Page 98 of Twisted Trust

Levi nods. “That emergency meeting he called, I think was to get me away from you. He just couldn’t resist being there to brag for an hour before his team made their move. At the dinner, he saw Naz and I together, and if he’s been watching, then it would have been clear that we’re not enemies anymore.”

“So the tattoos?” I look up into his safe, golden eyes.

“A setup.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Honestly?” Levi drags a hand down his face and sighs, shaking his head. “I don’t know. Right now, I’m too angry to think. Knowing he had you for years, that he was manipulating you and I had no idea. Knowing that he kept you from me… I want to kill him.”

“Will you?”

Levi nods. “But not yet.”

“What? Why?”

“There’s one thing I can’t work out. I can’t work out how he found out about you.”

Our eyes meet. “I swear I didn’t tell him!”

“No, honey.” Levi tightens his hold on my hand. “I know. But five years ago, I was doing everything I could to keep you a secret and somehow, he found out. Until I know how, I don’t want to move rashly.”

“Makes sense,” I say as my head continues to spin. All this time, someone I thought was a friend was anything but. “Shit.”

“I know this must be a blow,” he says quietly, pulling me close. “I didn’t want to tell you until I knew the whole truth. I only found out because Scott saw this picture and was excited to see Cameron.”

“Oh, Scott…”Shaking my head, I laugh softly. “And I told him he was wrong. I’ll have to make it up to him.”

“How do you feel?” Levi’s eyes fill with concern as he looks me over.

“I don’t know. I feel… raw inside. And my heart is racing and I feel angry and sort of pent up at the same time. And foolish for falling for that stupid kindly neighbor act.”

“You weren’t foolish,” Lev says softly. “You were trusting, and no one can fault you for that.”

“That doesn’t make me feel better,” I admit.

“I know. But in time, it will.” He slowly leans in and kisses my cheek so as he pulls away, I turn to face him and gently pull him in for a real kiss.

It’s the only good sensation inside me right now and I’m going to cling to it. Even with caffeine charging around my veins, the news about Cameron is like an adrenaline shot to the heart and I’m either going to scream, cry, or explode.

With Levi right here, I know my preference.

“Fuck me,” I demand against his lips. “Please. Make me forget before I explode from all this.”

Levi’s teeth graze my lower lip. “My pleasure.”

35

MAEVE

Three days later, my wedding day dawns crisp and cold with snow teasing in the air for a perfectly wintery November wedding.

And I feel sick.

The nerves hit a few hours before I was scheduled to meet Marcella for wedding prep so I turned up early and poured myself into perfecting the flowy curls in my hair before Marcella even arrived. When she did, she brought champagne, strawberries and cream, and soothing scented oils to help with my anxiety.

“Are you excited, dear?” She stands before me, very gently patting foundation onto my face with her brows curled as she focuses.

“I feel like I might die.”