Page 87 of Pretty Little Lies

Motherfucker.

“I’m gonna go get you some water, ’kay?” I don’t wait for him to answer me, striding in the kitchen and opening up the security app that Levi set up.

I watch someone in all black walk right up the porch and open the door without a problem. My heart drops at my mistake again and within thirty seconds of the person walking into my house, someone else follows.

Pulling the phone closer to my face, I try to look for evidence of who it is before both bodies are sprinting from the house in a frenzy.

The first body sprints across the lawn, then looks back. I can’t make any features out right away, but when the second body is on the first’s ass, it’s like he’s chasing him.

Quickly, I grab some water and walk back into the room with my dad.

“Dad, did you see…” His blues meet mine, almost the exact same shade but mine are a tad brighter.

He knows.

He knows who was in the house.

M-m-ma…t-t

Mat.

Matteo.

TWENTY-SEVEN

bay

“You can’t be here.You can’t—” Levi’s hard body clashes into mine before his massive arms wrap around my body. His large palm gently cups the back of my head, and a broken sob allows itself to escape from the clutches of my calm.

He should be here.

But, after the break-in, I felt so violated and scared that I called Levi right away. I selfishly needed him, because he was the only one who would be able to free me from the mental distress going through my head.

“There’s no fuckin’ way I’m not going to come when you need me,” he mutters into my hair. “I don’t give a fuck what cover it blows.”

I wind my arms securely around his waist. “I’m so scared. I can’t do this anymore.”

“I know.” He squeezes me tighter. “We’ll go to plan B. I’ll figure something else out.”

There isn’t another way without Levi starting something. And, if he misses his mark on Emilio, then it’s going to be a full-out war.

That can’t happen.

In a world full of bullshit, Levi has to stay out of the crosshairs. We’ve dreamt of a time when we can just live our lives without a line but, even with Emilio gone, what happens with Reeve, Cairo, and Torin? Are they just going to leave us alone? Is this whole rivalry going to dissipate out of thin air?

“It’s okay,” I double back, fully aware that I’m the only one in the perfect position to pull this off. “I just…needed you is all.”

Levi kisses the top of my head and rests his cheek along my skull. “I’m not going anywhere. I don’t know how he snuck through. I have guys outside and?—”

“It’s alright. Nothing happened—” Levi pulls away from me suddenly, and his green eyes bore nothing but violence in them.

This is starting to change him. All the stress and not being a player in the game is beginning to drive him crazy.

“It’snotalright,” he grits out, careful to keep his voice down because Dad is just around the corner in his La-Z-Boy. “I find out one of them was asleep and they’re dead.”

Geezus Christ.

“Levi, stop,” I say as calmly as I can. “It’s okay—” His callous palms suddenly latch onto both sides of my face, but his touch is gentle as his green eyes sear into me with equal bits of worry and anger.

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