“Fuck, you’re one stupid shit,” T snapped. “Get the money, Levi. And next time I see you, keep in mind there won’t be anyone to interrupt me this time around when that pussy of yours is wrapped around my dick.”
My eyes shifted to Levi and I saw his cheeks fill with color.
“Call me when you’ve got the money,” T bit out and then he hung up.
Levi shuddered and I took the phone from him. “What was he talking about, Levi?”
“Nothing.”
“Levi-”
“It’s nothing, Phoenix! It’s not important.”
Understanding dawned. “That day at the store. When he gave you the bruises. Did he…”
I couldn’t even finish the thought because even the possibility made me violently ill.
“No,” Levi murmured. “He tried, but Adam, the store manager, interrupted him.”
I settled my hand on his shoulder and then kissed his temple. “I’m sorry, baby. I should have been there.”
He shook his head, but didn’t pull away from my touch. His phone beeped. I saw the text from T and opened the picture attachment. I felt the same relief as Levi when I saw a picture of Henry, unharmed and seemingly asleep in his car seat.
Ronan’s phone rang and he stepped away to answer it. Levi didn’t speak to me, nor would he make eye contact with me. He’d pulled his feet up onto the pew so he could wrap his arms around his legs and rest his forehead on his knees.
“T’s only made one call today,” Ronan said as he returned. “To a woman named Jalissa. Her apartment is at the same location where T’s phone call came from.”
“Henry’s with T,” Levi said, his voice heavy with fear.
“He’ll be okay, Levi. Trust me.”
I saw the flash of anger in his eyes before he could mask it. I hadn’t allowed myself much time to think about the damage I’d done to our relationship with my lies, but I hoped like hell he’d give me a chance to make it up to him when this was all over.
“We need to go,” Ronan said.
“Levi, I need you to stay here with Father O.”
“No!” he said as he jumped up. “I’m coming.”
“No,” I said, but Levi ignored me and pushed past me. I shot Father O a glance. “We’ll call you as soon as we can, Father.”
The man nodded. “I’ll pray for you.”
I nodded because I wasn’t above receiving some divine intervention. Not when Henry’s life was at stake.
I followed Ronan to his car. Levi got into the back seat without hesitation. As we drove, I took Ronan’s phone when Memphis called. I put it on speaker.
“Did you find her?”
“Yeah,” Memphis said, his voice heavy. “Not in her apartment though. We saw a stroller sitting by the alley when we got here. I had Seth stay in the car while I checked it out.”
I glanced over my shoulder at Levi who was listening attentively.
“I found her behind a dumpster at the back of the building. Strangled.”
I heard Levi gasp and turned to see him with his hand over his mouth.
“Did you call it in?” Ronan asked.
