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.I was a little worried about the I’ll be back for you part.Was I the third “hard target” on the list and he was giving me advance warning? Or was it a warm and fuzzy confirmation that we’d see each other again?“That’s like Kevin.He thinks he’s telling you the whole situation and it’s only in his head.” Emma shrugged, so I did, too, and then she changed the subject.“So, Matty really stood up for you in the hearing? I thought he couldn’t stand you.”I nodded.“You and me both.He might not like me, but I think he respects me now.That’s something.”She raised her glass and clinked it with mine.“To respect.” I dipped my head in thanks and thought about Matteo at the courthouse.He’d seemed genuinely pleased to see me when I showed up, which surprised me.I doubt it made much impression on their mom, but she’s a tough nut to crack.The hearts of her babies aren’t to be trifled with.Like I consider either of her boys a trifle.As if on cue, Bruno touched my arm.“C’mon.We need to talk.” My brows rose at his very serious expression.Unfor-tunately, there weren’t many places to go where we could be alone.After hurriedly telling Emma to watch our drinks, I stumbled away with Bruno pulling me forward by the elbow.We wound up in the ladies’ room, because it was bigger than the men’s.“So what was all that about? What do you and John Creede have against each other? You were glaring at each other so hard, I was afraid I was going to have to stand between you like with preschoolers on the playground.”He reared back in surprise.“Glaring? We weren’t glaring at each other.He was offering me a job.” At my confused expression, Bruno tapped his temple.“He’s a telepath, remember?”Oh.Duh.“But you have a job.Didn’t you submit to a binding oath to them?” Like the confidentiality oath, the non-compete oath prevented employees from moonlighting or being double agents.Nothing worse for a firm’s reputation than an employee killing the client because he got a better offer from the bad guys.“Didn’t you tell me once that your fingers would start to burn off before you could finish signing your name on another deal before the contract term was up?”He tipped his head ruefully and crossed his arms over his chest, unconsciously hiding his hands from sight.“That is a point.But my current job is on the East Coast and the term is up at the end of the quarter.Creede’s offering to make me the head of the L.A.office.It’s less money, but—” He raised his brows significantly.“It’s just down the road from here.What do you think?”My jaw dropped far enough to feel cool air on my fangs.“Are you asking my opinion? On your career?”He shrugged and started to fiddle with the button on the wall-mounted hand dryer, tracing the edge of the square over and over before he answered.“I don’t really know.It just came up and I thought … I really didn’t like you facing that demon alone.You were lucky and you know it.And it’s not the only one out there—”I took a deep breath and let it out slow.We both knew something big was happening, which was why the Vatican had been beefing up on warrior priests.The door opened before I could reply.Dottie walked in and reared back in surprise to see a man in the bathroom.He blushed as she let out a little squeak.I grabbed Bruno’s arm to push him out of the room and had started to follow, thinking about what to say to his offer, when Dottie tapped me on the shoulder.Her face showed that she was eager to talk to me, so I said, “Be right out, Bruno.Keep my drink cold.”“I’ll ask Vicki to spin by the table again.Sure is saving on ice having her here.”When the door closed and the music faded somewhat, Dottie smiled.“I’m so glad you survived, my dear.I was very worried when I saw the demon in your future.But I just couldn’t tell you.” She seemed both embarrassed and afraid.I gave her a small smile.“It’s okay, Dottie.I understand.I was friends with Vicki long enough to know how hard it is for clairvoyants to live with what they see.It doesn’t always come—”“—true.Precisely.If I told you everything I saw, either you’d not believe me or you’d want to rush it … or, worse, ignore the signs.But that’s not what I’m here to ask you about.”I raised my brows and leaned back against the sink.I should have looked first, because I felt cool water from the last hand washer wet the back of my shirt.“You know that Mr.Gibson died.”I nodded.“He was a good man
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