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Pippi couldn't believe what she was hearing."No—-"Pretend nothing ever happened between them? "No. No. No!" And this time, the word came out a sob.

"I'm sorry," he bit out.

"But I l-love you—-"

"Goddammit, Pippi—-"

"I love you!"

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

"I'm sorry," he said doggedly.

And the line went dead.

****

AMELIA SLIPPED SILENTLYaway as soon as she was certain the call between Acheron and Pippi Jones had ended, and there was nothing else for her to listen to.Jesus Christ, but that woman was so damn hard to get rid of.

She needed a plan.

And she needed to act on it fast.

****

"YOU WANT A DRINK...now?"It was only nine in the evening, but that one phone call with Pippi had completely drained Acheron, and the thought of having to go out and surround himself with strangers was as appealing as the idea of drinking poison.

"It's been weeks already, and the furor over Anthony's death's died down. They stopped giving a fuck about me the moment the police caught his murderer." When Acheron still didn't look convinced, she adopted a light, cajoling tone, "Just one drink, Acheron - please?"

He thought about numbing himself to the emptiness inside of him with a drink, and he said reluctantly, "Fine." Amelia's doctors at the clinic had said liquor was alright, anyway, as long as it was consumed with moderation.

Acheron took them to a nearby pub, and after ordering her drink Amelia excused herself to go to the ladies. She made a call as soon as she had placed enough distance between her and Acheron, tipping the press about their location and promising them a money shot if they came within half an hour.

It should be enough to pretend that she had gotten herself drunk, Amelia considered, and with it she could make her move.

And so everything fell into plan, with Amelia pretending it had been so long that a single beer was enough to intoxicate her.

"That's enough, Amelia." Acheron's voice was tired but firm as he took the bottle out of her hand and placed it out of reach. He saw her body start to slump, and he swore under a breath even as he swiftly reached for her.

Amelia's arms went around his neck, and the strength in her grip took Acheron by surprise. He looked up, and her mouth immediately covered his.

What the fuck?

He pushed Amelia away, and the moment he saw the look in her eyes—-

"You planned this. Didn't you?" Fuck. Fuck. FUCK. All of a sudden, he remembered Pippi's words, warning him about Amelia doing whatever she could to keep him with her, and he realized with a jerk that Pippi had been right. Even worse, he realized how successfully she had played him for a fool, deliberately feeding his fears to force him into breaking up with Pippi.

Amelia refused to look away when she saw the anger and disappointment on Acheron's handsome face. "I love you." But when the words once were powerful, she was horrified to see that now they did nothing. "Acheron—-" It was finally beginning to dawn on her, just how much she had lost, and that this time it was the end for good. "Acheron..." And this time, her voice broke. "I just did it because I love you. I had to do it—-"

"Even if it meant hurting someone who had never done anything to you?" he asked hollowly.

God, he had been such a fucking fool.

Pippi had told him...

Pippi had fucking told him...

"I will never forget how you saved my life, Amy."