Page 63 of Aching for His Discretion

He got a new phone...

Don’t do anything stupid.

When he gave me his phone to put in my number, it was jet black. Whenever he’s used at my apartment, it’s been jet black... when he let me read his messages to Mitchel…

But he got a new phone.

Turning on the phone, I was met with a picture... It was taken when I’d spent the night at his house and cuddled with Grayson on the couch. It wasn’t password-protected, so I could scroll through his messages. Despite it being his new phone, I was still able to pinpoint the texts he had shown me in the car.

I was also able to notice he had pinned my name at the top of his list and had a picture of my work schedule I’d given to him as well. Nothing seemed too incriminating on surface-value, but I had a gut feeling that told me to keep going.

Looking over to his jacket, I bit my lip.

Don’t do anything stupid.

He doesn’t have a second phone. It’s his only phone, and he didn’t lie to you.

Don’t overthink things. Don’t. You were just having a good morning. You’re stress-free. Ignore Theodore. Enjoy your time with Levi.

Ignoring my thoughts, I reached my hand into his pocket and felt only his wallet on the left side. Going into the right side, my heart sank to my stomach as I felt something thin and sleek in my hand.

Pulling it out, I took heavy breaths as I was met with a jet-black phone. Upon turning it on, I noticed everything about it was in Italian…But his messages were still in English. And even though the phone was password-protected, I was able to coincidently read a recent notification that made me feel like throwing up the breakfast he gave me this morning—a message that oddly wasn’t present in the phone he now felt comfortable to have lying around near me.

Elliot: The kid’s father is fucking cheap. I’ll tell him to hurry and send the money. Not that it really matters... but he’s taking up space in the basement and is really starting to piss me off.

Staring at the phone in shock, goosebumps rose on my skin as the door opened and closed. Hearing footsteps approach slowly, Levi ignored me as he walked over to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of whiskey, pouring it into a glass.

I placed the phone on the counter, and he took a sip as I whispered, “You lied.”

He sighed. “You weren’t supposed to see that,” he said nonchalantly, and I felt my spine pull straighter as my breathing continued to pick up.

“Mitchel, the man from the hospital... A-Alec. I-is it all true?” I asked him, and he remained silent... however, my racing thoughts were anything but.

Mitchel. Lidocaine. Trash bags. Blood. Killing.

I told Mr. Madison that no one had been up here. Why did I lie?

Elliot and Levi said to be quiet.

Mitchel. Lidocaine. Trash bags. Blood. Killing.

Teegan.

“Say hi to Mr. Amante for me, will you?”

“Alec, huh...? Don’t worry, Tesoro. He will be taken care of.”

Mitchel. Lidocaine. Trash bags. Blood. Killing.

Teegan...

Looking over at him, my throat went dry as he now had a truly sinister look in his eyes, one that I had never been exposed to. It triggered a sense of fight or flight in me, one that almost forced me out of my seat and wanted me to run… like prey running from a predator, from potential danger.

His all-white attire was almost like a façade, some sort of deception, indicating that darkness truly can come in different forms.

TEEGAN. RUN.

Jumping off the chair, I sped over to my suitcase in the bedroom and quickly threw my belongings into my bag. My hands were shaky, sweaty, my heart was racing, and I felt like vomiting.

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