Page 165 of Pretty Little Lies

“You told me to get close to them,” I reply flatly. “I did.”

“I think you got close enough.” He turns his attention back to Dad. “I don’t want you to have a broken heart after this.”

What happens after this?

Does Levi expect me to drop them when Emilio goes down? Does South Shore and The Landings finally become peaceful? Will it always be the gray line that the other side can’t cross?

“Levi,” I mutter softly. “Why do I feel like you’re not telling me something?”

He remains silent, only making that unease in my gut grow. “We need to talk about something. Something you’re going to need to hold until the right time. Something I shouldn’t tell you…” He takes a heavy inhale and holds it. “Something Roger should be telling you…not me.”

“What is it?”

“With this information,” my best friend continues. “And with peopleknowingthat you know this intel, it can screw the outcome of everything I’ve worked for. What Roger has worked tirelessly for.” His green eyes flick to me and his voice lowers. “Do I still have you, Astor? Have you picked them over me yet?”

Pain slices through my gut, and it lands aimlessly to the pit of my body, throbbing from the aftermath at what one of the most important people in my life just dropped on me.

“What are you talking about?” I reach for him, clutching onto his tatted forearm with a squeeze. “I’d never pick anyone over you.”

“I dunno,” he mutters, making my eyes burn with tears. “Where do you and I go from here? If we take Emilio down…”

“I amalwayshere,” I stress with a hard squeeze. “I never want you to worry about that.”

“But I do.”

“Wh—” My words get caught up in my throat, but I shove away, working myself into a stupor. “Why would you think that?”

“Because it didn’t take much with their pretty words and promises. I’ve seen you mesh through tough situations, but themoment those boys flipped the script, you fell right into their trap.”

“You think I’ve betrayed you?” I drop my touch from Levi’s forearm and his jaw tightens. “I’m not about to fight with you in Dad’s hospital room. So, if you’re going through it, Levi, go take a walk.”

“That’s the thing…” Levi pushes himself up to stand, eclipsing over me with his height and turning his broad frame to fully face me. He blocks the view of Dad, his dark features boring into me like I’m an enemy and not a friend. “He’s not your dad, but you know that already.”

My teeth instantly clench together, but I still grind out, “What’s your point?”

“My point is that you risk more the longer you spend lying to me.”

“I’m not lying—” Levi bends over so quickly that I gasp as he places both of his palms on either side of my chair.

“Tell me, straight to my face, that you don’t care about them. That everything I’ve been doing for all these years to keep you safe has been for nothing.”

My brows snap together. “Lev…you know I love you.”

“I don’t think you do.”

I can’t move.

I can’t breathe.

I can’t do anything but settle into this new reality of what my life just transformed into. I didn’t conjure up that our plan would be our downfall.

“What do you want me to do? Do you want me to drop this whole plan right now? Do you want me to say that I lied to them, and this was all a game?”

“Can’t,” Levi deadpans. “Because then what happens with Emilio? He’ll kill you.”

“Then maybe we should just let him.”

Levi’s fingers curl into the front of my shirt and he thrusts me forward, but I already saw it coming. I already observed the fury in his eyes after I only got four words out. “You got me fucked up if you think I’m going to allow Emilio to murder you while I stand by and do nothing. I’ve protected you almost my whole life. I’ve looked out for you and held back catching a charge on Matteo because what good would I be to you in jail? You know my mom was a heroin addict, and in one of her highs, approached Roger about a son…me.”

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