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"Neither do I"

We visited for a while before I broached the police "Did the police talk to you about this? Did you tell them why you were beat up?"

"They caed"

"You didn’t tell them that you owned the loan shark money?"

He shook his head very slightly, his eyes narrowing "Don't tell the trouble Spencer will go nuts"

"But your life's in danger," I said in protest "They ht be able to protect you"

"No, Celia," Grahah his teeth "Don't talk to the police Go to Hunter He's the only one who can help me now"

I sat back in ht The police didn’t dole out money to victims of extortion or exorbitant interest rates on loan shark loans In their ht it on hi the loan shark than protecting Grahauard on the ward outside Graham's room, no matter what

"I'll go to the gym on my way home," I said and that seemed to satisfy Graham He closed his eyes, and so I talked aboutwhile he listened

When it was time for me to leave, I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek once more

"Don't worry, big brother," I said softly "I'll go to Hunter Maybe if I get down on ood to see rovel"

"I'm so sorry," Graham said, tears in his eyes I had said it in a joki

ng manner, but itup my mess I never meant any of this to happen…"

"Shh," I said and kissed his cheek once et your sleep"

He nodded and I left him with his eyes closed, his head turned away from the door as if he couldn’t bear to look me in the eye