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Kenzi knew exactly how to play me. Levi McBride could wait. Turning off the engine, I stepped out of the truck and locked the door, my cock already hard. There was nothing better than a quickie in the afternoon.

~

Kenzi had made plans with Reyna to go shopping this morning, giving me plenty of time to look over the file I stuffed inside my glove box. If what Levi said aboutBooks-n-Thingswas true, I needed to get in touch with Wilkerson to tell him no way in hell was I going to blow up Margot Horton’s bookstore.

As soon as Kenzi Left, I headed to my truck to get the file from the glovebox. When I got back to the apartment, I went to my study and opened the folder. A picture of the bookstore between two other shops was on top. Placing the photo to the side, I scanned the remaining documents. Wilkerson had everything planned, right down to where the explosives would be placed. Not only would the bookstore be obliterated, so would the shops on either side. With the explosives expertly placed inside the bookstore and the perimeter, the entire north side of the block would be flattened. There would be nothing left.

The thought of taking the bookstore from Margot—the one thing she loved as much as Kenzi, made me sick. I had to do something to stop this from happening, but what? I was so screwed. Even if I told Wilkerson that I wouldn’t have any part of this, he would find someone else who would. Either way, I would lose Kenzi. The only way out of this was to come clean. I had to tell Kenzi the truth, but not before talking with Davian. He would be my best hope in getting out of this mess.

Grabbing my jacket, I headed out of the apartment with the file. It was a given that whenever Kenzi and Reyna went shopping, it was always an all-day thing. I had plenty of time to talk to Davian before she questioned where I was.

My drive to the warehouse was a complete blur. All I could think about was how I would explain to Davian what a low-life son-of-a-bitch I was. He was never one to judge, but once I told him about my deal with Van Wilkerson, I’d be lucky to leave the warehouse in one piece. My days of being part ofThe Societywould be over.

Pulling up to the warehouse twenty minutes later, I turned the engine off, dreading the conversation I needed to have with Davian. It occurred to me that this just might be the last time I would see the guys or step foot inside the warehouse. Pulling the heavy metal door open, I sucked in a lungful of air. It was do or die.

There wasn’t a single soul in sight, which was strange considering Davian’s Mercedes was parked out front along with Patton’s and Calvin’s car. Instead of searching for them, I yelled out, “Hello, anybody here?”

Immediately Davian appeared at the top of the stairs holding a cup of coffee. He made his way down the stairs, saying, “Axe, this is a surprise. Do you have information on Levi McBride?”

Did I ever, and then some. The question was how much courage I had to share my past with Davian, especially since he was the only person willing to give me a second chance at life to become a part of something good. Looking beyond my own problems, I looked up at Davian and lied. “Not really, other than he is an asshole.”

“Well, we all know that.” Patton chimed in, following Davian down the stairs. “The question is, will he be a problem for Kenzi?”

He had a point, but Levi’s focus was currently on me and not Kenzi. I learned long ago what lies could do. One lie could turn into another to cover up the one before it. Just like the one I was about to tell. “Nah. He is too dumb to be a problem. Personally, I think he wants to continue what he had with Kenzi five years ago.”

“And you don’t think that will be a problem?” Davian questioned.

“I think he knows better.” It was easier to convince Davian than it was myself. Levi McBride would be a problem. One that I needed to deal with. I just needed to figure out how. “I’ll deal with McBride. Any word on the other problem?”

“If you’re referring to Niles Harris, no. It’s like he has disappeared.” Davian’s expression resembled concern. But more than that, he was holding something back.

“Why do I get the feeling there is more than Harris disappearing?” I rocked on my heels, hoping I wasn’t out of line questioning Davian’s integrity.

“Remember the anonymous letter I got?” Davian looked at me, then Patton. “I think there is a good possibility that this Harris fellow might be involved.

“How so?” It was too much of a coincidence, I thought to myself.

“Because, five days ago, he visited McCall in prison. It seems pretty strange that he surfaced about the time I got the letter, and now he is nowhere to be found.”

“Damn, Davian. If that’s so, maybe Levi McBride is also connected to McCall. He showed up about the time the letter did too,” I cursed. I was beginning to understand the whole picture. Crosby McCall's reach was further than his six-by-six cell, and it had revenge written all over it.

There were more important things to deal with than telling Davian my secret when I left the warehouse. I had only one mission: to pay Levi a visit. After our little meeting yesterday, I didn’t trust anything about him. With a little digging, I was able to find out where he lived, even if it was against Kenzi’s wishes. It was easy to persuade her, though—nothing like a little loving to make a woman feel like the decision was all hers.

I headed toward the iffy side of Atlanta, and within twenty minutes, I pulled up in front of the Shady Tree Apartments. Of all the places Levi could have stayed, he had to pick the biggest shithole in Atlanta. I was pretty sure that after I finished my little talk, the tires to my truck would be stripped off. Hell, my truck might even be gone.

Locking the doors as though it would make a difference, I entered the building and climbed the stairs to the top floor. I knocked harder than I had to. I knew he was inside since his piece of shit truck was parked in front when I pulled up.

Before attempting another knock harder than the one before, the door opened. Levi stood before me, so beat up that I hardly recognized him. For a man I thought could take care of himself, he looked like someone had put him through a meat grinder. “What the fuck happened to you?” I gauged his injuries, wondering who he pissed off.

“Blackjack,” Levi said, placing a Ziplock bag filled with ice over his right eye. “Is there a reason you’re here?”

I didn’t want to hang around here longer than I had to, so I got right to the point. “We need to talk about Niles Harris.”

Based on Levi’s silence and the expression painted on his bruised face, I hit a nerve. “You don’t want to mess with the man. Who do you think did this to my face?”

“So, it's true. All this time, you made Kenzi think she killed a man when in fact, he’s been alive, walking and breathing the air.” If it hadn’t been that Levi already had a messed-up face, I would have punched him. “I should kick your ass for what you did to Kenzi, but luckily for you, I need you to help me find Niles Harris.”

“What makes you think that I know where he is or that I would ever want to help you find him?”