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take Indie out to lunch. Indie assumed Cassidy was going to put her on warning about getting too friendly with her husband, but then she realized that Cassidy was just about the sweetest person she’d ever met. Cassidy chose to see the good in people, even people like Lee.
    “I don’t believe you,” Drake said. “I think she must have told you the whole story if you feel so strongly about a guy you barely know.”
    “I know him,” Indie said defensively.
    Their paths had crossed dozens of times over the past four years. If she hadn’t known his history, she may have thought he was handsome, sexy, even charming. But Indie knew Lee better than he thought she did, and she would never be stupid enough to be taken in by him. Not that any man could turn her head.
    “You’ve barely said two words to him. Unless I’ve missed something?” Drake leaned back, tilting his chair. “Has he said or done something to offend you?”
    How could she tell him the truth without betraying Cassidy’s trust? Drake’s wife hadn’t asked Indie to keep their conversation a secret, but she owed it to Cassidy to keep her mouth shut. Lee was Drake’s brother and they’d obviously made amends, meaning his loyalties were split. Her boss was one of the few men she respected, but Indie couldn’t stomach the thought of Drake letting Lee off the hook, especially knowing how devoted Drake was to Cassidy.
    “No, I’ve kept my distance,” she said.
    “He’s not a monster, you know.”
    “I can’t work with him.” Indie knew she was offending Drake by subtly attacking his twin, but she wouldn’t pretend to feel safe around him.
    “You can’t or you won’t?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
    Indie held her breath, wishing she could take back the veiled threat. Drake wouldn’t rescind his job offer to Lee just because she wasn’t comfortable with the idea. She loved her job, and she loved Drake and Cassidy. They were like family and she didn’t want to lose them, but no matter how she felt, Lee was Drake’s family. She was just an employee. “I’d rather not,” she said, softening her position. “You may think he’s changed, but how do you know for sure?”
    “No one knows him better than I do.” Drake’s voice took on a steely edge he rarely used with her. “I saw him hit rock bottom, and I was beside him during his descent. I never, ever thought I’d get my brother back, but I have. And no one, not even you, will convince me there’s a chance in hell he could go back to being the selfish bastard he was when he was pumping his body full of garbage.”
    Indie didn’t want to argue about something that was obviously a sore spot for Drake. It was personal, and Drake had clearly just drawn a line she would be crazy to try to cross. She smoothed her hands over her black knit skirt to dry her damp palms. “You’ve obviously made up your mind about this. Just don’t come crying to me when he disappoints you again.”
    “He won’t.”
    “Fine, whatever you say.” Indie stood to go outside for a breath of fresh air before returning to her desk. She needed to clear her head, to figure out how she would handle seeing that man every day, knowing what he’d done to one of her closest friends.
    “Indie, wait,” Drake said when she reached the door.
    Clenching the doorknob, Indie didn’t turn around. “Yes?”
    “I want this to work. Having Lee here, working alongside of me, means a hell of a lot to me. I won’t let anyone screw that up. Not even you. Is that clear?”
    Indie swallowed her tears. Drake had just reiterated what she already knew—Lee belonged here, and she was dispensable. “Crystal clear, boss.”
     
    ***
     
    Lee was crossing the parking lot when he saw a slight dark shadow in the alley between the buildings. He figured a person who was down on their luck had come by hoping for a handout. Since Lee knew what that felt like, he made a point of helping people in need, even if it meant giving them the last