Levi just glances over at me, shrugging like it’s nothing. His eyes meet mine for a split second, and there’s something in them—satisfaction, a secret.
I narrow my eyes. “That all?” I ask, voice low.
It eats at me all afternoon. Levi’s too quiet, too smug. I can’t focus on shit, just keep replaying his face, that little smirk, the way he looked coming back from the library.
By dinner, I can’t take it anymore. Nico joins us in the chow line, his mood just as foul as mine. We grab our trays, sit in the back, out of earshot from guards.
I lean in, voice low. “You gonna tell us what happened earlier, or do we have to drag it out of you?”
Nico stabs at his food, eyes flicking to Levi. “Yeah, man. You look like you won the fucking lottery.”
Levi takes his time with his meal. Finally, he glances up, blue eyes hard. “Carrie’s working in the library.”
Nico’s fork clatters on his tray. “What?”
I nearly choke. “You’re joking.”
“Nope.” Levi’s lips twitch, the smallest hint of a smile. “Walked in, there she was. Real as life. She’s working the stacks.”
I stare at him, trying to process it. “Our Carrie? Jinn’s Carrie?”
Nico’s jaw clenches. “She talk to you?”
Levi shrugs, but there’s something dangerous in his eyes. “Yeah. Said she wants to help. I still don’t trust her completely, though…” He trails off, stabbing a piece of chicken with his fork, eyes on his plate.
I narrow my gaze. “Though? Don’t hold out on us, man. I know there’s more.”
He lets out a slow breath, glancing between me and Nico. “Let’s just say…we had a moment. Alone. She’s got a way of getting under your skin.”
Nico’s eyebrows shoot up. “A moment?”
Levi’s mouth quirks. “Not in the middle of the damn library, but…private enough. She’s still got that hold, you know? Messes with your head.” He looks down, shoulders tense. “Doesn’t change anything. I still don’t trust her. Not after everything.”
Nico shakes his head, jaw working. “Fuck. I knew it. She gets inside your head and suddenly you want to believe her.”
Levi lifts his chin, meets Nico’s stare head-on. “Doesn’t mean I’m not watching her. You both should too.”
I nod, but something ugly twists in my gut.
I’m quiet, fork unmoving in my hand. The thought of Levi and Carrie, alone, is a shot to the chest. I shove it down, try to focus on the facts, but it’s no use. She’s always been in my head. Even before Jinn.
They don’t know this part. First time I saw her, she wasn’t Jinn’s girl. She was just the new face at Mackey’s—jeans tight, sweater hugging every curve, hair pulled back like she didn’t want attention, but she had mine the second she walked in. She fidgeted at the bar, eyes darting, clutching her purse like a lifeline.
I wanted to go over, say something. Anything. Buy her a drink, make her smile. My hands itched to touch her, to find out if her skin was as soft as it looked.
Jinn noticed me looking. He glanced over, then snorted, said she was too big for him, not his type. “Not worth your time, bro,” he said, flagging down the bartender for another round.
He never looked at her twice. But I couldn’t look away.
We had to leave before I worked up the nerve to say anything. But she stayed on my mind for days. The next week, Jinn showed up at the clubhouse, grinning, arm around her shoulders. “Meet my new girl,” he said, like he’d found a prize. Her face was flushed, eyes bright, and my stomach dropped. That was the first time I felt real, cold anger at Jinn. I never let it show.
I’ve been carrying it ever since.
Now, sitting here, hearing Levi talk about being alone with her, that same old anger flares up. I look up at him, jaw clenched.
Nico watches me for a second, then asks, “Everything okay? You look pissed.”
I push my tray away, barely touching my food. “Yeah, fine.” It comes out flat, but I don’t bother to hide it.
