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chapter 10

I was in the kitchen when the front door opened.

Ryan came in first. Suit. Gun. Same as always.

Ivan followed him.

I’d seen Ivan yesterday. Chapter 9. He was at the table when Ryan brought me home. Said three words total. Ate. Left.

Now he was back.

I kept cutting vegetables. Carrot. Onion. Celery.

Ryan grabbed a water from the fridge. "Guest room’s his."

I nodded. Didn’t look up.

Ivan walked to the counter. Stood across from me.

He was watching. Not like Ryan watched. Not assessing threat or value.

He looked... angry.

I scraped carrots into the pot.

Ryan drank his water. Set the bottle down. "Office."

He left.

Me and Ivan. Kitchen. Soup simmering.

I stirred. He didn’t move.

"You’re quiet," he said finally.

I glanced up. "Am I supposed to talk?"

His jaw worked. "You tell me."

I went back to the soup. "I don’t know you."

Something flashed in his eyes. Hurt. Then cold.

"Bullshit," he said. Soft.

I set the spoon down. Met his eyes. "I don’t."

We stared at each other.

He pushed off the counter. "A month ago you knew me just fine."

A month ago I was in the Collar.

I said nothing.

He studied my face. Looking for something.

He didn’t find it.

"Right," he said.

He walked out. Guest room door shut.

Ryan came down an hour later. Found me still stirring the same pot.

"He say anything?" Ryan asked.

"No."

Ryan nodded. "He’ll eat when he’s hungry."

"Okay."

Ryan didn’t ask anything else.

I served soup for one.

The guest room door stayed shut all night.

In the morning, the second car was gone.