“I’m not willing to find out,” I clip back, squeezing Levi’s hand because I can’t. The fucked-up thing is that I cannot live in a world where Torin isn’t breathing.
Where he isn’t somewhere terrorizing someone else.
“Alright, Astor,” Levi mutters after a few beats. “You win. I’ll discreetly send out a few guys to make sure no one is tracking Baby Wildes and also look out for Reeve.”
My heart skips a beat, and I tuck my chin into my chest. “Thanks. I owe you.”
“You don’t owe me anything but staying safe and eating. Do that for me, at least.”
I bob my head once. “I will.”
Levi releases my hand and wraps it around my shoulders, pulling me into his side and wrapping me in his warmth against the cool breeze of the water. “Don’t give up on me. I need you.”
“I’m not,” I reply honestly. “I’m just tired.”
“When this is all over, you can step down. You can do whatever you want.”
“I want you to buy me a pony and to build him a little house in the backyard.”
“What the fu?—”
“No, I changed my mind,” I emit. “I want a B&M shifter for the Nova.”
“Geezus fucking Christ,” he moans out, causing a smile to grace my face. Fucking with him is the easiest thing to do. Even when I’m mentally exhausted. “When do I get a break from you?”
“Never.”
“You’re a spoiled brat, you know that?”
“You couldn’t live a day without me, Lev. Don’t kid yourself.”
“You’re probably right.” I wrap my arm around his back and hold him tightly against me. His comfort so beyond needed right now. “Maybe we should run away together.”
Pipe dream, but hey, a girl can dream for a minute.
“I’ve been telling you that forever. And my offer for California still stands.”
Who am I kidding? I’m the one who couldn’t live without Levi.
However, I can’t leave when Reeve is off the rails, and Torin…has an open death threat out, brought to you by my sperm donor.
“I guess if Emilio and Ramsey are gone, we won’t need to run away anymore,” I answer back. “We’ll have finally found our peace.”
“Yeah…I hope so.”
SIXTY-FIVE
bay
“I don’t want to pay.”
“That’s how you play the game,” Ellie argues, glaring at Mae from across the Monopoly board because she’s just landed on her property and owes her a whopping twelve dollars. “Now pay up.”
“No.” Mae gathers up all her colorful paper money and shoves it between her crossed legs.
“Mae,” Ellie stresses with a glower. “If you’re not going to play the game right, I’m going to stop.”
Our little sister shrugs, a full zero fucks given. “Then me and Bay will play.”