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"Why are you doing it? You’re risking a hell of a lot"

"Nick wasn’t as well-off as the rest of us We inal Renegades, and this lifestyle, it doesn’t coh we kept it quiet, heLandon and I, we can easily keep him afloat financially, but we can’t touch his depression, or how he feels about his future But this can give him a future in the arena he loves, that will allow hiain I know you don’t know him, but Nick is as much my brother as Landon, as much my friend as Penna This started as the four of us, and we can’t sit back and watch while he ie difference since he caear--the stunts He has equal production credit in theThat was the secret deal we struck withthemy leash"

"Who knows?"

"Just my dad, Penna, Landon, and I He still won’t talk to anyone else, especially Brooke"

I nodded, snuggling closer into his chest His warmth was delicious, and he smelled incredible, like ocean, and Paxton…and ho about killing the project all evening

He shook his head "No I love Nick, but you--"

"I’ll live" I took a steadying breath "I understand guilt, even if it isn’t warranted If I had a chance to help Brian… I don’t, and you do for Nick If you want to keep going, I’ll support you But I a to you, so we have to find out who is after us, who benefits theyou down"

"Leah, while we’re alone, I need to ask When you fell, who did you see at the bottom? We have to rule people out"

I closedout all afternoon "You," I answered "Landon was already on the shore, but I saw him there next to Penna Bobby, I think? Some of the camera crew? I know I left Brooke on the blanket, and Little John was standing there, too"

"Okay What about Zoe?"

I stiffened Had that voice been feruff, but it could have been forced "I don’t remember I mean, she could have been down there I don’t want you to accuse her of doing so to my near death"

"Near death, indeed Okay Not a word of this outside us, Landon, and Penna, okay? They’re the only ones I trust anyuht that, stand on ood, so safe "Okay" The painat the edges

He pushed my hair back off rew heavy "The night of the accident, I held on because I knew if I let go, I’d end up with Brian"

"Right" He didn’t stop running his fingers througho because I knew I’d end up with you"

His breath was ragged as he pulled me closer As I drifted off to the rhythht we’d slept in the sa sex, and yet it was the most intimate we’d ever been