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"Evie?"
His blonde-haired, gray-eyed ex with a runner's body stands there staring at him. "Hi, Bodie."
"What are you doing here? How'd you know I was here?"
"Don't get mad, but Chicago told me. I've been hounding him for a couple of weeks. Can we go somewhere and talk?"
"You're good here," Lex says. "I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything, Bodie."
Lex has definitely become the protective mother he's never had. He's a hellion, and he knows it, but she's a tough chick. And a tough mom. But a good mom. He can't say he hates it because he doesn't have any family, and it's a nice feeling to know someone cares about him. He also knows Lex wants to hear what's being said without being seen.Typical chick.
"I have a hotel room in case we want to go somewhere to be alone," Evie says, "but I owe you an explanation."
The last thing Bodie wants is an explanation. "I was dying and pushed you away. I basically told you to jump into someone else's arms. And bed. Or, rather, have another man jump into your bed."
"It's not just that, Bodie." Tears fall from her eyes, and she avoids looking at him, looking to the left and at the ground when she adds, "It wasn't something I wanted to do."
"What?"
"The guy... he's my boss."
Tilting his head, he crosses his arms over his chest that has gotten significantly bigger than when she first knew him even. The new heart, with the turmoil in his life, has really upped his workout regimen. "Excuse me?"
"I took money from him. Well, from the company. Your medication was expensive, and you were going to stop taking it because you couldn't afford it because you weren't working for the club. I took the money to get the meds for you, and then you threw me to the curb."
"I didn't throw you-"
"You told me to leave and never come back. And when I did come back, you disappeared. Just, poof! Vanished. You up and left with no way for me to find you when you knew I would still come back. You fucking threw me to the curb."
The pain in her voice makes his new heart ache. "You stole money from your boss?"
"I didn't have a choice. We didn't have the money, and I was in charge of making the deposits. I paid him back, but he caught me the day after you dumped me. The only way he agreed to not press charges and send me to jail was if I slept with him. I was so heartbroken to lose you that I just didn't care. He's had this hold on me for years now."
"He's forcing you to fuck him to keep you out of jail?"
Shrugging, she glances up at him before looking back at the ground. "I guess in a manner of speaking, yes."
"I'll kill him."
"Please, Bodie, just... please. Don't."
Evie looks so broken, and he needs to get her out of there. He needs to be alone with her. "Let's go to your hotel room."
Lex appears and pulls him aside, her voice low. "Be careful with her, Bodie."
"What are you talking about?"
"Something in her story doesn't add up. I'll call Lily and see what can be done from a legal standpoint, but this doesn't make a lot of sense to me."
He stares at her. "What doesn't add up?"
"She stole money from him how long ago? There's a statute of limitations. I doubt it was grand theft or anything. So, anyone being blackmailed like this would look into how long someone could press charges. After that, any relationship would be done, and the only thing he could do would be civil, but knowing he coerced her into a sexual relationship would negate that. He'd go to jail for assault."
"You don't know her, Lex," he hisses. "You think she just made this up?"
Shrugging, she shakes her head. "I think there's a lie in there. A big one. I may not know her, but I know women. And I know stories. That, my dear Bodie, is a story. It's made up, and a way to absolve her from guilt."
"You're wrong."
