Page 113 of They Break Beauty

And yet, in spite of all those efforts, here she was now in our home.

With everything I’d levied upon her, she should be a wreck.

But as I continued to study her, the only difference I noticed compared to before I’d had her marked was that she was wearing far less pink than normal. She had on a light-gray tiered ruffle tank beneath a black checkered cardigan embellished with sequin butterflies down the sleeves with a large one centered on the back. Navy skinny jeans gave way to a pair of pastel-pink pumps. Of course, there was also that necklace that she wore every day, with the all-seeing eye pendant that was basically a cobalt-blue version of Levi’s tattoo.

Maybe the lack of her usual over-the-top pink get-up was a window into her true mental state, that she had actually been affected, but she was merely hiding it well.

So well in fact, that she looked utterly calm even as she stood in the home of an enemy, even as the whispers from Levi were becoming harsher as they argued about whatever. I’d ensure she didn’t leave here until she revealed exactly what that was, and until Levi finally divulged the truth of what he’d been keeping from me.

Colt sauntered back into the room with that usual sexy swagger.

I found myself paying more attention to it that I even normally did, watching his zebra-print shirt pulling taut across his toned torso, his hard abs visible beneath the thin fabric, then his sculpted ass drawing far too much attention to it as he walked, a pair of maroon leather pants not exactly making it easy to look away.

The fact that it had been a long time since we’d fooled around was another thing not making it easy, and clearly what was making me notice every sexy thing about him in magnified detail. Just like earlier when he’d confronted me and come at me, all that passion coming off him and turning me the fuck on, at a time when I’d been trying to focus on the serious subject matter and the worrying growing tension and separation between us.

“Here, brother,” Colt spoke as he reached Levi and held out a package of medical wipes, along with one of Levi’s black tanks that he wore when he was practicing his fight moves before a street fight.

“Thanks, cupcake,” Levi said, very slightly pulling away from the girl so he could take them.

Before he made it, though, she was there batting his hand away.

He eyed her in question.

“Go get cleaned up properly.”

“Nah, I’ll be fine with the wipes and the change of shirt for now.”

The hell, he would. He’d get all that blood and grime over the furniture. I hated when he did it after being covered in sawdust and grease from woodworking and what-not, then came in here and lounged all over the furniture. Because, of course it was me who ended up having to clean it. Lev was too laser-focused on whatever task or mission he had in mind at the time. And Colt was too erratic and didn’t remember if he made a mess.

I was about to speak to it—despite it being a bad idea when the two of us were at the height of antagonism toward one another—but I got a surprise in the next moment, as the girl beat me to it.

She stroked his hair, some with dried blood in the strands and told him in a patient and strangely soothing tone that I’d only come close to experiencing the likes of before with Colt, “This whole thing is already difficult subject matter, so you being caked in blood and dirt is just going to make it all the more uncomfortable.”

“That’s why I asked Colt to get me some wipes and a clean shirt.”

“Not enough.”

“I’m totally with her, Lev,” Colt piped up.

“Then why did you get these for me?”

“Because you’re a stubborn ass.” He rolled his eyes, like he was so completely done with the two of us tonight. “Just like Mason. The two of you are two peas in a fucking pod on a bunch of things, more than you realize.”

When it looked like Levi was going to argue his case further, the girl took his hand all stained with blood and gave it a gentle yet firm squeeze. “Please, lovely.”

A smirk spread over Levi’s face. “Lovely, hmm?”

“You want more of that, go wash up properly, no more arguments.”

Shocking the fuck out of both me and Colt, Levi actually nodded and told her, “All right, yeah.” He leaned down, just shy of brushing his lips over hers. “Besides, then I don’t have to hesitate on touching you when all this grime and blood is off me.”

“I have no problem with that, for the record.”

“Shit, cutie,” Colt uttered. “Don’t wake my cock up right now, yeah? Tone it down.”

Fuck me, I was right there with him on that. It was hot beyond belief. In a completely twisted way, but that was kind of our thing—as a unit, especially.

I saw Levi’s eyes flame.

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