[. . . leans back in his chair, shifting his cards in his hand, expression neutral. it's impossible to tell whether he's got a good hand or not, but it probably helps that most of his focus is tuned into their conversation right now]

I could have done more.

[or so he likes to think. really, he just hates admitting that he's helpless, here]

. . . if I had worked harder, maybe I could've found a way to stop things before either of them were killed.