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Dino stands with Sheila on the porch, watching the cars pull up. He gives a slight nod and three people from inside the house hop down the stairs, heading for Ruby. But before they get the chance to help Bud White out, Franki's scrambled around the car to do the honors. The look on her face makes the three men hesitate. They look back at Dino and he shakes his head. So they just stand there, looking around as if they expect trouble to erupt in the artichoke fields around them.

As soon as Bud's out of the car, Dino is moving smoothly down the stairs, Sheila right behind him.

Bud, Franki and Spooky move slowly past them. Dino barks out to one of his men to show Franki which room will be Bud's to stay in.

Then he walks up to Ruby's front bumper. From here, he could imagine she's in the same immaculate condition he last saw her in. Dino leans to the right and sights down the driver's side. "Ruby, oh Ruby," he moans softly.

He hears Sheila make a big 'sniff' behind him. He turns, surprised as her sensitivity over the damage to his pride and joy. She makes an exaggerated swipe of a tear that's running down her cheek. "Poor Ruby!" Sheila says. "She was so young, so innocent! To see what she's come to ... They'll pay for this!"

Dino rolls his eyes and gives Sheila his meanest look. "You're itching for a hell of a payback, Sheila. Just ask Thornie what I'm like when I'm in a mean mood."

"Oh, I've seen your mean moods, Mr. O'Leary. You don't scare me." Sheila smiles at him and then walks down the passenger's side, examining the damage. It's obvious the car's going to need some body work.

"You've never seen me when my Ruby's been hurt," Dino says. He snaps the words out. He narrows his eyes when Sheila looks up and smiles at him again. "Keep it up, honey. I'm a dangerous man when I choose."

Sheila turns and motions one of Dino's people over to the car. "So, he says he's a dangerous man. True?"

"You didn't make light of his poor Ruby being hurt, did you?" the TOL agent asks Sheila.

"What is it with men and their cars?"

"You're on thin ice, Sheila," the agent warns.

"I repeat, is Mr. Dino O'Leary a dangerous man?"

The agent studies Dino and Dino studies her. Finally the agent shrugs and looks at Sheila. "Yes, he is. Very dangerous. He would never lie."

Dino smiles and gives Sheila an evil chuckle. "See? Now, don't you think you owe me an apology?"

Sheila looks between the agent and Dino. She shakes her head. "No, I don't think so. You see, if you were ever to try to be evil to me, I would simply have to tell Mr. Thorne. He's assured me he's more than capable of handling you if I ever need his services."

Dino snorts loudly. "Thornie? You're trusting your life with Thornie? Jesus, Sheila, I thought you were smarter than that."

Sheila shrugs. She looks at the agent. "So who do think would win? Mr. Thorne or Mr. O'Leary?"

The agent never hesitates. "My loyalty and my money are on Mr. O'Leary. He's never met a dirty trick he's not been willing to pull."

As Dino applauds, Sheila throws her hands up. "Jesus, Gen, you're the biggest suck up I've ever met."

"I'm not sucking up to him!" Gen says. "It's just that Dino and I go way back ..."

And at this, Dino and Gen trade a warm look.

Sheila says, "But it's not him you're dating. It's me. You're supposed to be on my side, Gen."

"Then stay on his side," Gen says, her eyes sparkling as she looks at Sheila, enjoying the easy space in her life that encompasses not only her new lover but the man who has stood by her time and again in the transition from what was to what is. "Besides, we both know Dino knows all the best dive bars. Could you imagine Thorne taking us to Shatala's in Cairo?"

"True. Very true," Sheila says. "Okay. Then I'll be nice."

Dino nods. "Yes. You should be nice to me."

"I've already called your mechanic. She's got new side panels due in tomorrow. We'll get Ruby over for a complete rehab and when she comes back, you won't see one scratch. How's that for nice?"

"That's pretty damned good." Dino motions them back into the house. "Now leave me alone with Ruby. I need to coo at her a bit to soothe her down. Can't have her feeling I don't care, can I?"

He stands by his car, watching Sheila and Gen walk back toward the farmhouse together. Then Dino turns and scans the artichoke fields before looking up toward the magenta sky. And for the first time since Bud called him, Dino is able to take an easy breath. He closes his eyes and releases the tension that has gripped him. He shouldn't have let his guard down. It won't happen again. If Sergei wants to play it this way, he can give it back to him in spades ...