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“Jimmy?” She winced when she said his name.
I sucked in a breath, unsure what to say.
“It’s a simple question, Matt. Nothing happens around here without you knowing. You remind us that’s your job about twenty-six times a day. So, did you know? Did you know that my boyfriend was filming me and making videos? Did you know that’s why Tanner attacked him?”
“Yes,” I replied, as I stood.
“Seriously!” she yelled, jumping up, squaring off in front of me. “And you didn’t think to tell me? I thought we were friends, and you didn’t think to tell me that fucking asshole was turning me into a sex tape?”
She stalked towards the door, but I moved faster than her. As she turned the handle, I forced my palm against it, slamming it closed again. With her body trapped, I wrapped my arm around her waist, my mouth finding the shell of her ear.
“Yes, I knew,” I murmured, feeling her body tense. “It was me who told Tanner about the video. Thomas sent it to me. I had him remove it, and Tanner dealt with Jimmy. He ran because we threatened to tell the police.”
A sob broke from her chest, shaking her body. I let go of her and pressed my other hand to the door, caging her in completely.
“Turn around, Rogue.”
She didn’t move.
“Please.”
She moved slowly, looking broken as she stared up at me from beneath her long, dark lashes.
“Talk to me,” I begged.
She laughed out a short, shrill laugh. “That’s almost ironic coming from you. I’ve known you for years and I know nothing about you.”
“You know everything worth knowing. I promise. Now talk to me.”
She slumped back against the door as if suddenly overwhelmed with everything she’d learned tonight.
“I thought he loved me,” she whispered. “And all the time he was filming me so he could sell it. He lied, he used me and then my brother sorted it out but didn’t tell me why, so I ended up hating him. Why didn’t he just tell me?”
I cupped her face and wiped the tears now streaming down her cheeks away with my thumbs. “Tanner loves you. He wanted to protect you. He beat up Jimmy for what he did to you and then he went out of his way to cause chaos for a month or so while Thomas removed all traces of the videos. He wanted to make sure the press attention was on him and not you. He’s an idiot, but he’s an idiot that would do just about anything to protect you.”
“And you?”
“As would I.”
“Is that why you don’t want me?” Her voice was so quiet I barely heard her.
“What?”
“Am I damaged goods? Is that why you sent me away that time?”
A growl rumbled from deep within my chest, hating that she’d think that way about herself. “Frankie, we messed about before the video, but even so, nothing would change how I feel about you.”
Her shoulders slumped. “I should go. We’ve got an early start in the morning.”
“Let me walk you. It’s not safe around here right now.”
“Kay.”
We walked in silence to the elevator, her body language lacking all its usual confidence. Back in the penthouse, the place was silent as I walked her to her door.
“Night, Matt.”
I followed her into her suite, closing and locking the door behind me.
