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“And Alibi has already been alone too long. Drop me at the restaurant. You two go back to the house, get him, and take Smoke wherever Bishop wants him.”

Roman says nothing.

“Violet can bring me back when we're done.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because I don't like it.”

I wait.

That's it.

Not because I said so.

Not because you're not allowed.

He doesn't like it. That's different.

“I know.”

His eyes flick toward me, then back to the road.

“But I'm going to be in a restaurant full of people. Violet is meeting me there. I'm not going anywhere else.”

“You stay inside.”

I blink. “Okay.”

His eyes meet mine. “What?”

“Okay.”

Suspicion narrows his eyes. “That's it?”

“What were you expecting?”

“An argument.”

“I can give you one if you're disappointed.”

Smoke laughs.

Roman ignores him. “Text me when Violet gets there.”

“I will.”

“And when you're leaving.”

“Okay.”

“If anything feels wrong⁠—”

“I’ll call you.”

“Immediately.”