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What would he have done if someone had waved that kind of money in his face? |
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"I wouldn't blame you if you left and never spoke to me again," she said. |
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"I don't get it," he replied. "If you're so miserable, why don't you just leave?" |
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Her eyes were two red circles. "You mean like turn in my two weeks' notice? Are things really that simple in your world?" |
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"Anyway, Bryan was more than my boss." Kyna stared until she saw the hurt pass like a shadow over his eyes. "And like most men, he liked to show off how clever he is. I sat in on meetings. I know most, if not all, of his buyers. I know which banks he launders his money through. You know what he'd do if I tried to quit? He'd sit there in his favorite bergère chair, wearing his red silk smoking jacket, and turn to Conradthat's the ape he tells everyone is his chauffeur. He'd say, 'Conrad, break Kyna's arm.' And Conrad would do itjust like that." |
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"Then, after my arm was in a nice, neat cast, he'd take me out and buy me a new mink coat and tell me how sorry he was that I made him hurt me. No, I don't think I'll be quitting anytime soon." |
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Kyna's voice was so low it was like the dead speaking through a spirit medium. |
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The rage that welled up in Cyrus dropped a red veil over his eyes. His body tried to change, but he fought itit hurt like hell, but he fought it. |
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"Why didn't you tell me?" he whispered. |
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She barked out a bitter laugh. "Why should I have told you? No offense, Russ, but when we started you were the hired help." |
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He tried not to flinch. "Why did you hire me?" |
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"A few days before we met, Bryan called in the middle of the night. He said he had a series of deliveries for me to make. |
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