"you like him." "he's pleasing enough. I'd have to decide if it's worth it to keep him close, or make use of him and be done with it." "there's always both." Allen barked out an uncharacteristic laugh, one that reminded the man of an unsympathetic, unapologetic child with hard eyes and bruises on his dirt smudged face. "oh yes, let's complicate matters with useless entanglements." Cross felt a muscle tick. Allen walker rarely made life easy for anyone, polite refinement or no. "Nasty word, entanglement." he blew smoke out the window. "best to have someone loyal to you. Suman was a good pick, but his wants were with his family. Best to get him by the dick and keep his everything focused on you." "and you think Kanda is the best choice?" Allen gave him an amused incredulous look. "he came to the hospital." cross indicated with his cigarette, the whispy tail of smoke danced like a bespelled snake. "didn't have to, could have dropped you off and been done with it. But he came, and watched you sleep." he took a drag. "man like that, he doesn't watch his enemies sleep unless he plans to smother them."