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gaze back down to Billy. He brushed a chunk of hair off Billy’s
    smooth forehead with fingers that trembled. “What do you mean, he’s your responsibility?
    Are you saying the two of you are…are together, and you let him screw around? Does he mean so little to you, then?”
    Damn, he didn’t need this tonight! Xavier scrubbed his hands over his face then glanced over at Randy and Troy. The former was still unconscious and the latter was rambling off into his cell phone. Facing forward again, he wasn’t surprised to find Liam still petting Billy.
     
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    A BIT OF ME
    Bailey Bradford
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    How hands that big can deliver such tender caresses… But that doesn’t mean those hands will stay gentle, that Liam wouldn’t hurt Billy…
    God, he was so tired, just emotionally worn to a nub. He couldn’t figure out what was going on between Billy and Liam, and Randy was…a disaster, a heartbreakingly personal one. He and Xavier had never been the closest of brothers, but they used to at least get along.
    And Billy… As much as Xavier wanted Billy to have what he needed, the idea of not seeing the man’s impish smile every day was kind of depressing. In the six years since he’d taken Billy in, the little bugger had burrowed deeply under his skin, and while neither of them had even considered a sexual relationship with each other, they did both love one another.
    Well aware he’d been silent for too long, Xavier looked up from Liam’s hands and into his pale green eyes. “Billy means more to me than you can know, but not in the way you’re thinking. Our relationship isn’t sexual and it also isn’t your business.” Then he relented, remembering the way Liam had looked at Billy. “Are you coming to the hospital or leaving?“
    “Okay,” Liam said, sounding a little rough around the edges, “and thank you. I
    appreciate the opportunity to get to know you both.”
    Xavier snorted and stood up to greet the police and EMS workers as he heard the sirens blaring in the parking lot. Figures that Liam Stone would have to go all polite and sincere and completely demolish my determination to run the man off.
     
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    Bailey Bradford
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Chapter Four
    As exhausted as he was, Xavier knew it’d be hours before he got to sleep. His friend Les was a police officer, and had managed to have Xavier’s statement taken at the hospital instead of making Xavier go to the police station. Since Randy had a history of assault, and had been wielding a knife, chances were that Xavier wouldn’t have any charges brought against him. He’d been defending not only Billy but himself. Randy had been out of his mind, raging against Xavier as if he’d wanted him dead. It hurt, knowing his brother hated him so much, and Xavier didn’t know how to deal with it.
    For now, he’d settle on a distraction from those kinds of thoughts. Xavier eyed the FBI agent pacing the length of the waiting room. The man looked like he was ready to pounce—
    and he looked dangerous, big. Taller than Xavier, who was six-three, and bulkier. Although the extra few inches made Liam appear lean, his shoulders were broader than Xavier’s, and there was a controlled strength in Liam that carried a silent promise of danger. But would he use that strength against Billy, or for him? That was the question Xavier really wanted an answer to.
    Liam stopped pacing and turned towards him so quickly Xavier thought it was a
    miracle the big man didn’t topple over. “How is he?”
    Xavier leaned against the door frame and tucked his thumbs into his front jeans pockets as he studied the FBI agent. Liam’s mouth pinched tight at the blunt appraisal, but he didn’t puff up or protest. It was kind of impressive, actually, because so many men bristled when they knew they were being judged with a look, but other than those two small changes in his expression, Liam didn’t so much as tense up. It spoke well for his