Charlene regarded him as though he was her messiah. Throwing her arms around his thigh, she launched a litany to explain why she was innocent despite the weight of evidence showing otherwise.

“Bren, you believe me, don’t you? Someone set me up! I don’t know who, but I know they’re trying to destroy me. You know I devote my heart and soul to you, Bren! How could I possibly want to be with any other guys!?”

Brendan said nothing, even as Charlene tightened her arms around his legs. He took a ciga