Page 187 of Never Die for a Sinner
I nod, and I can’t fight the stupid grin on my face when he pulls away, walking backwards down the hall.
I feel like we’re two teenagers in love for the first time. Like I’m made of air.
I practically skip into the bathroom and quickly clean myself up in the nearest stall. I’m standing at the counter, reapplying my makeup when the scuff of heavy boots sounds at the door.
“You can’t be in here,” I smirk, but when I turn to lock eyes with the man at the door, it’s not Levi like I’d thought.
“What are you doing here, Alex? If Levi sees you in here, he’s going to kick your ass.”
“We need to talk.”
“About? You pretty much said everything you wanted to say. You know? When you called me a whore.”
He shakes his head and sighs.
“I was just trying to tell you the truth. Cross isn’t who you think he is, Ava.”
A laugh bubbles up my chest even as apprehension sets in. “Apparently, neither were you.”
“He’s dangerous.”
“Yeah, toyou.” I glance towards the door. “He’s going to come looking for me.”
“I just need a moment. If you don’t want to speak to me ever again after this, then fine, I’ll leave you alone, but I can’t just walk away without telling you the truth.”
My pulse is racing, and my throat feels like there’s a golf ball lodged behind my tonsils.
Of course, Levi is dangerous. It’s part of what drew me to him in the first place. But he’d never be dangerous towards me. Never . . .
“Fine, but make it quick.” I’m not kidding when I say that if Levi catches him cornering me in the women’s restroom, he’ll rip him limb from limb.
“I didn’t want to have to be the one to tell you this, but I care about you, Ava, and I’m not about to sit back and watch you get hurt.”
“What are you talking about, Alex?” I snap. I’ve had about enough of his cryptic nonsense.
He lets out a deep breath, scrubbing a hand through his hair, and looks anywhere in the room but at me.
That’s . . . never a good sign.
“Cross is using you to get closer to the Burelli’s.”
I freeze, my entire body rigid like I just fell through the ice in a lake.
I can’t do anything but stare at him blankly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“He’s being paid, Ava,” he interrupts impatiently. “He’s been playing into your feelings because Cross knows you’re his only shot at getting his miserable job back. Making you think he wants you is the best way to do that.”
My eyes sting when I shake my head and back away.
“No. You don’t know Levi,” I whisper. “He wouldn’t do that.”
Boring.
Prudish.
Whore.
Alex takes a step forward.
