Page 88 of Drag You Down
I’m sure the only times he’s had disagreements with others, they always ended badly for him.
“I’ll help you, if that’s what you want,” I say, although I would rather throw Eve into a pit and keep Levi entirely to myself.
Part of me is aware that Eve is as much a victim as Levi, but my emotions don’t care. She hurt Levi, and I want to destroy her for it.
There’s no need to scare Levi with the depths of my emotions.
I kiss his cheek. “If we need to tear Eve out of there kicking and screaming, we will.”
Levi nods. “I’ll get her to listen,” he promises. “But then… Where will she go? What will she do?” He bites his lip. “What amIgoing to do?”
“You’ll be with me,” I say earnestly. “And I can afford to get Eve her own apartment.”
I’ll get her a small one, far outside of the city, where there is no chance she can bother me and Levi.
“But what am I going to do?” he presses. “When you’re working, when you’re out with friends?”
Nothing. Stay safe here, in my condo, where none of the wretches of the world can touch him.
That attitude has gotten me in trouble before.
I smile as best I can. “What do you want to do?”
“I don’t know,” he says slowly. “I guess it’s time to figure that out, isn’t it?” He huffs out a small, self-deprecating laugh.“Something other than watching preachers on TV and reading the Bible.”
“I will support whatever you choose,” I say.
As long as I can keep watching him. As long as I always know where he is.
I’ll keep him safe.
And the first step to that is getting rid of Zachariah Carpenter.
“We can retrieve Eve tomorrow evening,” I say. “I just need to pick up a few supplies.”
Zachariah will not survive to the weekend.
Levi looks at me, his eyes searching mine, then he slowly nods.
He knows what’s coming, and he’s not trying to protect Zachariah.
Good.
I’ll make sure that con man never hurts him ever again.
CHAPTER 19
LEVI
It’s late at night, with only a sliver of the moon visible. There are no stars in the sky, but there never are here in the city. The light pollution hides them.
Despite the late hour, there are still a few pedestrians on the streets. The people who live in this neighborhood aren’t well off, and the only way to get around is by walking.
Gabriel had made us take the bus, pay in cash, and get dropped off two stops away from the apartment building. He’d also made me wear a large hoodie, so different from my usual button-up shirt. He’s dressed down too, and he’s wearing a green baseball cap with a logo on it.
“Keep your head down at all times,” Gabriel says as we make our way to the apartment building.
Those don’t sound like the words of a man with nothing to hide.
