Page 97 of Beautiful Scars: Unshakeable

Levi takes point as we approach the stairs, his movements precise despite the rage I know is burning through him. I follow close behind, scanning for anything out of place. The basement door hangs open, inviting us down.

The stairs creak under our weight. I know with each step we're walking into a trap, but we have no choice. Sunny's down there. And now, so is Garrett.

The basement opens into a large room that stops me cold. Jade was right. Even with nothing but the emergency lighting I can see that this was all meant to be a replica of Sunny's apartment.

"What the fuck," Levi breathes.

But it's the far end of the room that draws my attention. Garrett stands with his back to the wall, his gun trained on Ty who is shielding Sunny behind him.

"Welcome to our home," Garrett says pleasantly, like we're guests at a dinner party. "I've been wondering when you'd finally get here."

I catalog details automatically—the way he favors his right side, the slight tremor in his gun hand, the distance between him and Sunny. Six feet. Maybe seven. Too far for a clean rush.

"Let her go," Levi growls, weapon steady on Garrett's chest. "It's over."

"Over?" Garrett laughs again, the sound bouncing off concrete walls. "This was never going to be over. She's mine. Has been since her dear old dad thought he could just walk away from the deal he made."

My finger tightens on the trigger as Sunny flinches at the mention of her father. She's wearing Ty's jacket, but I can see blood seeping through in places. Fresh cuts.

"I should have killed you that first afternoon." Levi snarls.

Garrett's eyes flick to me, assessing what kind of threat he thinks I am. "Tell me, does it bother you? Knowing she was mine first? That every time you touch her, it's me she feels?"

Chapter Forty-Three

Zane

Thetensionintheroom crackles like live wires. Levi's gun remains trained on Garrett's chest, but something shifts in his expression—a flash of triumph that sets my nerves on edge.

"Careful now," Garrett lifts his left hand, showing off a small black device tucked inside his curled fingers. "One wrong move and this whole place goes up. I've had a lot of time to prepare. You really think I didn't plan for this?"

Sunny's sharp intake of breath draws my attention. She's pressed against Ty's back, fingers twisted in his shirt. The blood seeping through my teammate's jacket is getting worse.

"Tell them, Angel," Garrett's voice takes on that sickening gentle tone. "What's our number one rule?"

Sunny's face goes blank with that thousand-yard stare I've seen too many times. Her voice comes out mechanical, rehearsed, "I'm yours or I'm dead."

The emotionless way she says it is about to push Levi over the edge. I watch his trigger finger twitch, see the muscle in his jaw jump.

"This could have been different," Garrett continues, almost conversational as his gaze locks on to Levi. "If you'd just been satisfied with everything else you took from me, little brother. But no, you had to have her too."

The room goes deadly still. Levi's expression shifts from rage to confusion. "What did you just say? What did you just call me?"

"Oh, don't tell me that daddy never told you about me?" Garrett's laugh turns razor-sharp. "Figures. You and I may have different mothers, but we both got stuck with the same worthless father. Alexander Reeves loved his secrets."

My mind races, cataloging details I would never have noticed before now. The height, the build, the same green eyes. They all echo Levi's own.

"You're lying," Levi says, but there's uncertainty in his voice now.

"Am I? You knew him. Knew he would never let anyone close to him—he'd never trust anyone but family to run the biggest part of his business."

Garrett's fingers tighten on the detonator. "You stole my life. When he left my mom for yours and they had you, suddenly I wasn’t good enough."

He pauses, shaking his head. "I had to earn every damn thing that man ever gave me. I had to beg for scraps. You? You just had to exist."

I watch Sunny's eyes dart between the brothers—one she loves, one who's tortured her for years. Devastation is written on her face.

"He really never told you about me?" Garrett continues, venom dripping from every word. "Never mentioned your kindolder brother who did all the dirty work so you could go to your private schools and spend time at those fancy summer homes? That's a shame because I know everything about you. His precious little Levi."

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