Page 18 of Pretty Little Lies

My blood runs cold, because I notice how he didn’t mention Reeve, and I’m too scared to bring it up.

“What did Emilio offer you?” Levi solicits. “Anything?”

“The Titan seat,” I mutter, dropping my chin and looking down at one of the large oil stains on the cement.

“That’s a load of bullshit,” Levi replies flatly before I hear the distant flick of his lighter. “Also comes with a lot of strings, I’m sure.”

“Family time.”

He scoffs. “Right. Well, this all ends one way, you know that, right?” I glance up at him when he allows my curiosity to get the best of me. “I’m killing him. Your father.”

I steel my spine against that atrocity of a fact. “Roger is my father. South Shore is home.”

“And what was your plan, Bay? You thought your presence with Emilio was going to solve things?”

“I did it so he’d leave my family alone.”

“And what if he didn’t? What if he left everything alone for a few weeks and then started back on his bullshit? Do you know he could’ve kidnapped you and just done whatever he wanted to?”

“And what would that have gained?” I snap. “This man is trying to build a relationship with me. He’d be a fuckin’ idiot to try something like that.”

“This isn’t going to be good, Bay.”

“And I wasn’tsittingwith many options,” I counter back. “I was afraid of what he might do if Ididn’tcarry on with building a relationship with him. I don’t know whatthatlooks like. Especially when he’s already gotten inside South Shore without a trace.”

Levi’s nostrils flare because his reality is that The Nameless aren’t foolproof.

It’s just not possible to watch every inch of South Shore all the time. Just like Levi has ways of getting inside The Landings when we’re running dope, Emilio can slip through the cracks.

Like Reeve.

Levi takes a long drag of his cigarette and keeps his lucid green eyes on me. When he pulls back, he allows the smoke to leave his lips and says, “You done?”

I sigh, alluding that I am because, apparently, we’re just getting started with this plan.

“The easy part would be to take out Emilio and his pitbull, Ramsey, at the same time, but I’ve already done that. They’realways standing six feet apart. They are always in separate vehicles. Because if a shot goes off, then only one has time to react and duck down. Same as if a bomb goes off. They’re not stupid and they aren’t new. And they’ve always left Torin by himself which proves to me that Emilio has nothing planned for him. He’s disposable. The Forsaken Crew was always going to be a means to an end or an ally. However, Lorenzo and Cairo Black decided to play it. I’ve known about The Void before Emilio and Ramsey signed on their first gang member. Henry isn’t the only one I have planted in Emilio’s midst, but he’s not as high up either to gain me any intel that may help. Though, I do have more insight into them than even Torin does. And that boy is either going to die or he’s going to team up. And I don’t see him leaving behind Black anytime soon.”There he goes again not mentioning Reeve.“And if we’re going to make it look as though you’re serious about this Titan seat…you and I are going to need to separate.”

“No.”

“If Emilio was going to give you the Titan seat—and that’s a bigif. That means he’s going for the fifth seat. The head seat. He’ll never fully give it to you with me around. And I need him to see you without protection.”

I rock my head back and forth. The thought of Levi and I not being in a unified pact gives me severe amounts of abandonment and hopelessness. “I don’t want?—”

“I need you. The Nameless need you. You’re in. And I can’t pull you out.”

“I needyou, Lev.” My heart violently slams into my chest, hating the vulnerability that just crept through my veins but it’s there. “I can’t do this without you.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” He drops his fag and steps on it before walking passed me to get back inside the house. “Although, you’re lucky.”

“Where’s Reeve?” The question comes out of my mouth through equal parts petty and worry. I shouldn’t have said it, because it means I know he was here. That Levi didn’t pull a fast one on me nor do I believe him to do nothing to one of the higher up of the Forsaken Crew.

“I think it’s best you don’t know, don’t you?” Levi taunts, stepping closer to challenge me into pushing the subject. I can feel his height tower over me, casting a shadow of regret over me that I didn’t stop him. That Reeve is floating out there somewhere awaiting his fate. “Look at you. You’re already being the perfect girlfriend.”

I tense at his mocking tone as I hear the heel of his boot hit the bottom stair as he ascends them.

I love Levi, I do.

But, right now, I hate him.

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