Page 61 of Chaos Kills

The realization that she’s a Wildes, through and through, sinks further into her psyche. That everyone around her has Astor DNA is a problem.

I don’t see the big deal. However, she’s not normal.

Bay is too smart to take a leap of faith with just anyone. Now, I’m something she always thought she was, and it’s made her upset. I can’t say I like seeing her cry.

In fact, it makes my stomach knot in discomfort. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m not around girls who cry—would still rather not—but I’m not fond of seeing her do it.

I just wish she’d stop staring at me.

“Let me make one thing clear,” Levi presses, lacing his inked fingers together. “If you’re in this to make shit worse, I’ll kill you. If you decide to be the rook in this game where you start moving horizontally or vertically, I’ll slice your dick off. If anything happens to her at the other end of your hands, you’ll be choking on them. I’m not in the mood to fuck around with another Wildes?—”

“Ryland,” I blurt out because I need Bay to remember that. The Wildes surname is tainted and ruined in her eyes. I’m not my uncle or cousins, including Wallace.

“Right, but it’s the company you keep,” he retorts simply. “You live over there. What makes me think that you’re not plotting some bullshit?”

I’m not.

Torin is too fucked up on bourbon. Reeve is busy getting his dick sucked off his body or infested with the guests he keeps. Cairo is trying to find his ground with his new Titan seat, babysitting my cousin, while I look out for Stanton.

There’s no time to scheme anything.

“You don’t,” I state simply.

“Exactly,” Wallace confirms. “So, like I’ve said before…when I tell you enough is enough, this is over.”

He has said that before.

I just don’t know what it means.

After Roger Astor died and Wallace got out of jail, he said it again. This time, he was calm about it. He looked exhausted from all the workings and dealings that had happened over the course of only a couple of days. He was smoking down a cigarette, looking out at the distance, and told me to buzz off for a few days.

I did.

They buried their father, and I…needed to see Bay. As much as I don’t particularly enjoy how restless she makes me feel when she’s got me within the scope of her focus, I decided that I’d deal with the discomfort of it all as long as I can make sure she’s okay.

She’s not really okay, but I understand it’s to be expected. I don’t fully understand the logistics of deep-seated emotions tied to another individual, but maybe I do.

I’d never allow anything or anyone to hurt my brothers, including Wallace. However, I’d never permit something to happen to him either.

Because of Bay.

I’m still getting used to him again. He’s bossy, and while I don’t pay any mind to that, he’s possessive over Bay.

Before, it was fine.

Now, it’s getting a bit excessive.

“I need a response to that comment, too,” Wallace pressures, but something makes me hesitate in responding.

I don’t like how he’s looking at me. His exhaustion is making him slip up on his game. If I didn’t know him so well, too, I’d say something’s up.

Reaching for my juice box, I do the only thing that Bay would understand to get Wallace to fuck off me with the comment.

I take one sip.

No.

I see Bay from my peripheral veer back a little, realizing my response, but Wallace is too agitated to catch on.

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