Page 77 of Wild Ace

Emotionally, she still has a few walls I have to climb before she’s mine, and I’m going to climb them, no matter how long it takes. Fuck, I’ll bust through them if I have to.

“Is something wrong, Lexi?”

“No,” she says quickly, and I know she’s still lying.

“You wouldn’t tell me if there was, though, would you?”

“Why would you say that?”

“Just remember I’m here, okay? You just have to ask, and I’m there.”

“I know,” she whispers, regret seeping through the phone. Regret for what, I’m not sure, but she sounds like she’s sorry for something she hasn’t done yet.

“As long as you know.” I rub the back of my neck. “I do have something to tell you, too, but it can wait until I see you.”

“No, you can tell me now. Did something happen?”

“Ben finally gave the name of his partner. Eddie Fusillo. He’s in the wind, though. He probably ran when he found out Ben was arrested.”

“What does that mean? Are they not looking for him anymore?”

“There’s a warrant out for his arrest. But no, there’s no active manhunt.”

Her silence speaks volumes.

“He’s not a sophisticated criminal, Lexi. He’ll be in custody soon.”

“Alright,” she says softly. “I have to go.”

“I’ll call you later.”

“Okay,” is all she says, hanging up.

She’s disappointed. I hate disappointing her.

I have all our men on the lookout for Eddie, so I know he’ll be in custody soon. But what’s more pressing, is the fact that Lexi was lying to me about her plans tonight.

What could she be doing that she couldn’t tell me?

I don’t have time to dwell on it because my phone rings.

“Hey, Alec, what’s up?”

“Are you bringing Lexi to dinner tonight? Tessa wants to know so she can make sure there’s a place setting for her if she is.”

“No, she’s not.” I rub my forehead. I forgot to even ask her.

“Did you ask her?”

“No, I didn’t get the chance. But tonight is about you and Tessa, not me introducing Lexi to the family. Does Tessa need me to bring anything?”

“No. We’ve got it all covered. Just be at the house by six.”

“See you then.”

Tonight is our Sunday family dinner where all the extended family gathers at the Todt Hill house, but Alec and Tessa are using it as their announcement dinner as well.

Alec, Leo, and Luca all used our family dinners to introduce their women to the family, but they didn’t all go so well. I want Lexi to know my family, but I don’t want to give her a reason to distance herself from me if my mother doesn’t give her a warm welcome.

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