Page 105 of Falling in Reverse

“Who has the fifth?”

“That’s the million-dollar question. I don’t know.”

“Does Emilio?”

“Nope. It’s said that Penn Northcott put someone there as a placeholder. However, the asshole won’t show his face, and for good reason. Emilio would kill him.”

“And…if Matteo gets the seat, for the Titans, what does that mean?”

“That South Shore is possibly fucked.”

“How bad is it?” I ask through a breathy exhale. “How bad is it with this Titan crap?”

“It’s all a game of who knows more shit and who’s going to make the first move. Since Torin and his butt buddies rule over the Forsaken Crew, Emilio has been in and out of The Landings for years since we won’t let him settle in. Ramsey goes with him and shit. They’re building another crew. Emilio and Torin have never seen eye to eye, and I have a feeling that, once Cairo steps up, he’s going to pull the Forsaken Crew away from Emilio.

“Why?”

“Word on the street is that Lorenzo Black isn’t a fan. And, while Torin has been around as of, I think two years ago, shit has been quieter…than it has been anyway. When Cairo gets his seat, it’s going to change the balance.”

“But his father has it now, so what makes up the difference?”

“Reeve Stanton.” His name makes my, once unstable emotions, soften a tad. Thankfully, Levi is too far away to see it and continues. “He’s old money from Newport and green makes the world go ’round. Lorenzo was actually the motherfucker who made the Forsaken Crew after Penn Northcott tried to kill him and his family. Emilio funds it and all his shit with his gun operation and blackmail. Then he took off when I”—He lets out a heavy and defeated exhale—“put several hits out on him and failed all times. Except once.”

That piques my interest.

“You did what?”

I swear, I see Levi smirk. It’s that big that I can see it from all the way over here. “Bullet caught him in the ass. Fuck that I’ve almost had his head blown off over three times and his car blown up once…he skipped town and handed his youngest the Forsaken Crew after that one.”

I can’t help the pleased chuckle that bubbles in my throat.

Emilio Wildes getting shot in the ass. I would pay money to see that.

“I’m surprised Torin didn’t kill you for that today,” I admit. “Why didn’t he?”

“Honestly, the balls. He kills me, he ruptures The Titans as a whole. The other cities that play in this aren’t going to let that lie. You don’t assassinate other members sitting at the Titan table.”

“So, you don’t think Emilio has any pull on Torin?”

“I’m back here, aren’t I? Torin’s a fucking asshole, but he’s building, I know that.”

“So wouldn’t you want Matteo to get one? He’d side with South Shore. He’s terrified of you.”

“Uh, no. That boy’s a straight fuck-up. One power trip to the head and he’ll be tryin’ everyone’s patience. The Titans are fucked, Bay. The rules have changed. South Shore has plenty to be worried about if the Forsaken Crew can get everyone under their thumb and working for them. And everything they’ve ever wanted, our ports, are in jeopardy.”

“We don’t use them that much.” Levi stares at me for a long moment. “Right?”

“Wrong. I use the shit out of it. You just don’t see us parading it around with our dicks out. That weed that our residents grow, we sell. Emilio obviously has caught on over the years that we run through his town, and we still do, but going around him proves to be so worth it because we can move more.”

I nod and think of everything going on around me.

Titan shit, this crap with Ramsey, my sisters, and Dad.

There’s no way I’m going to be able to parade around this shit without Levi catching word. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking.

“Bay.” He stops my mind in my tracks. “I’m sorry. I didn’t do this to hurt you. I was doing it to protect you.”

I love him for this.

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