“It was a long time ago.”
She took his hand and interlaced their fingers. He liked the gesture, how it reminded him that they were in this together. Enne was by far the most dangerous of all the things he wanted, but truthfully, even if the whole cliff collapsed, it would feel so sweet to fall.
With his other hand, he pulled her into him. Someone could happen upon them, but he didn’t care.
“I have something I need to tell you,” Enne said warily, lifting her head to look at him. “Vianca is giving us another assignment.”
Levi groaned. “Are we not paying her enough already?”
“She doesn’t trust Worner to face off against Harrison. She wants us to stop the debate at the end of the month. With a...demonstration.”
“A demonstration,” he repeated.
“Like a small riot.”
“Asmallriot.” As if Levi wasn’t already dealing with enough. As if the South Side needed another reason to send more soldiers across the Brint.
Enne gave him a weak smile. “No one innocent will get hurt.”
“The Irons could get hurt.”
“Not if we plan it right,” she assured him.
He sighed and lowered his arms, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she pushed him back against the table. Her hands fiddled with the top button of his shirt, and Levi’s heart sped up.
“You don’t even sound angry,” he said. “Do you agree with Vianca, or something?”
“Of course not, but I trust us.” Her hand slid behind his neck, pulling him toward her. “Don’t you?”
It wasn’t Enne he didn’t trust, but it was hard to think when she pressed herself against him. The violet storms of her aura made him dizzy.
She pressed her lips to his, and everything about the way he kissed her was full of want. He wanted what she said to be true. He wanted to own this casino. He wanted her in this place beside him.
Enne smiled against his lips. “Did you know I have one pistol and four knives hidden on me right now?”
Levi turned her around so that she took his place on the table. He braced one hand against the felt to steady himself, and with his other, he traced up the stocking on the inside of her calf. Her fingers undid the rest of his shirt buttons, and a thrill stirred in his stomach. He liked how she looked, with her pearl necklace crooked, her chest pressed against his, smiling up at him.
It was fitting that this place resembled a dream—a dream he couldn’t let himself have.
Not yet, his ambitions whispered, rising—despite himself—at Enne’s touch.
Levi’s hand found something secured at her mid-thigh, but even as he traced over the grooves of the metal, he found himself far more interested in the lace around it. Still, he slid the knife out from its holster and tossed it on the table.
“There’s one.”
ENNE
It was a beautiful day, all things considered.
The Park District of the South Side was still lushly green even in late September, and a tent had been erected among the trees. At precisely noon, Enne held out her identification papers for whiteboot inspection and entered the tent. She searched the throngs of reporters and campaign assistants for Poppy and found her seated on a fold-out chair, a romance novel Enne had recommended in her hands.
Poppy’s face brightened as Enne approached. “Thank you so much for coming—I’m so glad you’re here. Father’s making me introduce him today, and I hate speaking in front of crowds.”
“But you’re a performer,” Enne said. One of these days, Enne assured herself, she would go see one of Poppy’s ballets. She might’ve only attended the South Side salons on Vianca’s orders, but her friendship with Worner Prescott’s daughter wasn’t a farce—she genuinely liked spending time with Poppy.
“Elegance, not eloquence.” Poppy ran her hands down her conservative, stiff dress. “I don’t even feel like myself.”
“You’ll be fine,” Enne assured her.Because if everything goes to plan, you’ll be quickly interrupted.
