Page 100 of Never Die for a Sinner
. . . So what does Levi have to do with them?
The detective’s words echo back in my head, setting a chill in my bones that has nothing to do with the crisp October air outside.
“First, your mother. Then your father. Now, it’s seeped into your job. . . Who’s next?”
When I finally ease the door open, the hallway is empty. A sliver of cold evening light spills through the blinds, striping thefloor in pale gold. I pad toward my room, my bare feet silent on the floorboards.
Silently, I shut my door behind me, nearly jumping out of my skin when I turn to find Levi leaning against the wall behind it.
There’s no trace of the easy smirk he usually hides behind. Just a darkness I’ve only seen once before—when someone threatened me.
He finally lifts his gaze, and it pins me in place.
“You heard all of that, didn’t you?”
My throat goes dry.
Well, shit.
“Who are the Burelli’s, Levi?”
His jaw flexes, and I see the war behind his eyes—between telling me the truth and keeping me in the dark.
“They’re the reason Senator Wright’s dead,” he says finally. “And if we’re not careful . . . they’ll be the reason we are too.”
AVA
What are you saying?” Ava asks, her brows knitting in concern. She steps further into the room, dropping her voice. She glances toward the closed door as if she can still feel Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum loitering just outside.
“The Burelli Crime family,” I say slowly, “The one case I wasn’t able to finish before I left my job.”
Her head tilts. “Left?”
I give a single nod, my jaw locking. “Left.”
Her eyes search mine. “Why would you leave?” She shakes her head, still piecing it together. “Furthermore, what could they want from you now?”
“The Burelli Crime family has been linked to a string of deaths. The most recent being Senator Wright. To top it off, we believe they control the ports.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning they control the drugs on the streets of Seattle.”
She blows out a breath through her teeth, wrapping her arms tightly around herself.
“Jesus . . . But that still doesn’t explain what that has to do with some stupid little flash drive. I mean, if you were no longer a DEA agent, why would they still be coming after you?”
“Because I know their secrets.”
“Like?”
“That’s not important,” I murmur, the edge in my tone making it clear the subject’s closed. “What is important is that they’re dangerous.”
She groans and throws her head back, as if I just told her she was grounded for life.
Little brat.
“I haven’t gotten a text in a week.”
