Page 237 of Chaos Kills

Striding down the hallway, a soft brush of fingers suddenly slides across my back, silently soliciting for me to stop and turn.

Ozzy.

Inhaling, I twirl around, unable to ignore him because he was in that room with me when he didn’t need to be.

Dark blues that are semi-covered by equally long strands of inky hair stare back at me, and all I can issue out is, “Mhm?” Ozzy stares back at me, and I notice the red marks caused by Reeve’s fists. “You want some ice?”

He slowly shakes his head back and forth.

“I’m sorry.”

“You ready to go, Astor?” Levi’s voice—one that is normally a calming factor—does nothing for me at this moment.

I can’t break down here.

The last thing I want to do is cry. But I feel like a chump leaving Ozzy here when he just got pummeled because of me.

My lips part to tell Ozzy he can swing by the house later, and I’ll, I don’t know, give him some ice cream when Levi’s large palm finds my spine.

“You alright?”

“I’m cashing in on that favor.” Cairo slides in right next to Ozzy, and I’m losing fucking count of who owes each other what and shit.

It doesn’t matter.

Cairo needs something, and more than likely, I’m going to help anyway.

“My coronation is coming up, and I would still like you to come.”

Oh, fuck me.

Lifting my chin higher, I mark him with a glower. “Do I look like I want to go to another party?”

“This one will be thrown by my mother,” he says cooly. “Then the ratchet one is afterward.” He looks to Levi. “It’s time to make moves, Wallace.”

“I’m already making moves,” my best friend deadpans.

“You know the kind I mean. It’s time people see South Shore and Wharf Bay are civil and united.”

“Well, I haven’t killed you yet,” Levi retorts. “So, that leaves us civil and cool enough.”

“She needs to be seen,” Cairo clips back. “She’ll need the backup with the Forsaken Crew when she takes over The Landings.” Levi sends me a knowing look, and Cairo immediately catches on to it. “Unless the two of you are still fleeing like a couple of bitches then, by all means, let me know.”

“Why the fuck would we let you know?” Levi shoots back, pinning his brows at Sinatra. “It’s best you keep that tidbit of information to yourself, Black.”

“You both need to stay.”

Levi turns to meet Cairo head-on with his body. “We both don’t need to do anything. I’m tired of you dragging her places because your boys can’t grow the fuck up. Get them both under control. Because this is the last time I see you in her house after today. You surprise-visit again, and I will give the order to have you taken out.”

“No need to feel territorial, Wallace,” Cairo says ever-so-calmly. “If she wants to, obviously, she knows how to slip out from underneath your grasp.”

My best friend moves forward, alluding that he might throw a few rounds at Cairo, so I cut in.

“When is it?”

Cairo doesn’t pry his glare off Levi. “Next week. Since Wallace has decided to step in and commit himself to staying in alliance with you when you take The Landings, I think it’s time. Though, you could’ve kept the part out where you confirmed you were still going to take Emilio out.”

“I never said that,” Levi retorts flatly. “He assumed.”

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