Page 98 of Falling in Reverse

I smirk. “Has a nice ring to it. However, little McQueen, Emilio won’t be an easy one to appease. And Torin…well, he’s worse. He believes you to be his demise. That you’re going to take down?—”

“I don’t want whatever he has.”

“Then make him believe it. You won’t be able to ignore Emilio, but you’re going to have to get it through his head that you don’t want his throne.”

“He’s not so stupid as to give it to me.”

“Then why did he find you?”

“To make himself feel better? I don’t know.”

“You’re smarter than that, McQueen. You have to be much more than that…question is, why?”

She studies me, looking for a lie. But I’m not about that.

I don’t need to.

Because something doesn’t add up and my boy has yet to see it.

“Good night, McQueen. I’ll be seein’ you.”

“That was it? You just wanted to get Wildes back?”

“That’s it. You’ll learn soon enough…if I want something, you’ll know.”

“Just keep him away from me, Reevie,” she mutters. “I don’t want any trouble. I mean it.”

“I believe you. Especially when you have sisters.” She takes in a sharp, inaudible breath. “However, it’s here. And you need to find out how to get it out of the way. Just keep me and my boys out of it, McQueen. I can’t save you if you’re planning our ruin.”

She rocks her head back and forth. “How do I do that when you’re lookin’ to take South Shore?”

“Who said anything about taking? We’re the new generation.” I give her a smile. “But I’m giving away too much. No one is coming for South Shore. Not from the Forsaken Crew…not yet. Not if there’s no threat.”

“Are you part of that? The Forsaken Crew?”

“I’m one-third of that, yes.” I turn my body to face hers. “Why do you think Emilio is building The Void?”

“Would Torin…turn against his father?”

Yes.

And as beautiful as she is, I’m not that fucking stupid to let her in on that secret.

“Goodnight.”

And then I’m climbing through the window to let her stew on what I said. I can only advise her on what not to do on her side.

Not ours.

Until she gives me a reason to, I’m not going to sign her death warrant yet.

TWENTY-SEVEN

bay

“You’re fucking kidding me…” I stare back at the man who tried to burn me alive inside The Stowaway, and then at my best friend seething daggers at me from his side.

I’ll get to him later.

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