27. Bay
TWENTY-SEVEN
bay
“You can’t be here. You can’t—” Levi’s hard body clashes into mine before his massive arms wrap around my body. His large palm gently cups the back of my head, and a broken sob allows itself to escape from the clutches of my calm.
He should be here.
But, after the break-in, I felt so violated and scared that I called Levi right away. I selfishly needed him, because he was the only one who would be able to free me from the mental distress going through my head.
“There’s no fuckin’ way I’m not going to come when you need me,” he mutters into my hair. “I don’t give a fuck what cover it blows.”
I wind my arms securely around his waist. “I’m so scared. I can’t do this anymore.”
“I know.” He squeezes me tighter. “We’ll go to plan B. I’ll figure something else out.”
There isn’t another way without Levi starting something. And, if he misses his mark on Emilio, then it’s going to be a full-out war.
That can’t happen.
In a world full of bullshit, Levi has to stay out of the crosshairs. We’ve dreamt of a time when we can just live our lives without a line but, even with Emilio gone, what happens with Reeve, Cairo, and Torin? Are they just going to leave us alone? Is this whole rivalry going to dissipate out of thin air?
“It’s okay,” I double back, fully aware that I’m the only one in the perfect position to pull this off. “I just…needed you is all.”
Levi kisses the top of my head and rests his cheek along my skull. “I’m not going anywhere. I don’t know how he snuck through. I have guys outside and?—”
“It’s alright. Nothing happened—” Levi pulls away from me suddenly, and his green eyes bore nothing but violence in them.
This is starting to change him. All the stress and not being a player in the game is beginning to drive him crazy.
“It’s not alright,” he grits out, careful to keep his voice down because Dad is just around the corner in his La-Z-Boy. “I find out one of them was asleep and they’re dead.”
Geezus Christ.
“Levi, stop,” I say as calmly as I can. “It’s okay—” His callous palms suddenly latch onto both sides of my face, but his touch is gentle as his green eyes sear into me with equal bits of worry and anger.
“You don’t seem to understand me, do you? I would do anything to keep you safe, and this isn’t it. This was the wrong choice. I fucked up. I never should’ve left you?—”
“This is the only way,” I retort, clasping the top of his hands and giving him a slight squeeze. “I’m sorry that I called.”
His brows clench. “Don’t ever apologize for needing me. You know I’m always here for you, Astor.”
My lips attempt to heave into a warm grin, but the situation is just too grim to allow them. “I know. What would I do without you?”
“Probably date a bunch of assholes.”
I tsk and half-ass roll my eyes. “I don’t date anymore.”
“You should.”
“I don’t want to. I should, but…” Everything is a mess and I have to put my family first and Levi. “I can’t juggle all this and Matteo. He’s a loose cannon, and he’s trying to trip me up. First showing up at my school, then Emilio’s party, he thinks I have information.”
“He’s desperate.”
“And he’s getting a little too close.”
One of Levi’s thumbs grazes my cheek, warming my insides at how perfectly content I feel right now even though the world outside is havoc and bullshit for us. “What do you want to do?”
“I want him gone.”
“And how do you want to do that?”
I don’t know. However, this whole popping out of nowhere crap is getting old really fast.
“You need to meet him.” I gape at Levi because that’s literally the last thing I want to do. “Take Reeve with you. He’s the only one who’s going to allow you to do it. I’ll be there as well in the background. Meet him at the park, take my gun?—”
“Why would I do that? That’s just putting it in his head that I want him to keep doing this to gain my attention.”
“I…” Levi presses his lips together and swallows down the rest of his statement. That alone only tells me that he doesn’t want to put me in another situation.
“You need to get the one-up on him,” I supply. “We have to get inside his head.”
“With me out of the way, I thought the boys would cock-block him, but he’s stupider than I thought.”
“I can do it.”
Levi leans in and my breath catches. Ever since that kiss, my reactions are slightly different than before, and I think my brain is latching onto him because he’s the safest I’ve ever felt.
Pressing his forehead to mine, Levi breathes me in before saying, “I know you can. I just don’t want you to. You’re carrying South Shore on your back, and I’m supposed to be the king.”
“Then maybe you should step down and let me be queen.”
It’s definitely not on my agenda of things to do nor a piece of my bucket list, but I can’t miss a moment to outrank Levi any day.
“If you want it, it’s yours,” he concedes softly. “Though, it’s a lot of work and guys complaining about shit.”
“Pass.”
A deep chuckle rumbles off Levi’s chest. “I thought so.”
“I need Matteo’s number.”
“I’ll get it. You just let me know when and where. And, soon, I’ll let you do the honors right before he’s dead.”