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She re she was about to topple his world

“What’s going on?”

“I think—” Shell cleared her throat “Iher eyes, Shell shook her head She couldn’t bear to look at him “Just a minute”

“Want me to say it, Shell?” Izzy asked, her voice unusually compassionate

Copper’s aret it out,” he said “Give her a minute”

Oh, his faith in her That undeserved faith that ht possible

Part of her was tempted to spit the words out with her eyes closed, but despite her past secrets and fears, she wasn’t a coward So, she opened her eyes, gave Copper her gaze, and said, “Yesterday, when you sawover a very large stack of y clothes, hoodie covering his face They were s Meth, I think And after Rusty handed his Rusty spottedthat he stole fros when he caht before you arrived” The words rushed out in one long breath as though a quick Band-Aid rip would make some kind of difference

Behind her, Copper stiffened and just stared at her

Heart pounding, she re for his response Izzy didn’t speak but nodded along with her words, her face grim

“You sure you didn’t misun—"

The office door flew open “Got a question for you, bro,” Rusty said as he barged straight in the office

Shell hopped off Copper’s lap and stared like a deer caught in high bea a few seconds ago Now, it beat so fast she grew lightheaded

Rusty laughed He was disheveled, eyes darting all around, sweat dotted across his brow “Looks like I broke up a little po, huh? Or maybe a threesome? Care to bump it up to a quad?”

“Cut the shit, Rusty,” Izzy said The woman spoke her mind at all tie

“What’s thethat pussy you’re fucking that he ain’t shit around here?”

“Rusty,” Copper said, warning in his tone

“Sorry, Cop I know Jig is the club’s treasurer and all, but really? How can you trust a man like him? A man who can’t even keep his oife alive?”