He folded her hand into his own. “You know I enjoy it, right?”

Her laugh sounded pitiful. But she still remembered how her mother had given in because of her. Cannon had found those men, and even at eighteen he’d made them pay with his fists—because of her.

She’d influenced him into becoming a fighter.

And it was because of her that he’d formed the neighborhood watch. Everyone loved Cannon, but no one could love him more than she did.

“Superman,” she teased. “This time, I promise I can take care of myself.”

A slight knock on the door made her jump.

“It’s just Armie,” Cannon said with a squeeze to her shoulder. “I’ll let him in.”

Nodding, she again thought of the way Armie had stood in front of her, willing to block bullets if necessary.

Emotion welled up, choking her, killing her.

She quickly took the aspirin and tried to get herself together.

Armie peeked in cautiously, saw her on the couch and came in farther. “She okay?”

“Yes,” Merissa and Cannon said at the same time.

Armie gave a slight, tilted smile. “Hey, Stretch.” He came over to her, laid her keys on the coffee table, then winced at the darkening discoloration on her jaw.

“I bruise easily,” she explained. “By tomorrow it’s going to look worse, believe me. But it was just a slap. I doubt you guys would have even noticed.”

Armie crouched down in front of her. “Hey, you’re not a fighter, hon.”

She liked it when he called her something other than Stretch. Something affectionate. “No kidding.” She hadn’t fought at all; fear and the furious beating of her heart had kept her malleable and weak. It infuriated her. “I may be big, but I lack muscle.” And guts.

“Tall,” Armie corrected. “You’re tall, but far from big. More like...”

“What?”

He thought about it. “Delicate.”

A genuine smile took her by surprise. So Armie Jacobson saw her as delicate? Huh.

Knowing she needed to get this over with, Merissa took another drink, then set her glass aside and stood.

Armie slowly did the same, his cautious gaze never leaving her. Cannon stood near him, strangely quiet. They both watched her as if expecting her to lose it at any second.

And maybe she would—if she didn’t have an audience.

She moved a few feet away, needing the distance to get it said. “I think that man just wanted to toy with me. I mean, no matter what he said, there wasn’t time to...to...”

Armie and Cannon both went so still, they seemed frozen. She wasn’t helping by dragging it out.

Pasting on a smirk, she said, “He claimed he wanted to rape me, but we all know he wouldn’t have. Not in the middle of a robbery, right? Instead he tried to grope me a little.” The words strangled in her throat; she touched the front of her sweater with the missing button and made herself continue. “He slapped me when I pushed away from him. That’s the mark on my jaw. I stumbled and some stuff fell off my desk. He was coming after me again but then Armie... Armie saved me.” Hands locked together, she looked at the two people who were most important to her. She loved them both but in very, very different ways. “That’s it, guys. I promise. I got hit once, felt up a little, but nothing worse than that.”

“Rissy.”

That single whispered word from Armie almost made gelatin of her knees.

“Now you need to go,” she insisted urgently. “Both of you.” An invisible clamp tightened around her lungs. “Please.”

Looking tortured, Cannon said, “You’ll call me if you need anything?”

She nodded fast. “Yes.”

“And you’ll check in just so I know—”

“I’ll text you a couple of times tonight and tomorrow morning before work, too, I promise.” Please, please just go before I come undone.

Armie jammed a hand through his hair, then cursed low.

“Problem?” Cannon asked.

“No.”

Merissa looked at the dried blood in his hair, on his shirt. In her mind, over and over, she kept seeing how he’d shielded her. “Cannon should be fussing over you because you’re in far worse shape than I am. Go home and do whatever it is you do to make yourself feel better.”

Which probably meant he’d find a willing woman—or three—and lose himself in an orgy of pleasure. Damn it, she couldn’t let that bother her.

His nostrils flared, but Armie nodded. As if he’d just lost an internal battle, he flexed his hands. “If you want to talk...” He did more flexing, almost agonized. “Just let me know.”

She whispered, “You might be busy.”

He gave one shake of his head. “No.” He pulled her in for another hug that was so gentle it nearly demolished her resolve.

After the soft, warm press of his mouth to her forehead, he headed for the door. “I’ll wait outside.”

Merissa watched him walk away, his stride long, his step hurried.

It almost looked like he was running away.

Even after the door closed quietly behind him, she stared. Concern for Armie made her forget her own uneasiness.

“Rissy.”

She jumped, and her gaze shifted to her brother.

“You know I love you—”

“Yes.” Never in her entire life had she ever doubted that.

“I also love Armie. In a lot of ways, he’s like a brother to me.”

Despite everything, her lips shifted into a smile. “I know.”

Cannon let out a big breath, then took her hands. “He’s not a brother to you. Not even close. I would never betray either of you, but...”

When he trailed off, Merissa got alarmed. “What?” She squeezed his hands. “What’s the matter?”

“He’d deny it till hell freezes over, but Armie’s hurting. Not physically. I don’t mean that.”

She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t swallow, so she just waited.

“Maybe you should give him comfort, and it would give you comfort in return.”

Her jaw loosened. She didn’t know how to comfort Armie. He’d rejected her. Though they hadn’t discussed it, Cannon had to know that she had a thing for Armie. Their circle was small and everyone seemed to share everything that happened.

She shook her head, but Cannon smiled at her. “There’s something about Armie you should probably know.”

Oh wow. Her own situation faded as a million scenarios ran through her mind. Would she learn the reason Armie had avoided the SBC for so long? Would she find out why he refused to commit to a woman, why he avoided “nice” girls? Heart thrumming furiously, she whispered, “What?”

“Armie won’t be busy tonight.”

She narrowed her eyes. “How do you know?”

“Because for weeks now, he’s been celibate.” She was stunned stupid as Cannon bent and kissed her forehead. “Something to think about, okay?”

He didn’t wait for an answer; he just headed to the stairs to the door. On his way, he said, “I’ve locked the door, but reset the alarm, and don’t forget to check in.” And then he was gone.

And Merissa, still reeling, dropped to sit on the couch.