" "Thank you for the vote of confidence. But I can't eat praise. Here are my conditions. Six million dollars, half now, half on your survival ...f the process. A full expense account for all the medical supplies and machinery I'll need. Oh, and a fresh blood sample from Miss Murasaki, obtained *without* harming her." "Already taken care of. I've got a man in the blood bank she donates to regularly. But I must ask, Blackjack, what do you do with all that money? I've heard of some. "You're here to kill me anyway, right?" Not necessarily," he said, surprising me considerably. "If you will please sit down"—he gestured at the mini-couch in the little sitting-area alcove of the room—"I will explain further." But I—" Sit," he said firmly. With that gun in his hand I didn't have a lot of choice; I went over and sat. As I settled in he took a seat himself in the companion chair across from me.You wouldn't have known him for a mobster if you met him without his gun. He was. But, it seems it is the life I am constructing. Three weeks ago I ended a two-year relationship with the man I knew was going father my children. We were going to have a Brainiac Adonis just like him and an angel hearted beauty just like me. But I ruined it with my sexual lockdown. He has been ready for the next step but I knew I couldn’t do it before marriage and maintain the control I so desperately need. Eventually he secretly decided to move forward without notifying me. I didn’t find out. We want to get you ready for the day.”“No!” retorted Faith. “I’m not playing this game any more.”“How much of a fight do you think you can give us with those cuffs on?” asked Linny. They had left Faith cuffed when they put her back in her stall the night before, much to Faith’s chagrin. It had been difficult to find a comfortable way to sleep with her arms held behind her.“As much as I need to,” replied Faith as she glared at her two cousins. “I’m not playing any more.”The girls had packed the.