ground. "If I could kick him without falling on my ass, I would," she said. "Hopefully, he's hurt..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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d1a6c53
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I fired. The bullet hit him below the shoulder. He fell, his mouth working, eyes wide with shock. "It might not be fatal," I said. "Depends on how long it takes you to find your cell phone."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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3164154
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Now, after three days in the forest, that human part of me was sick of trees and streams and forest paths. It wanted a sofa and a TV and a shower. God, it really wanted a shower.
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Kelley Armstrong |
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c14e414
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Mom?" Corey called. He cut himself short and swore. "I probably shouldn't do that. Scare the crap out of her." He took a step toward the kitchen, then paused. "Or maybe I yell. Warn her before her dead son appears from nowhere." He glanced at us. "Arghh! I'm overanalyzing. When this is over, I need a long break from you guys." "And we'll need one from you," Sam said. "Just relax," I said. "Call her. Find her. It doesn't matter. You're abo..
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Kelley Armstrong |