As usual, in no time at all, the patio went from peaceful to roaring, with well over a hundred people in a matter of minutes.Sue and Mercy were standi...g in the wide sliding doorway, smiling out over all the people. I could see Kate's kid, Carson, standing with Stevie next to him, holding on to both Sue and Mercy. Juanita came up, holding both Mike and Liz, with CJ and Mia hanging onto her. Robbie was peeking out from behind Glenda.Pretty soon, Carson, CJ, Robbie, Steve, and Mia were running. "That was pretty cool," Tia said."He is a really sweet guy," Tara put in. "There are so many different sides to him, so many layers. A lot of people think he's a tough guy because of what's happened in his past. In some ways, he is. I mean he's physically tough. But underneath, there is a lot of insecurity." I didn't get that impression," Louisa said, sitting forward. "He struck me as a guy who would stand up to anything." That's the first impression a lot of people get," Chastity said with a. .. then barely managedto turn away before I started coughing wildly. I listened to himchuckle as he took his own hits, watching me fight for air... my headswam. I was dizzy as hell, lightheaded and thoroughly baked. "I wannado it to you again..." I said with a bit of difficulty. "Wow am Islurring? I can't remember when I was this high last..."Silvio laughed "Yeah you are... lightweight bitch, haha."I snatched the blunt back and rumbled another mock growl. "Keep talkinbuddy, I'm gonna make you. ‘Where are they?’‘You’re supposed to be on guard!’ Alicia snapped into her daughter’s mind. ‘Just use what the Praetor taught you!’‘That’s more like it, Mom!’ Jackie thought back at her. ‘You don’t whine worth a damn!’Then Jackie closed her eyes, fearful that she would flub this simple (to anyone else) assignment, and concentrated. She was surprised at how easy it was to expand her awareness through the silent building and locate the two guards in what seemed to be a snack room. There were two.