Page 83 of Relentless (The Titans of Founder's Ridge 2)

LEVI

“On a scaleof one to ten, how annoyed do think Lilith is by dress shopping right now?” I ask Con while I spot him on the bench press.

“Probably somewhere around one hundred,” he says between grunts.

“Ives is probably having the best time,” I muse. “She lives for shopping. Wedding dress shopping has to be like the Olympics for her. Actually, even more special than the Olympics. Those are too mundane for her. Maybe summiting Mt. Everest or something.”

Con glares at me.

“What?” I ask.

“You’re extra irritating this morning,” he states.

“Everything irritates you.”

I’m on the receiving end of another glare. “What time is Griff meeting us for lunch?”

“Around eleven,” Con glances at the clock, “we should probably clean up and get ready.”

We wipe down everything we used and head back up to the penthouse. I text Griff to let himself in when he gets here. I pause in the bedroom, looking at our rumpled white sheets. Ivy has always woken up before I do, usually to swim some laps before her day starts, but this morning I was up first. I watched the sun rise over the city and the light creep across the room, catching her glossy curls in the early morning pink light. All I could think about was how I never want dark sheets again; I love the contrast between her hair and the ivory satin pillow she uses.

I pull myself away and go get ready. We’re just going to a sports bar to watch the Red Sox game so jeans, my lucky shirt, and a pair of flip flops is all I need to get ready. When I come out of the bedroom, Griff is stretched out on the couch scrolling through his phone. He motions me over with his head while holding a finger to his lips.

“Claire sent me these,” he holds his phone up for me.

It’s a picture of Hoodrat in a wedding dress. She looks absolutely stunning. Just seeing this peek of what she’ll look like as a bride has my eyes pricking with moisture.

“Fuck, I’m gonna cry like a baby at this wedding,” I say when I hand the phone back to him.

“I’ll keep a hanky in my pocket for you,” he jokes. “She really does look beautiful. Claire won’t tell me if this is the one she chose though.”

I’m about to ask why the fuck he’s texting Claire, but Con walks out right before I can.

“You guys ready?” He grabs his phone from the counter. “I figured we’d just walk. It’s not that far, and security said no one is out front.”

“Sounds good to me.” I miss being able to walk down the streets of Manhattan without a circus following half a step behind.

We grab a booth in the back when we get to the bar, and Griff orders a pitcher of beer for us. A half hour later we have a spread of bar food all over the table, and we’re on our second pitcher of beer. Our phones are all in the middle of the table. We have a rule that whoever looks at his phone first pays. Most of the time Griff ends up paying.

One batter into the fourth inning Con’s phone goes off with a shrill alert. He knocks over his beer grabbing it while he curses.

“That’s the panic alarm,” he says. “It’s either Claire or Lilith, and since they’re together, it has to be all three of three of them in trouble.”

Griff is already tossing a stack of bills on the table, probably twice the amount of the bill, but we have to go. I pull up my driver’s number while Con calls Saul.

“What do you mean she’s bleeding in an alley?” Con shouts as he runs out onto the sidewalk. “Where are Claire and Ivy?”

He pauses to listen while Griff and I exchange worried glances. Con snaps his fingers at Griff and mouths for him to call Lake, Lilith’s business associate.

“She’s not conscious? Where is she bleeding from?” Con is full on having a meltdown now. I’m about two seconds from joining him, and I’ve never seen Griff look so worried. “Okay, okay. We’re on our way, I’ll track Claire’s location.” He ends the call and puts both hands in his hair.

“What’s going on? Who’s bleeding?”

“Lily.” He turns in a circle. “Fuck, I don’t know what do to. Did you get Lake?”

“He didn’t answer, so I texted 911 to him, Grant, Sawyer, and Nolan. I’m sure at least one of them is with him.” Griff’s phone rings right as he finishes.

“Talk to me,” Lake’s voice comes over the speaker.

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