Page 39 of Double Down

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Mav

How do we get it out of her then?

Con

We need another bet.

Mav

Another Phoenix bet.

Atticus

Okay, color me intrigued.

Mav

What are you thinking?

Con

I think we should send her packing tbh. We can't afford the distraction.

I typeout about a thousand ways to tell Con to go fuck himself, and even more threats of violence, deleting each one of them because I’m the one who started the conversation. Finally I settle on the simple truth.

Storm

don't want her to go.

Mav

It has to be a group consensus.

Atticus

That's the bet. First one to make her run again.

Con

That’s too easy. She’s a runner. We all know it.

Atticus

How about something more interesting? Storm wants us to share her, and it seems like she wants that, too... but that doesn't work if she chooses one of us over the others.

I roll my eyes. Atticus always has a fucking loophole or a goddamned workaround or an alternative way .

Storm

So you want it to be about what, exactly?

Atticus

Whoever she chooses wins.

That’s not…if she chooses one of us, we all lose. And so does she. Because we don’t stay whole if she chooses one.

Atticus knows this, the fucker.

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