Page 123 of Ace of Spades

Against every odd, every doubt, every damn thing stacked against us, we’re doing it.

SKC’s alive.

And by the end of Day One, so is the dream.

Chapter33

Levi

Ishould be passed out.

Should be face-first in the mattress that feels just a little too hard to get comfortable at this fancy-ass hotel after the brutal marathon that was Day One of the build-off.

Instead, I'm sitting on the edge of the bed, still in the day’s jeans, head in my hands, while the city buzzes and hums outside the window.

There's a sharp knock at my door. Not a polite one.

I already know who it is before I even stand. The screaming text I received a few hours ago alerted me to his intentions.

I drag myself up, cross the room, and open it.

Brody King storms past me without waiting for an invitation.

His service dog, Milo, at his heels, eyes darting between us like he already knows trouble's about to break loose.

Brody rounds on me, fists clenched at his sides, chest heaving.

"You wanna tell me what the fuck I just heard from your kid?" His voice is a low snarl.

I shut the door quickly. Because there’s no way this is ending quietly.

"It’s not what you think, King" I say, even though we both know it is.

He lets out a bitter laugh. "Really? 'Cause it sure sounds like you’ve been fucking my daughter behind my back."

I flinch.

Not because he’s wrong.

But because hearing it like that… raw and ugly. It makes it worse somehow. Cheapens what Sienna and I have formed.

Brody’s breathing hard. His knuckles white.

"You’re supposed to be my brother, Levi. You’re supposed to have my back. You were there when I bled for this country. When I lost everything and had to start over. You were the only family I had left."

I don't say anything. Because how do you defend betraying the one person who's never given up on you?

"And you didn’t think maybe—just maybe—you should’ve fuckingaskedme first before touching the one person I have left to share my blood?"

"Brody. You weren't her dad when she walked into the shop that night," I grit out. "You didn’t even know she existed."

"And you think that makes it better?" His voice cracks. "You knew. You fucking knew once we figured it out. And you still kept going on with it."

I clench my fists, trying like hell to stay calm. To remember this is Brody.

"You’ve been trying to push me to move on for years, King.'Get laid, Levi. Find a good woman.'Remember that? That was you."

He stares at me like I’ve lost my mind.

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