Page 74 of Taken By Storm

“Yeah?”

Levi opened it, peering in. Theo was shirtless in just lounge pants, sitting propped on a pillow, looking at his phone.

Theo glanced up when Levi caught his eye, then his brother gave him a guilty grin as he turned the cell screen toward him. “Candy Crush. It’s fucking addictive. Don’t judge me.”

Levi chuckled. “No judgment here. Hey, did you close the brewery gate when you locked up?”

Theo frowned. “Of course, I did. Why?”

Like Levi’s, Theo’s bedroom faced the front yard. He rose from the bed, joining Levi by one of the windows. “I saw headlights in the parking lot.”

“Don’t see anything now, so—” Theo paused when, once again, headlights flashed in the distance, clearly coming from the brewery. “Shit. I’ll go check it out.”

“I’ll come with you,” Levi offered.

Theo threw on a T-shirt and slid his feet into a well-worn pair of sneakers. “Too old to go all night?” he teased, referring to the guest currently sleeping in Levi’s bed.

He punched his brother on the shoulder. “Actually, I’m so good, I wore her out.”

Theo snorted, then struck an Incredible Hulk pose. “Must run in the family.”

Theo and Levi took the dirt path through the woods, the most direct route between the farmhouse and the brewery, walking at a brisk pace.

Once they reached the edge of the woods, they paused, taking in their surroundings. All they could see now was the dim yellow light cast from the lamppost out front. Given they stood behind the building, the majority of the parking lot was blocked by the brewery.

They were about to head to the front when they heard hushed voices a few hundred yards away from them.

Once Levi’s vision adjusted to the darkness, he was able to make out a lone shape moving at the far end of the building from where they stood.

“Window?” Theo whispered.

Levi nodded, his thoughts traveling the same direction as Theo’s. There was a window at that end of the building that opened into a newly created office. Theo was in the process of hiring an events manager for the farm’s businesses, and since he would also serve as that employee’s supervisor, the family haddecided to put a new office next to Theo’s in the brewery. Either that new window hadn’t been locked, or whoever was currently leaning into it had jimmied it open.

Staring beyond the figure, Levi spotted two motorcycles. That explained the headlights.

Theo made a gesture with his hand, indicating that he’d go the long way around the building, while Levi made his way quietly along the line of trees. Once they were in position, they’d trap whoever these guys were between them.

Levi considered holding Theo back and suggesting they call the sheriff, but it was clear the thieves weren’t big guys. Most likely, it was a couple of local teenagers stealing a case of beer.

Teens were the reason they’d installed a gate on the parking lot in the first place. Last year, a few guys from the local high school had decided to use the huge lot for makeshift drag races. Levi wasn’t sure how the idiots thought they could get away with something like that for more than one night. The peeling tires and sharp squeal of brakes had woken his entire family—in all three farmhouses.

Levi heard the telltale sound of clinking bottles as a second person passed a case of beer through the window.

Yep. It was kids stealing beer. He watched as Theo stealthily crossed to the side of the building, making his way to the front before disappearing from view. Levi gave his brother until the count of fifteen to make his way around the front of the brewery and sneaking closer.

The thieves didn’t seem content with just one case because, as Levi watched, another was handed out.

“We said one case. How are we going to get both of these home?” the guy standing outside asked his accomplice. “No way we can carry all of this on the bikes.”

Before his buddy could reply, Theo stepped around the corner—prompting the kid outside to run directly into Levi’s arms.

The boy had his hoodie up, his face lowered, but damn if the kid didn’t put up a fight, kicking Levi in the shin…hard.

Levi grasped the boy’s arm, lifting him slightly and shaking him. “Settle the fuck down,” he growled. Glancing over the boy’s shoulder, he saw Theo had the other kid by the scruff of the neck.

He turned toward Levi and called out, “It’s Archie Carter.”

He scowled when he heard the name of Keith’s best friend. Reaching up, Levi tugged down the hoodie, unsurprised to find Kasi’s brother glaring up at him.

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