Page 12 of Chaos Kills

“Make a choice,” he tells me. “The boys or her. You can’t have both.”

“And what if I don’t?”

“Then you’ll fall. Just like Lennox. You have so much faith in Emilio you think he would’ve kept you without us?” Ramsey slowly shakes his head as if I’m a complete dumbass. “We’re Morrisons. Not Wildes. If our mother had done her job, we still wouldn’t be fighting this hard. That bitch left us, and not once did she come looking for Lennox.”

“I don’t give a fuck about her.”

“Then give a fuck about what you do care about. Bay and Wallace have planned all this, and now another chess piece is going to move. Their cover is blown. The secret is out. De Leon will have his day?—”

“Why didn’t you kill him?” I blurt at the mention of his name. “If you believe he killed Judah. Why does he stillexist?”

“Because, despite my best efforts, no one would give him up. Just her. And Wallace.”

“Wallace?” I can’t help but blurt his name, and it sends a cold shiver down my spine. I’ve always hated that motherfucker. And, in the midst of that animosity, I never really understood the full reason why. Except, maybe, until now. “He’s never been mentioned?—”

“With Bay comes Wallace, Torin,” Ramsey tsks haughtily. “Bay’s mission was to take down De Leon before his gang got going. However, that dickhead couldn’t keep his hands off her and his friends. I believe Wallace pulled her out of there and bided his time. Roger was holding the Titan seat. So, I highly doubt Wallace was telling him he was using his daughter as bait.”

And she wouldn’t leave De Leon.

I remember always coaxing her to get away from that asshole. That he was no good for her. That I’d treat her better.

I knew she was smarter than that.

Apparently, she was.

Bay had a role to play and an assignment to do. At the time, it made no sense that she’d be dating Wallace’s enemy and he’d be okay with it.

Just like she was dating me and he didn’t attempt to kill me yet.

“We don’t have a lot of time,” Ramsey says, pulling my head out of the past. “She’s involved with Ozzy, and Emilio is adamant about giving her The Landing’s seat. She’s going to take it, Torin.”

“I don’t give a fuck about?—”

“I didn’tsacrificemyself for that bitch to take the damn chair,” my brother snarls, showing his first sign of emotion. “You need to take it. I’ll back you up, and we’ll mow down South Shore together.”

I shake my head. “Cairo will never go for that shit.”

“Make him,” he clips sharply. “They killed ourbrother. I don’t give a shit who pulled the trigger. They’re all responsible.”

Everything makes sense.

Ramsey laid it down perfectly for me to pick up and read. It’s not some magical thing or some imaginary line between us. Bay inserted herself purposely, and I fell right into her trap. Everywhere she went, Bay was perfectly placed.

She knew I’d never hurt her.

“You wanna go rogue.” It’s not a question but a confirmation of what Ramsey wants to do.

“Yeah,” he exhales, as if breathing out his anxiety over the matter. “Emilio is not going to kill her. And he’s leaving us high and dry. I’ve known about her for years. Lennox knew who she was. I’m not sure how, but he did, and he told me. He was supposed to keep an eye on her, but something must’ve happened. He must have heard something coming down the pipe, and he decided to take her out himself. He failed.”

“You’re the only thing I’ve seen since leaving that’d make me go back to keep you from harm. I can change everything. We—together—could be the most powerful couple in all of Rhode Island and the surrounding states.” The screen goes black, the moonlight disappearing and erasing my brother and Bay from the frame. “I can’t bear seeing you with him anymore.”

“We both know Lennox didn’t have it in him to kill a woman,” Ramsey mutters. “Especially a girl. He was going to bring her back. It was a risk, especially since Emilio didn’t know yet about who she really was. But he was adamant about it.”

“And what were your thoughts?”

“I wasn’t a fan,” Ramsey replies honestly. “However, I would’ve rather have seen him home than with De Leon. I could’ve kept more of an eye on things.”

I’m not fully sold on that, but the reality remains the same.

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