Page 22 (1/1)

Asall over his skinny wife, I loved seeing him this happy

At that moment, Lexi turned her head to face aze and started laughing when he sahat had his little woman so embarrassed

"You’re too fuckin’ cute, Pix," Austin said and, pressing a kiss on Lexi’s cheek, cas and sat down beside her husband, slowly lifting her fork to cut up her food She kept her eyes downcast as she ht Austin checking on her fro

For a ht of how much my mamma would’ve loved to have seen her pride and joy this happy And she would’ve fucking doted on Lexi She’d have been the daughter Maht of e luood, Axe?" Austin asked

My eyes snapped open, and I could see his eyebrows pulled down as he watchedon my seat

Austin eyedup froet us more coffee As he filled my cup and sat back down, I waited for what he wanted to say "You’ve been working real long hours at thattiht upto the in Seattle

"Picking up uely

"Overnight?" Austin questioned

"A guy I ith has a place nearby I souy you ith?" Austin probed, and Lexi looked up, worry in her eyes Austin shifted on his seat "An ex-con?"

My eyes narrowed at my little brother "What if he is?" I asked "So am I, Aust"

Austin opened his mouth to reply, when another voice cut in instead "Of course he is, Aust Axe only hangs with fucking losers Remember Gio? He was Axe’s puppet master back in Bama, hey?"

I closedrant He launched into the to croplate He’s probably back selling coke The only thing he was ever good at A snow entrepreneur"

Every part of lare at Levi, as leaning back against the granite countertop, ers at ray eyes

It’d been like this since I’d arrived Most days he ignored me, the rest of the time he tried to shootloser they all believed I was

The first few days, I put up with his shit, tried to coast the tide of anger But recently, I’d been crashing at my studio more Had Vin put in a bed for me there Didn’t wanna be here, where I wasn’t wanted Didn’t wanna fuck up Lev’s life more than I already had

"Levi, stop!" Lexi said tiredly, but I put up azes with my fratellino "Believe it or not, kid, I ain’t into that shit nosmirk spread on Levi’s mouth "Yeah, Axe? You reforet on with ripped the shaker in his hand and stepped forward, his face beaood people, but looking at you sitting here in this house after everything you did to ht" Lev leaned forward, and for a onna try and hit me, but he pulled back lastuys fro is Ma died Ma died while you got to live You!"

My chest tightened as I watched tears fill Lev’s eyes I wanted to do nothingpull him to my chest and tell him I was sorry But no ould he letneck in, now," Austin warned Lev darted his eyes to Austin, then focused back on me

"It’s okay, Aust Let hiet it off his chest," I said coolly, which only served to piss Lev off more