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“Very immature, Mr. Murray,” she says, scolding me.

I turn to Daniel. “She’s just going to betray you once she gets what she wants. Canon was killed because he wanted to play nice with the Quinns. What makes you think she’s just suddenly going to start braiding your hair?” I look at Morgan. “And he’s never going to be happy splitting his business fifty-fifty. Are you kidding? He’s a cheap, old bastard and have you heard the way he speaks to his mother? He’s never going to respect you.”

They both crane their necks to look past me at each other.

Daniel shrugs. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

“Sounds reasonable,” she says, nodding.

They stand up. The men behind me release my shoulders.

“Get up,” Daniel says. “If you leave quietly, I promise it’ll be quick.”

Morgan hums. “Well, not quick, but like… not as slow?”

“I’m just saying we won’t torture the poor guy. The Quinns have some standards in this department.”

“I don’t want it to be painless, though,” she says. “Can we do his balls first?”

“Pretty sure that falls under torture,” he argues.

She sighs. “Okay, one ball, then his head, then the other one?”

Daniel scratches his chin. “It’s not ideal, but it’s a compromise.”

My mouth sags. “I have no words.”

“Good.” He waves at me. “Get up,” he repeats.

I push off the bench to stand between them. Daniel stares at me, his eyes painted black and purple from the deep bruises surrounding his nose.

“Does that hurt?” I ask him.

He frowns. “Yeah.”

“Cool.”

I head-butt him again and he collapses to the floor.

Morgan gasps behind me. I spin around and my elbow accidentally slams into her nose.

“Oh!” I say, raising my hands. “I did not mean to do that! I’m sorry!”

She bends forward and holds her face. “Fuck…” she whines.

“I don’t hit girls,” I say. “This was not on purpose. Are you okay?”

“Fucking shoot him!” she shrieks at her men.

I sigh. “Shit.”

They reach for their guns and I bolt into the crowd. I hear a few warning shots spray the ceiling, knocking out the lights above our heads. People scream as sparks rain down and I kick up my knees to run faster, bashing into others as they try to take cover.

“Excuse me! Sorry!”

I race for the entrance, looking back over my shoulder to see if I’ve gained any ground at all between me and Morgan’s giant bastards. They’re several paces behind me, not nearly quick enough to keep up. One of them stops and raises his gun.

“Fuck, fuck⁠—”