“Come here,” she commanded.
Levi and Jonas shared a meaningful look. Only moments ago, they’d been close to killing each other, but neither of them hated the other so much to die over this. Suddenly, they were on the same side. And though the numbers might’ve been two-to-one, that weapon would’ve been terrifying in anyone’s hands, let alone the most notorious killer in the City of Sin.
“Don’t say anything that will irritate her,” Jonas growled at Levi under his breath. “You know what? Don’t say anything at all.”
“As if I’d leave my life in your hands.”
“You’re talking. And you’re irritating me.”
They walked down the theater’s aisle toward the stage, keeping their arms raised. Levi’s heart quickened with every step. Was Ivory acting alone, or had the Doves betrayed them, too? His plan to end the war between the North and the South Sides was already crumbling, but if the gangs also turned against one another, then all hope was lost. He’d be lucky to leave this encounter alive.
“There was blood too soon,” Ivory said. “It wasn’t yours to take. Who is responsible?”
“Are you threatening us?” Jonas asked coolly. Levi had personally found the assault rifle to be a strong indicator of a threat, but Jonas had always had a brain smaller than a lead bullet.
“One of you two killed Worner Prescott,” Ivory said. “Now all our plans have to change. They could beruined.”
Levi cleared his throat. “Why would I have ruined my own plan?”
Ivory let out a laugh so choked it sounded like a cough. “Yourplan? You mean your pathetic ultimatum? Something much bigger is going to happen tonight. We failed at the riot, but wewillsucceed this time.”
There was far too much in that statement to process. When the debate had gone out of control too fast—had that been Ivory’s doing? Who else was she working with? What did she have planned?
Jonas cleared his throat, and when he spoke, he did so under his breath, so only Levi could hear. “I saved your second. You still owe me a favor,” he murmured. “See that I don’t die here.”
If Jonas had done anything less than save Jac’s life all those months ago, Levi would’ve left Jonas to die. As far as he was concerned, Jonas had still betrayed all of them, whether or not he’d actually sold them out. But so had Ivory, apparently, and Levi wasn’t thick enough to have a go at both of them. Not by himself.
“Don’t do it,” Levi told her carefully. “You’d be making a mistake.”
“Then don’t make me kill you, orb-maker. You’re still a required piece.”
Levi’s mouth went dry. He didn’t know that meant, other than that it was a threat. He and Jonas weren’t getting out of this without a fight.
He glanced at Jonas and saw his fingers were twitching, signaling him. On his left hand, Jonas counted down.
Three. Two. One.
In a heartbeat, Levi had his gun in his hand. He crouched and aimed at the stage above.
But Ivory was gone.
Jonas whipped around wildly. “Where did she—?”
A hand grabbed Levi from behind, throwing him down with the force of a strength talent. The breath was knocked out of him, and his pistol flew from his hands and slid across the carpet.
Ivory stood over him. When he rolled over to reach for his gun, she stepped onto his side, her bare foot digging painfully into him. She pointed her rifle at Jonas as he straightened, his own gun raised.
“This one will fire first, as I’m sure you know.” Ivory sneered at Jonas and patted the top of her weapon.
“I thought you only killed with your namesake,” Jonas said.
“I wasn’t planning on killing tonight.” Beneath her, Levi struggled to reach for his gun, but it was too far away. His heart pounded. Neither he nor Jonas could best Ivory in a fight—not even together.
Jonas seemed to realize the same thing, because his eyes flickered to Levi with a look that said,I won’t die for you. Levi instantly regretted holding true to his debt for when Jonas had saved Jac. There was no point in acting honest among the crooked, and now that mistake might cost him his life.
Then Jonas surprised him. He cracked his neck and put a second hand on his gun, clutching it decidedly with both hands.
“You know what Reymond used to always say about you?” Jonas asked Ivory. “That everything about you was a lie.”
