Page 106 of Risky Passion

"I left my clothes in the bin," I told Yasmin. "You might want to burn them."

She flashed a smile that lit up her whole face. "That . . . I can do." Her eyes drifted to the potbelly fireplace against the far wall.

Cobra clapped his hands with a sharp crack. “Well, I, for one, cannotwaitto dig into those boxes and figure out who this bitch Beatrice really is.”

Everyone nodded, and the energy in the room shifted slightly.

“Me too,” Parker said. “If there’s evidence in those boxes that could blow open a bunch of my unsolved cases, then I’m all in.” He made a sharp intake of breath, then looked directly at me. “Actually, maybe I should stay here. It makes more sense for me to go through that evidence. Sounds like I won’t be much help at the wharf anyway, if they’re restricting access.”

I clicked my fingers. “Good idea. You, too, Whitney. Stay here with Parker, just in case you remember something else.”

Whitney looked relieved, though he tried to hide it, and Parker gave me a curt nod of approval.

“Great,” Cobra said. “The more eyes on all that paperwork the better.”

“Yeah. There had to be a good reason why Beatrice was so desperate to burn it all,” Tory asked.

The doorway seemed to close in as Levi’s imposing frame filled the space. The man was a force of nature. Built like a tank, with broad shoulders and a neck that seemed designed to hold up the weight of the world, he moved with the precision of someone who’d spent his life in the military. His permanent scowl only added to his intimidating presence. Even after I had met him a handful of times through Aria’s team, his sheer size still caught me off-guard.

"Time’s wasting," Levi barked, his deep, gravelly voice like thunder rolling in the distance. "We moving or what?"

“Sure am.” I drank the last of my water.

“Levi, I packed some food for you.” Yasmin trotted toward him, and Levi actually smiled. “Thanks, I could eat a fucking horse right?—”

Yasmin smacked his shoulder. “Hey, what have I told you about eating horses?”

“Right then.” Levi made an ear-splitting wolf whistle that echoed through the room. “Let’s roll.” He spun his hand in the air like a conductor. “Bird’s up in two minutes.”

Without another word or a backward glance, he strode toward the door.

“Hey, Levi, don’t do anything crazy, man,” Ryder called after him.

Levi paused just long enough to toss a reply over his shoulder. “Define crazy.”

He didn’t stop for an answer.

I smirked despite myself. “I better get after him.” Pushing back from the counter, I turned to Parker and Whitney. “Between us, let’s keep everyone in the loop. It’s critical we stay connected and keep the comms open, no matter what.”

“Copy that,” Parker said, his tone brisk.

“Agreed,” Whitney said, leaning into my ear. “Be careful, bro, you don’t know how unsteady that place will be.” He held out his fist.

I bumped my fist to his. “I will. Thanks, brother.”

“Onyx, where are you, girl?” I called, clicking my fingers. From behind the sofa, Onyx stood, stretched, and trotted toward me, her tail swaying with quiet obedience.

I glanced at Cobra and Yasmin. “Thanks for taking us in.”

I turned to Whisper and Ryder. “Keep an eye on Tory. She’s been through hell.”

I smiled at Tory. “Get your wound checked and then rest.”

She saluted me. “Yes, boss.”

Rolling my eyes, I turned and strode toward the front door.

“Jaxson.” Tory’s voice stopped me at the doorway. She caught up to me, and her hand brushed mine. Her touch was tentative, almost hesitant, but it sent a jolt right through me.

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