wheel and gives the man our tickets before he flings me inside.
I fold my arms and sit at the far end from him.
He slides to my side. When I attempt to stand up, he yanks down on my thigh with a strong hand.
A groan of frustration rips from me. “I’m angry at you right now.”
“You can be angry all you want without leaving my side.”
I release an annoyed breath and stare outside as the Ferris starts moving. The more we go up, the smaller the world becomes. People are so minuscule, they’re barely decipherable.
Levi’s hand snakes up the leg of my shorts. I grab and throw it away. “Unless you’re ready to talk, don’t touch me.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, princess.” His hand surrounds my throat. “I touch what’s mine whenever I damn well please.”
“Stop,” I hiss, feeling my walls crumble. “Just stop playing these mind games with me and tell me, Levi.”
His head tilts to the side like it does every time when he’s plotting something — usually trouble.
“Are you still searching into what happened that night?” he asks.
My brows furrow. “How did the conversation go to that?”
“Answer me.”
“I told you I’m not giving up on my justice.” My lips part as I search his face. “Is this what is it about? Did you have something to do with the accident?”
A muscle ticks in his jaw and he focuses on the outside world.
I clutch his face with both my palms, forcing him to look at me. “You… did?”
Oh. God. Please tell me this isn’t true.
I search his pale eyes for any tell, but they’re glassed over. He’s sealing himself inside.
“I was there,” he says calmly. Too calmly.
A sob tears from my throat.
He was there.
Levi watched me being hit.
“But I wasn’t part of the accident.”
“Then you were a part of the ones who chased me like I was an animal?” I ask with stupor.
“No.”
“How the hell am I able to believe anything you say, Levi?” Everything clicks into place and I stare at him as if he’s not real. “This is why you approached me, isn’t it? You didn’t want me to reveal what you and your little band of friends did… wait… were Ronan, Xan, and Cole a part of it? Oh, my God. Of course, they were. Aiden told them to leave me to die, didn’t he?”
“Astrid!” He clutches my shoulders and I realise tears are streaming down my cheeks.
I promised myself that I’d never cry for him, but here I am.
Only, these tears are for myself. For the pathetic fool in me who considered trusting him again.
“For the last time, I’m repeating that I had nothing to do with the accident.”
“How did you feel when you saw me covered in my own blood, King?” I cry. “Did you get off on it?”
“No!” His grip tightens on my shoulder.
“Then why were you so insistent that I drop the case? Why did you make my life hell for it? And don’t lie to me. If you do, I’m erasing you completely. I swear.”
“You’re erasing me, huh?” He fists a handful of my hair in his fist, eyes menacing. “Do you think you can forget me?”
“Maybe not at first.” My voice is filled with emotions. “But I promise that I’ll eventually do it. I’m not your plaything, Levi and I never will be.”
He drops his hands from my hair and sighs. “Fuck it.”
Fuck it?
What the hell is that supposed to mean?
“Do you remember what happened the night of your accident?”
My brows furrow. “The accidental fire?”
“Only it wasn’t accidental.”
My eyes widen. “You…”
He nods. “I set my uncle’s mansion on fire.”
“But… why?”
“Arson leads to prison, princess. Uncle could’ve gotten me out of it, but that would’ve been at the expense of my freedom. That’s why I needed you to drop the case.”
“No. Why did you burn your uncle’s mansion?”
He laughs without humour. “Because I wanted to rebel against him? Because he threatened to take my inheritance and keep me on a leash? Because I wanted to be a dick and take his favourite holiday home right before the summer? Take your pick.”
Wow. I didn’t realise his relationship with his uncle was that strained.
“Can your uncle take your inheritance?”
“My father listed him as my guardian until I’m twenty-five. If I don’t play into his hands, he won’t let me touch a dime from the family’s money.”
“Can he really do that when you’re over eighteen?”
“Yeah. Even if he can’t, I can’t challenge him in court. No lawyer will beat Uncle’s harem of hotshot lawyers.”