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Bane frowned “I’m with

Serena here How’s that possible? How could he not know?”

“Oh you mean you didn’t read about that in your files, Detective?” Draegan’s attitude returned

“I’an”

“So we’re friends now?” Draegan laughed “Funny From where I’m seated, I didn’t see us as buddies You’re just a fella tryin’ to get in irl’s pants”

“I’ll let that slide for now,” Bane said, never losing his focus “Draegan, I’m considered an expert in the area of cults and secret societies Do you have any idea how dangerous it is for Markie to walk around unaware of what he anization?”

“It was too dangerous to tell hian’s eyes watered “Markie’s own parents would’ve eventually handed him over They weren’t in any position to help him, financially or otherwise Mac and I uns in his hands and taught him how to use the they knew so that e started accepting residents here, we’d be prepared to take care of our own”

“Don’t you ance in his voice

“You’re daan pushed away from the table “Yes! Markie is the real reason Mac and I first developed the groundwork for Trouble, but it quickly grew into so more Look around you, Detective! We have a community here We have families here Women who probably wouldn’t be here if we hadn’t built a city to keep them safe!

“It’s easy to judge when you’re sitting over there with your arms crossed across a chest full of condemnation, but ask yourself this—would you have cared about our reasons if your sister had been here? Would you have asked us why Trouble was originally founded if ere protecting so her a carefree life behind these gates?

“Before you shake a scolding finger at me, or Mac for that matter, you stop and ask yourself how many establishments have been built for one specific purpose only to function as an entity to help in various capacities

“So yes, Trouble was originally conceived because Mac and I wanted to protect Markie, but by the ti cities were already facing a domestic violence crisis, one of the worst in this nation We turned to our friends and people we trusted and decided to build a city that was as sturdy and strong as the ht for it and its residents

“Now you go ahead and judge me, but then you look across this table and you ask Serena the difficult question Ask her” He swung his gaze at Serena “Would you be here today if Trouble hadn’t been around? Would you have survived your ex-husband’s wrath if you hadn’t had the opportunity to come here instead?”

Withouta beat, Serena replied, “No”

“Draegan, what you’ve done here is ad here I don’t judge you, but—”