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Bray’s lips tre

"Never ht to ask, "What about before hiuy, and another before that What of it?"

So his ht in abusive asses? A deep breath didn’t help much Mothers should protect their sons The whole scenario felt far too familiar and personal Hands on his hips, Aro?"

"Sure"

Frustrated with that short answer, Armie asked, "Where?"

"It’s called none-of-your-business"

The shed He didn’tfunny about the situation But he liked Bray, and he especially liked that the boy hadn’t lost his backbone "You knohat?"

Bray narrowed his eyes

"You remind me of me--and just so we’re clear, that’s not a compliment"

This tiain, quickly reclai somber, Armie said softly, "You know I have to call the cops"

"No," Bray growled, "you don’t have to do anything"

He wished it otherwise In fact, Armie wished he could just put the kid in his truck and take him hoalities involved, not to ht not be equipped to deal with The last thing he wanted was to screw this up and s worse for Bray "I’m afraid I do"

They heard a sudden co himself to be ten times an idiot as he tried to tackle Denver Surprised, Denver quickly adjusted and caught Russell in a sleeper hold The woman wailed and screa-ball biceps

Again in unison, Arhed

They eyed each other

"Damn it" Bray snatched up a rock and threw it hard, narrowlyat anything in particular "I hate foster care"

Armie’s heart wrenched "You’ve had so with the fast, uneven breaths, Bray sed convulsively The way he put his shoulders back made him look far too stoic for a fifteen-year-old "Foster care’s been fine"

"Then--"

"I always end up back here" Resigned, the kid looked toward his mother "Just as well She needs me"

Ar his na for his help

No way could Armie leave this alone He wouldn’t ure out the system and see what options he had

But Bray wasn’t alone, and he needed to know that

THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS cooperated and Merissa ot close she spotted Harper and Vanity sitting on the trunk of the car, with Cherry and Yvette both still inside the vehicle As the sunlight faded a streetla aht behind theed

"You’re really going to do this?" she asked Cherry In many ways, her best friend came off as the life of the party But deep down Merissa knew she was really reserved about certain things

"Denver tried to lecture me about sex," Cherry told her, as if that explained her daring "Do you believe that?"