Chapter twenty-three
Going into the office after the morning he’d spent with his mate was out of the question, especially since she was off work today.
Every instinct in him wanted to be upstairs in bed with her, savoring their newfound bond, but Levi knew he wouldn’t rest well until he found out who was trying to have him killed.
So, with a relaxed body and a clear mind, Levi was meeting in his office with Lucas and Sebastian.
He didn’t trust anyone else at this point.
“Congratulations,” Lucas told him, stretching out in the chair in front of Levi’s desk. “Can’t believe you pulled it off.”
Sebastian snickered. “I just knew she was finna give us all hell for another month.”
“Don’t talk about my baby like she difficult. She just one of them ones who can’t be handled by just anybody.”
“Whatever you gotta tell yourself to feel comfortable closing your eyes in bed next to her,” Lucas said.
The three of them busted out laughing. Levi knew better than to have Amaya sleeping anywhere near him during the days that she’d hated him. Especially after her escape attempt. He was almost certain she would’ve tried to kill him.
“Focus, man.” He needed to change the subject before he left his friends to go upstairs.
Sebastian crossed his arms over his chest. “Someone tried to kill you.”
“Twice,” he added.
Lucas nodded. “I want to know who poisoned you. That Buru shit will get handled like it always does, but someone getting close enough to slip Buru blood into your drink is a problem.”
“It had to have happened at the meeting, but you barely took a sip of that drink,” Bas said.
Levi frowned. “You’re right. It tasted weird, so I set it aside. Damn.” The thought of what could’ve happened to him had he kept drinking pissed him off. “I want that server and anyone who worked with her found.”
Lucas pulled out his phone, typing away. “I remember her face. You know I memorize anyone floating around you.”
That was a given. In all their years together not once had Levi questioned Lucas’s loyalty.
Bas broke the tense silence. “We need allies in the Collective.”
Levi leaned back in his chair. “Who do you think is the most likely candidate? The Fire Mujaji elder hates your guts. Lucian will try to get me kicked out that shit at the first chance. That leaves four others.”
“With the current elders? None of them motherfuckers are siding with us,” Bas informed him. “That’s why we gotta shake that shit up.”
“What are you thinking?” Lucas stopped his typing.
“Lucian gives us the most trouble and his voice is the loudest. We should replace him,” Levi grumbled.
Sebastian’s face turned thoughtful. “The Lathams are the next powerful family of border mages.”
“Their patriarch is fair,” Lucas added.
“Then reach out and see if we can get a meeting with one of them,” Levi ordered.
He didn’t care which of them accomplished that. He went to the next thing bothering him. “Did you find her uncle?”
“That bitch hiding at his daddy’s compound. If we bust in there, we’ll have a lot more problems than I feel like tackling at the moment,” Lucas said.
Levi sighed and shook his head. There was no use in stressing about it at the moment. There wasn’t much more trouble Paul could put him in.
“I need to be seen out,” he announced. “I can’t for one second let a muthafucker think they got the drop on me.”
Sebastian sat forward. “Agreed. It needs to be somewhere the Collective can see you.”
“You sure you want to announce to the world that you just said ‘fuck you’ to a Collective decree?” Lucas smirked.
“I think that’s exactly what I want to do.” Levi smiled.
Lucas shrugged. He would ride regardless of what Levi did. “They like that lil swanky shit down on Fischer.”
“The fusion place? Red been wanting to go.” Sebastian rubbed his hands together.
“I know the water Mujaji that owns the place. We’ll be safe to send men ahead in case shit gets active,” Lucas told them.
Levi nodded. He knew for a fact that he’d had a few dresses delivered to Amaya when Raven demanded he get clothes for her. An outing with his mate and his friends could be fun.
‘Amaya,’ he called out.
Her presence warmed his mind and made his heart stir. ‘Yes, King.’
‘We’re going out tonight on a double date with Bas and Raven. How long will it take you to get dressed?’
There was a moment of hesitation on her part. Did she regret their mating now that she was up and moving? Before he could comment on it, she answered his other question.
‘I’m in the shower now. An hour?’
‘You’re in the shower?’ This time it was his dick that stirred. ‘I can be up in a sec.’
She laughed, the husky sound filling his mind. ‘Then it will take longer than an hour.’
‘Fine,’ he pouted. ‘I’ll shower and get ready down here.’
‘See you soon.’ She withdrew from his mind.
He focused his attention back on his friends. “Baby doll is good to go. Send a call out to the coven for a meeting in an hour.”
Sebastian smiled. “Ah shit! You making it official. The King of the Bayi is mated.”
He smiled at his friend. “If they thought I was a problem before…”