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"Yes, I do" And she could guess his argument "You were already under the microscope Cannon didn’t want anyone to be able to pin more trouble to you"

Armie nodded "So I stood back while Cannon showed the video to Lea’s father Thefor Cannon, getting in his face"

Merissa didn’t know Baley, but she’d still put her hteen, her brother had been incredibly fast, strong and capable

"I couldn’t stay apart froes onthe cops" Armie drew a breath "That, and the fact that Cannon didn’t back down, that he didn’t even flinch, forced Baley to calm down"

"I alave a rusty laugh "Yeah, me, too But Cannon kept his cool He told Baley he could round up more evidence from cell phones, that he could find a dozen of our friends to explain how Lea had chased me How she’d chased me even after the supposed rape Put that way, Baley had no choice but to let it go"

"To spare his precious daughter’s rep?"

"And his own, I assu I’d soirl, that I was the one who’d corrupted her He gave me a choice--fade away so there’d never be any chance of Lea seeing or hearing ain, or he’d destroy h es alike, he’d drop enough cash on et hiardless of any truths, the entire world would believe what he wanted them to believe if I didn’t keep a very low profile"

"The nerve!"

"At the tiaze "Because he threatened Cannon, too He said we’d both go down And I couldn’t take that chance"

Merissa already knew exactly how her brother would have reacted to that "Cannon wanted you to fight back"

Arh the air "Cannon wants to defend everyone he cares about But this wasn’t his fight! Hell, you guys had just lost your dad and he was trying to s better for yourto ease the tightness "Your brother didn’t need to take on ht it’d be an issue Until Cannon got into the SBC, I figured I’d be a fry cook or so MMA for the fun of it Nothing public about that"

"No reason for Lea to ever encounter you again--unless she ca headlines There would be endorsements, interviews Did Armie honestly think, after all this tio after him? The man would have to be insane

He crossed his arain"

"That bitch!" Merissa gasped

Armie’s smile twitched

"What," she de to stir up , and believe et lost" He touched one fingertip to the corner of her lips, and his voice went deeper "But curse words sound funny co from this soft mouth"

A rush of heat dipped into her belly and scattered her thoughts "Iumdon’t curse often"

"I know" He dropped his hand and took a step away "Don’t hate Lea She was just a pampered kid anted to spread those wild oats you mentioned Unfortunately, her dad is a ruthless prick and he’s never let it go Over the years he’s sent me subtle re for an excuse to shred me"

"But you have proof!"

"You’ve seen the news, Stretch Lead stories are all about sensational possibilities, not necessarily facts Once rape is mentioned, it sticks in people’s minds They think where there’s sht the lies, some would still believe them"

"But" He couldn’t be serious "There’s no ‘if’ to it You will fight the curious over her reaction, he said softly, "I shouldn’t have to"

Suspicions stirred, aze, suddenly heated, lad you trusted h to tell me all this, butwhy now?" There had to be a reason that he’d brought it up now