Page 86 of Chaos Kills

Or maybe a warning to do something before he attempts to put Ozzy down.

“Table this,” I mutter to Nessa. “We have a job to do tonight, and we’ll talk after?—”

“Fuck you,” Nessa sneers before shoulder-checking me and striding off in the opposite direction. “I’m done with this shit.”

“Wait,” I plead, pivoting to face her spine. “Nessa, I swear we were going to talk. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I just—everything’s been happening so fast. I haven’t even been able to get my head on straight.”

She lifts a coffin-shaped middle finger in the air at me and continues walking.

I knew it was going to go down like this.

Nessa has severe abandonment issues. It seems like everyone walks out on her—her mother included—and Levi and I have been the only constant in her life.

Now we’re leaving.

“Astor,today.”

Fuck me.

Spinning again on my heel, my eyes bulge when a long, jagged knife catches my attention. It’s palmed in Ozzy’s left hand, and I didn’t notice he was left-handed. Is he?

Who the fuck cares? He’s about to left-hand stab Levi.

“Ozzy, enough,” I coax, stepping closer. He doesn’t respond, just starts flexing his digits around the weapon. It’s a warning, and I won’t get another one before he acts. “Husband.”

He tenses at the name, now white-knuckling the knife in his hand. I guess I’m not the only person who’s not a fan of being married.

Wonderful.

It only makes me think this wasn’t his idea, and Emilio’s behind this, but I shove that aside because I’ll deal with it tomorrow.

Right now, I need to get Ozzy under control.

“Please come here,” I transmit softly. “We’ll talk.”

I don’t expect him to come to me immediately, and he doesn’t.

Levi and Ozzy are in the middle of what appears like a glare-off. I’d get closer and reach for him, but I don’t feel as though that would be appreciated.

Ozzy gives offdon’t touch mevibes, and I’m not trying to make things worse here.

“Ozzy,” I repeat. “Please.”

With one small step, he gives up some of Levi’s personal space and turns around. His deep blues connect with mine then, freezing my breathing as I try to manage that.

Manage him.

He didn’t know, so that leaves him telling Torin out. It only leaves more questions about how Pretty Boy discovered those truths. The only thing I can think of is that the house and garage are wired and bugged.

With leisurely steps, Ozzy strides over to me as a wave of goosebumps spread across my whole body. As he gets closer, he shoves the knife back safely into the waistband of his black jeans.

I can’t help the small exhale that leaves my lungs. However, with his blank expression, I can see a bit of sadness in those endless blues. Levi just opened another can of worms, and now we’re going to face another obstacle.

“You can’tdothat,” I lightly chide. “We’re in public. And some moron might call the pigs on you.”

I’m fully aware it’s stupid to say. I’m dealing with relatives who all share a common denominator.

Torin, Ozzy, and Levi—the last thing they’re ever concerned about are the cops.

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