Page 104 of Falling in Reverse

“I held a gun up to Torin Wildes’s head.”

“That’s all?”

No.

“We’re never stealing from them again, Lev. Because this is the third round of bullshit we’ve been through, Lev.” Levi’s head slowly steers to Hot Rod because he gave me the space to run this little mission without much pushback. “Don’t. I wasn’t gambling with time nor was I going to negotiate with Torin Wildes.”

“They’re all dead.”

I roll my eyes. “Stop. You’re in some deep shit with me. This is why Cairo wanted a meeting. Because of you. You hold the power.”

And you’re Emilio Wildes’s daughter, bitch.

“I have a fucking bomb strapped to my ankle.”

“And Torin has a bullet in his leg. You’re welcome.” I can feel Levi’s glare of disapproval, but he doesn’t have much of a pot to piss in.

Me, I’m in the same exact boat.

I have to tell him who I am, but I’m so scared he’ll abandon me, even though he never has before.

“How are we getting this bomb off?”

“I got this guy flyin’ in,” he replies. “And you’re not going on any more runs. You’re staying home until I get all this shit sorted with the boys.”

“Dude, no. I’m not going to be a prisoner in my own home.”

“You are,” he says with steel wrapped in his tone. “I’m not playing. You’re going to listen to me?—”

“You don’t order me around.”

“I am,” he sneers through the line, setting the hairs on my arms on end because I’ve never heard Levi so irritated and irked at me in my entire life. “I am, Bay, and I fucking can.”

I stare at him. A giant of a man who also carries a massive weight on his head. All this time and he was the most powerful man in the room.

It makes sense.

Why Matteo stayed away, how I’ve never once been approached to initiate into The Nameless. Levi always had my back, more so than I ever imagined, and I’m still keeping things from him.

“It won’t take me but a few days,” he vouches, more softly this time. “This is to protect you. I heard a little bird mention Matteo De Leon when I was kept locked up in a room. He’s out for blood on the Forsaken Boys. He wants that Titan seat.”

I can feel all the blood draining slowly from my face. “You’re…kidding.”

Matteo doesn’t need any more power than what he holds. He’s unstable, gets on his power trip, and acts like a disorderly clown. He’s reckless when he doesn’t get his own way and…let’s just say I don’t need him waltzing through the streets of anything around me.

“I’m not, unfortunately. Actually…he’s out for Lorenzo Black’s seat.”

“Cairo’s dad?”

“Yeah. Matteo has his Pistol Pussies, so he wants to be the chosen muscle of the Titans. He gets first dibs on jobs, more money, a network of expansion, and an ego boost that he’ll no doubt wanna use. He’d weed the Forsaken Crew out.”

I absolutely abhor the idea of my ex having anything that he could use to hurt someone. Especially that kind of power.

“It’s not a good look for us,” my best friend continues. “The Forsaken Crew already extends out through Wharf Bay. They’ve always been butt buddies. Now, they’re lookin’ at East Riverside, our ally.”

“I’m surprised Emilio works with anyone,” I mutter, trying to keep my focus on the conversation, but all I can hear is that Matteo is making moves.

“He has to, or he wouldn’t have anyone. Five seats, I have my hands on two. So does Emilio.”

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