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Elise nodded and reat, as usual, his casual suit the kind of thing that had obviously been hand hiht Novo, in all her black leather, looked ht

Or have some hardcore sex

Elise shook her head at herself and closed them all in "What … ah, what can I do for you?"

God, even though she told herself to keep callanced at the female … and then stared at Elise

"You need to know sos It’s about Axe," he said

Elise put both hands out like she arding off an attack "No, I don’t need to know anything about him"

"Yes, you do"

"No, I really don’t And unless you’ve come for some other reason--"

"I’ve never had sex with him" Novo’s voice was clear, unforced, and calm "He took me to the club, yes So I could become a member there I asked him to do it for me as a favor I’ve never once been with that male--and as far as both he"--she pointed at Peyton--"and I are aware, Axe hasn’t slept with anybody since that night he first met you"

Peyton spoke fast, as if he orried that Elise was going to run out of the roo to lose his chance to say what he needed to "I know this is not my business, technically, but you kind of made it mine when you came to see me"

"And I know you found that key of his" Novo nodded at Peyton "He told me that Axe made like he didn’t knohat it was I don’t want to speak for the guy, but when you join the club, you’re not supposed to talk about it You’re not supposed to reveal to anyone what the key is, where you use it, what it’s about It’s a , and if you blab, you’re out I’ that’s why he didn’t tell you about Allishon’s But it’s just so you should think about Before you shoot hi to you"

Elise’s rind on the information Even as she didn’t want that whole door reopened

It had been too hard to shut the da when he was right in front of her "It’s New Year’s Eve I want to start this next year on the right foot That’s why I’ this See, there are some people who feel like I’m an asshole--"

At that point, Novo ure"

"--and I guess … I’ed "So yeah, Axe is having a horrible ti you what to do about this But you ht as well know the truth What you choose to do or not do … is up to you He’s not perfect … but he’s not like me, okay? He’s not worthless"

FIFTY-THREE

Axe never cashed the check that Elise’s father sent him