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pte

did not sc

ses dissolved by morning. She had learned early that control was

morning and saw the black Bentley parked across the

n't pa

s ins

neighborhood's casual traffic. To

of her satchel and pr

ulse ticked s

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s and important men who beli

nd began walking toward the corner café

's engine p

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fer to speak

t to be surveilled

ley door

ght before she

onto the pavement like t

at altered space without trying. Charcoal overcoat. Impeccable ta

door softly and

urr

betrayed

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a

maintaining distance that

lder than they had appeare

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spectral imag

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dn't waver.

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riefly to the atel

control,"

arms. "I prefer

challenge your cli

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wed," he said calmly. "Y

rose. "F

tel

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ld he

should not have this

er dark hair across her chee

have called

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the scent of his cologne-dark c

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certa

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gaze a mom

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yes f

lutel

slightly-not in temper

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that sentence

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ot a man i

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omach

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be in a Renaissance

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ad stumbled into something far lar

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enly, "to prevent anyo

ttled her more than

it impli

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is this?" she

gaze for a

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the p

ore

ct told her at least part of it was-the

ing in your c

narrowed

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udied

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na

in

rd was

fi

streets over," she

ned his

murmured to

faint whisper

'd bee

uri

wa

rise again-but benea

ren

did not look

ike control

s she didn't f

ettled h

back toward

door, he paused and

s Ro

es

ed the symbol publ

eath c

be having coffe

e slid int

y smoothly, disappeari

n the pavement long

rt was

from

enti

something invisible had

refully building indep

than twent

mpires had inserted h

he was meeting him

ing

the café, one truth set

id not move w

like him pa

id not

secured what they b