Page 282 of Chaos Kills

I glance over at him, holding my voice and expression firm. “Lev, that can’t happen.”

After a beat, my best friend finally glances down at me. “And what would you like me to do about it?” My lips part to tell him that—I don’t know—maybe he can keep a lookout or something? Maybe notice any suspicious activity on the streets—I’m not totally hip to how a hit goes down—but something. Then Levi speaks again, “Do you want me to throw a bunch of my guys on him and give his little entitled ass a full security detail?”

I narrow my eyes at his smart-ass commentary. “I didn’t say that.”

“And I’m not gonna cry if something happens to Baby Wildes, either.”

“I need a few eyes on him. Make sure nothing happens.”

“Now you’re just askin’ a lot.”

“Lev, I can’t deal with any more. Ozzy needs him, and I don’t need to be picking up his pieces as well. Do you think Reeve is going to handle that well?”

“Why don’t you tell Cairo? That’s his boy.”

“Because he’s got enough on his plate with Reeve’s dad?—”

“That’shisproblem,” Levi retorts gruffly. “We don’t babysit the Forsaken Crew.”

My shoulders sag in a defeated heap of hopelessness. I’m not saying Cairo and Ozzy can’t handle this. But I’d feel a million times better if I knew Levi was somewhat in the mix, even if it was on the down low.

“I bet it’d make you feel better if I told you I’d go hunt Reeve down.” I avert my focus back to the water because now he’s just being a dick. “We’ve got our own problems on our plate, Astor. Which, by the way, Ellie is contracting Bay-sneaking-out-of-the-house-after-midnight syndrome.”

My head snaps over to him. “What?”

“Don’t worry,” he hands me over with his signature shitty smirk, “Peter shit his pants on the way down our street when one of my guys shot at his trunk.”

“Levi.” His smug smile only widens. “You’re an asshole, dude.”

“It kept her in the house, didn’t it? The boys know every car in this town now. Especially his. How do you think those boys of yours are able to get in?”

They are not my boys anymore.

“I always knew you were aware when they came into South Shore.”

“Yet they stayed.”

“And what are you saying?” I press, my tone calm, but inside, I’m starting to fume from the conversation I started.

“Nothing.” That’s what I thought. “But if I see Torin roaming through my streets this time, I’m going to lock his fuckin’ ass up. Will that make you happy?”

“No.”

“He’ll be protected.”

“He’ll be pissed.”

Levi cocks an eyebrow. “Does it look like I care, Astor? He’s lucky, on several occasions, that I haven’t taken him out yet.”

I roll my eyes and break off our stare down.

I don’t have the energy to get into this right now. I’m running on E, my nerves have me wrapped in a knot, and I haven’t had a full night’s sleep in forever.

“Emilio isn’t going to kill Torin.”

“You don’t know that,” I reply. “And I don’t trust him.”

“You’ll never forgive him if he does. I don’t think that’s a risk he’s willing to take. Not when you already?—”

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