Page 322 of Rage

"Sorry," I whisper. "I didn't mean to treat you like my own personal stuffed animal."

Levi laughs, his voice deep and husky from sleep. "I don't mind. I can't remember the last time I slept that good, actually."

"It's been a pretty exhausting couple of days. I might have stayed asleep if my bladder didn't wake me."

He hums in agreement, pushing up on his elbows. "What time is it?"

Now that I'm sitting up, I can see the red glowing digits of the alarm clock. "It's just after five in the evening," I answer, surprised at how late it is. We really slept the whole day away.

Levi sits up and reaches for his phone. I excuse myself to the restroom, grabbing my toiletries bag out of my duffle on the way so I can brush my teeth and splash water on my face.

"I need a shower, but I'm going to have a snack first," I say as I walk out of the bathroom. "Do you think the pie is still?—"

"Holy shit," Levi says, pushing his hair back. He jumps up from the bed and paces while his fingers fly across the screen. My heart starts beating erratically. "Holy shit," he repeats.

Before I can ask what's wrong, the phone vibrates in his hand, and he immediately pulls it up to his ear. "Freddie, what's happening?"

If it's Freddie calling, it must be news about the evidence we handed over about my father. My stomach, no longer feeling the hunger that it was a minute ago, feels like I swallowed a boulder.

What if the evidence we gave them isn't enough? What if it was?

I know we're doing the right thing, especially where it concerns Levi's sister, but he's still my father and I was raised to honor and obey the will of my parents. Until I was old enough for him to sniff out that I might be different, he was the perfect dad, if not a little absent because he worked a lot. He taught me how to throw a ball and came to every game. He taught me what it was to be a provider and supported me when I chose to join the church, even though he’d hoped I would follow in his footsteps to become a lawyer. But the life he lives behind the scenes is one of corruption and evil, and exposing him is the only way to make it right.

"You're serious? Fucking hell, Freddie, this is insane. I know, I’m sorry, I didn't expect to sleep so hard. No, no. This is good. This is…" Levi looks up at me, a wild look in his bright blue eyes. His expression changes, eyebrows furrowing in what looks like concern. "Yeah, I'm good," he says into the phone. "Tomorrow morning is good. Yeah. Text me the address and I'll be there. And thank you, Freddie."

"What's going on?" I ask, barely able to force my voice out.

"Are you having any second thoughts?" Levi asks tentatively.

I shake my head fervently. "No," I say firmly. "It hurts, I'll admit to that. But this is the right thing."

He lets out a breath. "Good, because your father's house is being raided as we speak."

My mouth drops open. "Ri-right now?"

Levi nods, taking a step forward to steady my elbow when I reel. "Here, sit," he says, guiding me to sit on the edge of the bed. "Are you alright? I know it's a shock. I had no idea things would happen this quickly. Freddie says his boss took one look at the files we gave him and made some calls immediately. They wanted to get in and out before your father suspected anything."

My head nods slowly as I try to process the information. "Th-that's good," I say. "He won't see it coming."

After a few more slow breaths, I look up at Levi, who is still watching me like I might have a breakdown at any point. "What about your sister and the evidence we left behind?"

He squeezes my hand. I didn't realize that I'd reached over and threaded my fingers through his. "They'll find it. Freddie says his boss didn't want to know any details, in case it thwarts the investigation, but that the search will be very thorough."

I'm looking down at our hands entwined in his lap. He loosens his grip, but I tighten mine, not ready to let him go. There are things I need to say, but I don't know if this is the right time, if there's anything we need to be doing to prepare for whatever comes next.

"Do we need to do anything?"

"I'm going to meet with the Attorney General tomorrow morning to give them the original files. If you still think you might want to testify?—"

"I do," I say firmly.

Levi nods, a small, sad smile showing on his angelic face. "Then you can come with me. I'm sorry that you have to do any of this."

"It's the right thing," I repeat.

"Thank you," he says. "For understanding. For doing the right thing, even though it's going to hurt your family. For helping me. What I did?—"

"You did what you had to do," I say, holding up a hand before he can say anything else. "I'm not saying that manipulating me was okay. It definitely isn't. But you could have left without a word. You chose to stay behind and tell me the truth, even though it obviously hurt you to do it, even though it could have ruined your plans. I could have tipped off my father or destroyed the evidence. I could have easily thwarted everything you worked so hard for, but you took a chance on telling me, anyway."

---