“I knew you were crazy. I thought it was sexy. But I didn’t know you were a fucking idiot!” AJ shouted at her. He threw his arm out in my direction. “Did you NOT hear him threaten our lives if we touched her? Because I sure as fuck did! You’re a hot fuck, and you suck my cock like a pro, but, baby, I didn’t agree to die for you. You also fucking failed to mention you had a thing for Levi. Which makes me a damn fool! I wanted you to be free to come and go with me. To not have to worry about hiding you!”

  Gina rolled her eyes. “I know what he said, and I also know Levi. I grew up in that world. He’s not going to kill me. Jesus. Chill out.”

  “He might not kill you, but he’s gonna want to kill someone. He sounded fucking furious. I didn’t sign up for that shit. Acid is going to be fucking pissed when he finds out I did this, especially for a hot piece of ass. That is if I live.”

  Gina stopped filing her nails and looked up at him. “I can handle Levi. Unlike her”—she pointed a fingernail file at me—“I know what Levi wants. I can give it to him.”

  My stomach twisted. This wasn’t the first time she’d mentioned the things she used to do with Levi and Gage. It was clear she had preferred Levi. There were things Levi liked that I didn’t think he’d ever let me do with him. Which meant I’d lose him sooner.

  “From the way he sounded on the phone, I’d venture to guess she’s doing something for him that he wants to keep. And stop with the putting her down shit. She’s gorgeous. She’s got the whole porcelain doll thing going for her. Makes a man want to take care of her.”

  I could feel his eyes on me, but I didn’t lift my gaze to meet his. Instead, I continued staring at the floor.

  “Whatever,” Gina replied, sounding annoyed.

  “It’s been almost an hour,” he said to her. “Call him back! He said five minutes. Stop making him wait.”

  Gina smirked. “Just making sure they have time to convince Blaise.”

  “For someone who grew up with these people, you sure as shit aren’t smart. What happens when they all show up here and take us both out? Call him!”

  A knock at the door of the motel room had my head snapping up. They both froze and looked at the door. Finally, Gina stood up.

  “Go hold a gun to her head,” she told AJ. “I’ll get it.”

  “I’m not holding a gun to her head,” he whispered.

  She raised her eyebrows at him. “If that is Levi or Blaise, then they will shoot you before I get the door completely open. The only protection you have is a gun at her head.”

  I looked up at him as he walked over to me.

  “I’m sorry about this,” he said.

  Gina glared at me. “You look like a damn ghost; you’re so pale.”

  “You snapped her arm. She’s probably in fucking pain,” AJ said quietly.

  Gina shrugged and turned to the door just as it swung open.

  “Fuck,” AJ hissed.

  I watched as Levi stepped inside with his gun aimed at Gina’s head. His gaze swung to me and then back to her.

  “Long time, Gina,” Gage said, stepping into the room without a gun, smiling like they hadn’t just busted through a door.

  “What’s wrong with your arm, sweetheart?” Levi asked in a tone I’d never heard him use before.

  “The gun at my head is a little much, Levi,” Gina told him.

  “I’d be careful about talking to him,” Blaise said as he entered the room last. “He’s strung real fucking tight right now, and I’d prefer not to leave a mess that has to be cleaned up.”

  “All three of you? I just wanted freedom to live my life and to talk to Levi. I missed him,” Gina said, looking from Blaise to Levi.

  “I need you to talk to me, baby,” Levi said. “Why are you holding your arm like that?”

  “She’s being dramatic,” Gina told him.

  Levi’s free hand slapped Gina hard across the face. “SHUT UP!”

  Gina stumbled backward, holding her face, eyes wide as she stared up at him. Blood started to run from her nose.

  “If that fucking gun isn’t taken off Aspen right now, I am killing this bitch.” Levi’s voice sounded deadly.

  “I didn’t hurt her. You can ask her,” AJ said, dropping the gun from my head.

  “You hurt her?” Levi asked, glaring at Gina.

  “Gina, Gina,” Gage drawled, walking over to me. “You know Levi has a temper. Why would you hurt his girl?”

  Gage glanced at AJ. “I’ll have a bullet in you before you can raise that gun.” Then, he looked back down at me. “You hurt?”

  I swallowed hard and nodded.

  “Listen, I was lied to. Gina and I were fucking. I wanted her to be free so we didn’t have to keep her hidden all the time. She did not tell me she planned to hurt Aspen,” AJ told them.

  Gage chuckled and shook his head.

  “Did she tell you why she was told to leave?” Blaise asked him.

  “Because she made you mad and lied.”

  Blaise was glaring at Gina now. “I should have killed you then.”

  Gage touched my arm, and I whimpered.

  He looked back at Levi. “It’s broken.”

  “Don’t kill her here,” Blaise warned him. “Too much cleanup.”

  “That’s asking a lot,” Levi said between clenched teeth. Then, he reached out, grabbing her hair, and threw her hard against the wall. “FUCKING WHORE!”

  She screamed, curling up into a ball.

  Blaise watched as if he were bored. “I realize that. But it’ll be easier if we just take them elsewhere.”

  Gina began sobbing.

  “But I didn’t do anything.” AJ sounded frantic.

  Gage looked up at him. “You took something that belonged to one of us. Knowing who we were.”

  “There were Vagos waiting to take her,” he argued.

  “That’s a fucking gang,” Levi snarled. “One call to me, and I would have killed the bastards and taken her home. With me. Where she fucking belongs.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to mess with the Mafia. Gina said she was family.”

  Mafia? My gaze swung back to Levi.

  “Take him,” Levi barked, and Gage stood up.

  Blaise walked over and grabbed Gina’s arm as she continued to sob. Blood covered the front of her hot-pink halter top now. She glared at me as tears ran down her face.

  “DON’T look at her!” Levi warned Gina, who immediately dropped her gaze.

  In four long strides, Levi was in front of me. He squatted down, his attention on my arm. “I’m going to carry you. But I don’t want to hurt your arm.”

  “I can walk,” I told him as the first tear slid down my face.

  His gaze locked on mine. “I need to hold you.” He reached up and brushed the tear from my cheek.

  I nodded, afraid if I talked anymore, I’d fall apart.

  He turned so that he was picking me up with my good arm pressed against his chest. His lips brushed my forehead. “I’m so fucking sorry,” he whispered.

  My head was struggling with knowing this man. The gentle one, who I trusted and made me feel safe, versus the man I’d just witnessed in here. AJ had called them the Mafia. Was that why Kitty had said they were dangerous?

  Levi carried me outside and to a black SUV that had pulled up in the parking lot. Shifting my body to one arm, he opened the door, then gently sat me inside before sliding in beside me.

  “Gina hurt her?” Trev asked from the front seat.

  “Yes,” Levi replied in a clipped tone. The veins in his neck stood out as he met Trev’s gaze in the rearview mirror.

  “They put Gina in the other car. You let her live?” Trev asked.

  “Not for long.”

  I stared up at Levi.

  He turned his head to me. “When we get to the house, Dr. Carmichael will be there to take care of your arm.”

  I nodded.

  “You’re worrying me, sweetheart. Talk to me.”

  I dropped my gaze. Looking at him made it hard for me to think. I wanted to curl up against him and pretend none of this was real. That I hadn’t heard any of that in the motel room. That I hadn’t seen the murderous rage on his face as he attacked Gina.

  Levi touched my face. “Aspen?”

  “You’re … you all are … the Mafia,” I whispered.

  “Yes.”

  That made it real. He had admitted it. Oh God.

  “You’re talking about really killing Gina and AJ. Not just threats.”

  Levi grabbed my chin and tilted my head back so that I had to look at him. “They took you. They hurt you.”

  “But I’m alive,” I pointed out.

  I didn’t see how their crimes equaled death.

  Levi inhaled sharply. “No one gets to hurt you and live.”

  “But it’s just a broken arm.”

  His gaze dropped to my mouth. “Sweetheart, I would kill them for less.”

  “But … I don’t want them to die. Haisley shouldn’t lose another sibling. That’s not fair. She’s already suffered losing one. AJ was nice to me. He got mad at Gina for hurting me. And Gina was just jealous and angry with me because I think she loves you. They shouldn’t die.”

  Levi lowered his head and pressed a small kiss on my lips, but said nothing.

  Thirty-Five

  Levi

  The pain meds that Carmichael had given Aspen knocked her out. I had propped her cast up with a pillow and one behind her back to keep her from rolling over. Sitting on the side of the bed, I watched her slow breathing.

  Dr. Andrus had said he wanted her to come to the hospital for some tests next week. He had assured me she was fine, but he needed to check some things. That had fucked my head up even more.

  Leaving her long enough to go underground and deal with the motherfuckers who had taken her from me was even more than I could manage right now. Leaving her in here alone wasn’t going to be possible. Not yet. I needed to watch over her. I’d texted Blaise and told him it was going to have to wait until tomorrow.

  The strange emotion that had been controlling me since I had gotten the phone call today was as powerful as it was confusing. Suddenly, I had one singular concern in this world, and she was currently asleep in my bed. If I could have her and keep her close, then nothing else mattered. I couldn’t say I was happy about it, but the idea of losing her caused dark shit to happen in my head.

  How had we gotten here? Had it been inevitable? Had I caused it by putting her in my bed? The possessive behavior? Did the why or how even fucking matter?

  I was keeping her. There was no end to this. If she wanted a house, fence, dog, whatever, I would give it to her. Goddamn … admitting that to myself was brutal. It was true though. She was mine.

  A whimper came from her lips, and a frown pinched her face. I moved quickly, putting my arm over her waist as I lay down beside her.

  “It’s okay,” I whispered, pressing a kiss to the side of her head.

  She calmed and tried to snuggle in closer to me in her sleep. Grinning, I watched her, feeling that burst of warmth in my chest.

  “Levi,” she mumbled.

  “Yes, baby?”

  She didn’t say anything more as she continued to sleep. I was in her dreams. Fuck, that made me happy. Closing my eyes, I inhaled her sweet scent.

  When I opened my eyes again, it was dark outside, but I could see Aspen’s gaze on me.

  “Hey,” I said, realizing I’d fallen asleep. “How are you feeling?”

  She winced slightly as she shifted closer to me. “I think I need some Tylenol.”

  Shit. How long had she been lying here, awake and in pain? I got up quickly and went to get her glass of water and the meds on the dresser.

  “Are you hungry?” I asked her.

  “A little.”

  “What do you want? I’ll go get it.”

  I took the water over to her as she sat up.

  “I can go down to the kitchen and fix something.”

  I shook my head. “No. I need you to stay in my room.”

  “You need me to?”

  “Yeah. That shit today was too much. Keeping you in my room is a requirement for my sanity.”

  She laughed, and the sound of it made me smile. Damn, I loved her laugh.

  “You think that’s funny?”

  She nodded.

  “My possessiveness is amusing, huh?”

  She took the water and pills from me.

  “A little,” she admitted, then swallowed the meds.

  “I guess I should be glad you find it funny and that it doesn’t scare you.”

  “Why would that scare me?”

  I leaned over and took the water from her. “If you knew the fucked up shit going on in my head right now, you’d understand.”

  She dropped her gaze. “I don’t … I’m not sure how to feel about you. About who you are. What I saw today, it was terrifying. But here, with me, you’re a different person.”

  I’d expected this. Sitting on the bed, I put my finger under her chin and made her lift her head to look at me. Those fucking green eyes of hers were so easy to read. She wore her emotions right there. No hidden truths. Nothing.

  “What I do and who I am with you are two different things. They always will be. I’m sorry you had to see it, and I want to swear to you that you’ll never see it again. But I can’t. If your life is in danger, then I will react. You’re … you’re my world now, Aspen. No one is going to hurt you or take you from me. I’ll always protect you. The man you saw today was what I become when I have to. It’s not all the time. This is my life. It’s who I was raised to be. My family has been a part of this for a hundred years. We’re a family. You’re a part of that family now.”

  She blinked, but said nothing. I knew this was a lot for her to take in. Her world had been so sheltered before me. I needed her to tell me she could accept me. This. She had to. My sanity depended on it.

  “It’s a lot,” she whispered.

  “I know.”

  My chest was so fucking tight as I watched her, waiting on some kind of reassurance that she could handle this. That she still wanted to be here with me. That she could … fuck. I wanted her to love me. Realization that I needed that slammed into me so hard that I shot up and shoved my fingers in my hair as I walked across the room.

  When the fuck had that happened? It had never been something I wanted or believed in. I struggled to breathe. This wasn’t good. Was it? No. It wasn’t. Love led to pain. It led to loss. I couldn’t lose her. That wasn’t an option.

  “Levi?” her soft voice called out, and my eyes swung back to her.

  She had moved off the bed and was standing there, watching me. My T-shirt hung on her body, and that hair I loved so damn much was a mess. She was beautiful.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, taking a small step in my direction.

  “You can’t leave me.” My voice sounded anxious.

  She frowned. “You think I’m going to leave you?”

  Fuck, I didn’t know what I thought right now. My heart was beating so hard in my chest that I could hear it. I needed her to love me. Fucking love. I’d messed up. Gotten so addicted and fucking obsessed with her that I wanted the one thing that could destroy us both.

  “I won’t let you go,” I told her.

  A soft smile touched her face. “I don’t want you to.” She took another step closer to me. “I want this as long as you want me. I know you said it’ll end one day, but—”

  “This doesn’t end,” I cut her off. “This never ends, Aspen.”

  Her eyes widened as she stared at me. “But you said—”

  “Things changed. This changed. I told you that you were my world. That isn’t temporary.”

  The distress in her expression had me moving back across the room. Why the fuck had that upset her? Did she want this to end one day? She didn’t want to stay?

  “Aspen,” I said as I reached her. “What about that is bothering you?”

  She blinked, and unshed tears filled her eyes. Fucking hell. It felt like she was ripping my heart out of my chest. She couldn’t do this to me. She was mine.

  “I want that. More than anything, Levi, I want to be with you. I … I love you.”

  I moved then, and my mouth crashed down on hers. Those soft, full lips opened for me, allowing me to slip inside and taste her. The brush of her tongue made me tremble. She had a power over me that no one had ever had. Saying that I needed her was no longer the case. I required her to live. I was completely devoted to her. That was never going away.

  When I moved to wipe the tears from her cheeks and kiss the places they had touched, she leaned into me.

  “Why the tears, sweetheart?” I asked.

  That same torment in her eyes that had completely unhinged me was back. I would do whatever I had to in order to make that go away.

  “I can’t be forever for you,” she said as a sob broke free. “I’m not promised a long life. It’s selfish of me to ask for more from you. You need to fall in love, get married, have kids. You think you don’t want that now, but you will. I’m sure Gage and Huck didn’t think they’d want it either. But it’s clear they worship the women they’re with.”

  I couldn’t listen to this anymore. I put my finger over her lips and forced myself to calm down. I refused to believe I wouldn’t have her forever. In my life, she would be the only one. I’d fucking find someone to make sure she had a long life. There were doctors out there somewhere that could help us. Someone had to know something more than what we did right now.

  “I want you. Without you, then I have no life. You think I need to fall in love? Good. Because I did. So fucking hard that it blindsided me.” I cupped her face. “Looking back, I think I’ve loved you from the moment you opened that goddamn door to a stranger. I’d never been hit so hard in my life when these pretty green eyes met mine. In this life, we will live every damn day to the fullest. You’ll be worshipped until the day they put me in the ground. Never doubt that.”