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Lucy was right in theanother driver, when Fred Graves walked up behind her “A good day for the team, isn’t it?”

“Fred, I don’t have ti around to see if anyone was nearby, so to say, you probably need to wait until Rex and Luke are around”

“You’ll make time What I want to say to you doesn’t require an audience,” he explained, grabbing her by the ar her in a nearby camper, a fifth wheel owned by one of her drivers

Once inside, Fred shoved a package in her direction “Here I owe you this”

“What is it?” she asked, looking down at a bulging manila envelope

“This is what I was asked to relinquish by those two idiots you hired”

“Rex and Luke aren’t idiots They’re my boyfriends Soon they’ll become my husbands”

He jerked, shook his head, and then started to say so better of it, apparently, he said, “I don’t care who they are You tell them you saw me You make sure they understand that I have a reputation to protect My fa If I have to, I’ll go to my father He’ll take care of this in a court of law”

He was bluffing, of course, but the last thing Lucy wanted was to see this situation tried in a court of law They could reach a settleht they already had

Lucy opened the flap to the envelope and pulled out the discs After she tucked theain, she said, “Fred, thank you”

“I don’t want your gratitude I want you to protectyou I’ve scratched your back I could’ve taken those copies straight to the McDavids There are certain graphics captured that I don’t think you’d want your men to see”

“I appreciate you,” she said, following hisShe remembered the time she’d spent with Fred She understood how much she’d opened herself up to scrutiny

“Remember what I said Tell them to back off” He stormed away and slammed the door behind him Lucy sat down on a nearby chair, placed the envelope on the table and stared at the only evidence of a past she hoped to eventually forget

Minutes later, Rex and Luke rushed inside the trailer “Where is he?” Rex demanded

“He’s gone,” she replied, arching a brow “How’d you knoas here?”