"Look how I managed to muck that lovely deal with Sean. Just imagine the havoc I could wreak now." The bright, white flash of his grin and the pure sarcasm of his tone were a cover for what he believed the absolute truth.

He'd ruined things last time. Imagine how big a mess he could make now, more broken than ever before.

"Thanks." A cigarette is plucked out of the pack. "Julien still a monster?" At least he could hold that close to his heart. He might be a monster, but so was Julien.