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Her defenses kicked into high gear "Not interested"

Bjorn and Xerxes swooped out of nowhere and "escorted" the va when they returned to her side

Bjorn tugged on a lock of her hair "You are a new participant in the war, and you’re on our side We will allow nothing to happen to you while you’re here"

"But I’ I’m just--"

"Say cheese" Taliyah snapped a few dozen pictures of their group on her cell phone She winked at Katarina, saying, "Thanks I think that’ll do the trick" Then, as quickly as she’d appeared, she was gone

Xerxes sighed "The girl hopes to cause trouble"

"Don’t they all," Bjorn reliize!

Heart druentle them to become lost in the crowd or to be overlooked and stah the crowdbut Baden wasn’t where she’d seen hi not to ith disappoint for him There! In the back, by a closed door She raced forward--but Baden wasn’t at the door, either Inside the room? She tested the knob No lock Tentative, she enteredan office Different than the one she’d woken in

"Hello?"

No response

There was a desk, two plush chairs and a wall ofdifferent areas of the club As she stepped deeper inside, a gust of wind slaasped

A tall, leanly ht hairno, darkno, redno, light again--stepped into view He wore an expensive suit tailored to his body, and to be honest, he was probably the most beautiful male she’d ever seen He exuded sex and sophistication and yet, sos, Katarina" His voice was as seductive as the rest of him and drew another shudder from her "So nice to meet you in person at last"

"Who are you?" The way he’d just changed his hairrealization struck He’d pretended to be Baden, hadn’t he? He’d led her back here on purpose But to what aim?

"I’m the man ants to help you"

"Why would you want to help me?"