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Hearing his rendered Pippi speechless with horror His mom had been paid to kill him?

“She probably would have if he had paid her more—”

“I’er contain herself, and she had to dig her fingers deep into her pal her arms around him “I knoon’t make a difference, but I’m really sorry”

Acheron’s broad shoulders h at the very least Although I was already twelve when she died, I had learned to fend forher pale in reaction, he said gravely, “I had the worst childhood you could ever iine”

Her heart broke for him “I’m just so, so sorry—”

“Sorry enough to give me another chance?”

The words ‘of course’ almost slipped past her lips when Pippi realized in consternation she was being manipulated “Mr Simo—”

“No” This ti except a look so intense she realized too late she had been better off when he wasn’t being serious

“Call me by my name”

His voice was low and forceful, and so in her ached to obey him And maybe she would, if there were only herself to consider

Oh, if only

But she had her family to think of, and pain chipped at her heart as she heard herself say, “I can’t” She saw his jaw clench, and the sight gave her the oddest feeling It was almost as if she had hurt hiazed at hi ele one of them

Beautiful, like a Greek god

And for sood had chosen to don a police uniform and ride a bike to her home because…

Because…

Because…

Acheron knew the exact moment the truth dawned on her, with the way her head jerked up, and her blue eyes – filled with confusion and disbelief – came to search for his

She had always been honest with him

Getting involved with you – in any way – is just too much of a risk for me

Which hy, Acheron knew, anything less than the truth would be a disservice to her

“I want you” He deliberately repeated the same words he had used before, and by the way her eyes widened, Acheron knew she thought the sa “You once asked ive you I simply want you – but unlike before, I also know just how much I want you”