Chapter 179

　　Abraxas

　　"Saved," I say. "They'll be harder next time. That's the point."

　　"Then not the girls," he says, too quickly, and I look up because a man's first no always points at his yes.

　　"Then who?" I ask, politely. He considers, and I watch the calculus move across his face.

　　"Poppy," he says f...