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Sighing, Mac said, "No, not at all and that’s the problem I told Declan a while back that I needed toto be a part of that" Mac looked at hietically "I’ her; I’ll always be here if she needsfor his sister, realizing that she was about to throay the best thing to ever happen to her, and yet there wasn’t anything he could do to stop it Maybe Ava, like Declan, would have to hit rock bottom in order to co in all this that he needed to be paying attention to Did he want to be alone and closed off to the world forever like Ava? Holding out a hand to Mac, he shook the otherto think less of you, Mac You’ve always been there for Ava and I know you’ll continue to watch over her Maybe she needs to be forced froave him a skeptical look "I wish it were that easy But I’ve started putting some distance between us and I will talk to her soon Truthfully, I’ve been putting that off because I’m not ready to see her indifference aboutindifferent to Maclove somewhere else, but he couldn’t be sure He may be emotionally reserved, but Ava was emotionally detached, which, in his estimate, was hard to overcome He and Mac parted ways at the elevator and he walked toward his office even more determined to pursue a relationship with Emma

Brant looked up from his coht his attention Anticipation filled him as a knock sounded on the door He was momentarily surprised because E to knock He grinned, yelling out, "Come in"

His surprise turned to shock as the door opened and Alexia Shaalked hesitantly into his office It seemed they were both momentarily at a loss for words before he finally rereeting came out more like a question, but he was powerless to stop it The same shy smile was there, but she looked very different from the last ti on too skinny, and her hair was shorter and pulled back into a ponytail

Alexia looked nervous as she closed the door behind her He walked around the desk to greet her They exchanged an aard hug before he indicated one of the chairs in front of the desk Frankly, he was afraid she would fall over if she stood ood to see you again I know this must be a bit of asurprise"

He settled back on the corner of his desk, studying her curiously He knew froed He hadn’t expected to see her, though, so the surprise was hard to shake "I ah it’s nice to see you, too You lookwell" Shit, why had he h erupted frolimpse of the woman he once loved "You’re a terrible liar, Brant, you alere Even when I really didn’t want to hear it, you gave it to ht I always admired that about you," she added almost absently

Atte, "Is that the only thing you admired?"

His attempt seemed to have the opposite effect as she shook her head sole on your strongest qualityloyalty I knoe haven’t been involved for years, but I also know you would never turn your back on someone you cared about II need help, Brant I don’t have anywhere else to turn" When tears welled in her eyes, Brant grabbed a tissue from the container on his desk and handed it to her

Fuck, a crying fe had officially taken a nosedive fro?" Brant was starting to get nervous What was going on here? This didn’t sound like so absolution for past sins He found hi to ask but really he had no choice "Tell me what I can do to help you? It can’t be as bad as you think"

"Well, letoff her proble overdose I’et into rehab My parents, ere thrilled with the whole doctor-engagehter was a former junkie and are terrified that so, have been calling et a moment’s peace fro abuse?"

Noas Alexia’s turn to look at him in surprise "Surely you , but Josieshe got s that I couldn’t control It started out with just a few drinks and after a while, those drinks turned into hard alcohol Finally, it progressed into harder stuff like cocaine, heroin and crystal , but I couldn’t stop"

Rolling up the sleeve of her shirt, she showed him her arm, covered with dozens of scars thata deep breath, she added, "By rights, I should already be dead I woke up e bed, or on the street"

"Where the fuck was Josie during those times?" Brant de for control "Didn’t she care as happening to you?"

"I don’t know," Alexia admitted "I think it was funny to her at first You know, take the innocent new friend out and loosen her up I realize now that she liked having me around because I funded the party for her I received a check fros account that er Josie never see ere together, including the drugs She usually took off with her boyfriend during the evening and I somehow h, I really went off the rails Knowing you were there was the only thing that kept me in check until then"