“I need your help.” Levi didn’t have time to listen to Harrison’s rehearsed excuses. He’d already been waiting too long.
“Yes, I got that from your message. It’s an incredible request to make, yet you’ve provided me with almost nothing I originally asked for. There’s still no word from your associate at the Torren den, and I’m not even sure all the information you gave me from your meeting with the other lords is reliable.”
“What do you mean?” Levi asked sharply.
“I’m not accusing you. I just have a few questions about what happened at the Orphan Guild. I don’t believe the whiteboots were responsible.”
Levi frowned and swatted at Tock, who kept trying to press her ear against the other side of the receiver. Levi’s entire promise to the other lords was built on vengeance for what the whiteboots did to the Orphan Guild. Was someone else responsible? And if so, did he care enough to change his plan?
“Why do you say that?” Levi asked.
“Because I was with Jameson Hector that night. He was of the same mind as me—he didn’t want to see the conflict between the North and South Sides escalate.”
“If Hector didn’t do it, why would he claim credit?” Levi asked.
“I haven’t spoken to him since the attack, but I believe he feels it’s best that the people believe the authorities have the situation under control.”
“So someone else is pulling the strings.” Levi furrowed his eyebrows. “It might be Scavenger.” Tock rolled her eyes beside him. “He has access to those sort of weapons. He admitted as much during our meeting.”
“It’s not him. He has no motive. He does business with the Guild.”
“Well, we won’t learn anything by doing nothing,” Levi said. “I agree with you—this will only escalate the conflict further—but if I don’t do this, I can’t get you the information you want, and I won’t be able to figure out who’s actually behind this.”
“Are you that confident in your associate? We’ve heard nothing about the Torrens in weeks.”
“I am,” Levi said, even though he wasn’t—not entirely. “Let me do this tonight, and I’ll have the name of the new don for you by tomorrow.” When Harrison didn’t respond right away, Levi pressed further. “I only need your help ensuring it’s shut down.”
Harrison sighed. “You want to do thistonight?”
“Yes,” Levi answered. He was tired of waiting.
After another moment of silence, Harrison said, “Fine. I’ll arrange for an anonymous tip to go to Hector, but tomorrow, we’ll meet at the Kipling’s Hotel at four in the afternoon. Bring your associate along. The waiting on both our parts ends tonight.”
The line went dead.
It wasn’t until Levi hung up and looked back at Tock that the weight of everything crashed down on him. The pressure to pull this off. The news about Chez.
His plan was finally coming to fruition; his empire would rise tonight. But for the first time, he thought,Maybe I don’t deserve it.
“Did he agree?” Tock asked.
Levi looked up and nodded.
She pumped her fist in victory. “So it’s happening. It’shappening.”
Levi looked out the window, where the magnificent, historic structure of Revolution Bridge crossed the Brint. The city’s most symbolic landmark.
This evening, Tock was going to blow it up.
But even the thought of that did nothing to change Levi’s mood. He couldn’t shake the image of the way the Irons had looked at him. Like they were afraid of him.
“I murdered Chez,” Levi breathed. “That’s what everyone is saying, and they’re right.”
The words finally pushed his nausea over the edge, and he vomited behind the absinthe crate.
Tock made a disgusted noise as Levi heaved and awkwardly patted him on the back. “You don’t need to explain yourself to me. If anything, this is good news. Everyone is shocked. They didn’t think you had it in you.”
“How is that a good thing?” he gasped, trying not to throw up again.
