43. Chapter 43
Wren
Theo's head whips around, following my gaze. His entire body tenses beside me, muscles coiling like a predator preparing to strike. "Motherfucker," he growls, his hand tightening on my waist. “I knew I hated that guy for a reason.”
Jace freezes, his fingers immediately tapping a rapid pattern against his thigh—the telltale sign of his mind racing through possibilities, calculations, outcomes. His eyes narrow to laser focus on Levi's face.
"That's him?" Jace asks, his voice eerily calm despite the tension radiating from him. "You're sure?"
I nod, unable to tear my eyes away from Levi's predatory stare. "That's him."
Theo takes a half-step forward, but I clutch his arm, holding him back. "Don't," I manage to say, my voice stronger than I feel. "Look around."
The rooftop is crawling with press—photographers capturing the event for gaming magazines, tech bloggers livestreaming the launch, industry journalists taking notes. Dozens of cameras, all primed to catch the next big story.
"I don't give a fuck who's watching," Theo hisses, his eyes never leaving Levi. "That's the man who nearly killed you. Who's been stalking you for months."
"Lee Matthews is Levi, your brother's best friend?" Jace asks, his voice tight with controlled fury.
"I don't care if he's the goddamn CEO," Theo says. "I'm going to rip his throat out."
"No," I say firmly, stepping between them and Levi's line of sight. "You can't. Not here. Not now."
"Wren—" Jace starts, but I cut him off.
"Think about what's at stake," I insist, gesturing subtly to the crowd around us. "The launch. Your careers. Everything you've worked for."
"Fuck the launch," Theo snaps, his eyes wild with protective rage. "You're more important than any of this."
"He's right," Jace agrees, his voice deceptively soft but edged with steel. "We were already planning to leave after this release anyway. The commission from Wasteland Chronicles is enough to start our own company."
I stare at them both, momentarily distracted by this revelation. "You were?"
Jace nods, his eyes still tracking Levi across the room. "We've been discussing it for weeks. This doesn't change anything except the timeline."
I shake my head, forcing myself to focus. "That's exactly why you can't do this now. If you want your own company to succeed, you need this launch to be perfect. Killing another employee in front of the entire tech press isn't going to help your reputation."
"I don't know," Theo says darkly, a humorless smile twisting his lips. "The publicity might actually boost sales. 'Developers so passionate they murdered a colleague at launch party' makes one hell of a headline."
I roll my eyes despite the gravity of the situation. "Be serious. He won't try anything here. There are too many witnesses."
I glance back to where Levi was standing, but he's vanished—melted into the crowd like a ghost. My heart rate spikes, eyes frantically scanning the rooftop.
"Where did he go?" I whisper, panic edging into my voice.
Jace's eyes dart across the crowd, cataloging faces with methodical precision. "I don't see him."
"That's it," Theo says decisively. "We're leaving. Now."
"No," I say, standing my ground despite the fear curling in my stomach. "We're not running. Not tonight. This is your moment, Jace. Your presentation starts in five minutes."
Jace shakes his head, his expression torn between duty and protection. "I'm not leaving you alone with him somewhere in this crowd."
"I'll stay with her," Theo volunteers immediately. "You do the presentation. We'll find a secure spot to watch, then we're all leaving together the moment you're done."
Jace hesitates, clearly reluctant to separate.
"Please," I say softly. "Don't let him take this from you too."
Something in my words reaches him. His expression shifts, resolution hardening his features. "Fine. But you stay with Theo. Don't leave his side for a second."
"I won't," I promise.
Jace pulls me close, pressing his forehead against mine. "I'll make it the shortest presentation in gaming history," he vows, then kisses me fiercely before pulling away.
As Jace heads toward the stage area, Theo guides me in the opposite direction, his arm protectively around my waist. "There's a quieter section near the bar by the office entrance," he says.
"Not many people hang out there since it's closed off for the event.
We'll have a clear view of the presentation screens without being in the middle of the crowd. "
I nod, letting him lead me through the throng of industry professionals. Every face I pass could be Levi's; every shadow could hide his watching eyes. The confidence I felt walking in has evaporated, replaced by the hypervigilance I've lived with for months.
The bar area Theo mentioned is indeed quieter, separated from the main party by a decorative partition.
Only a handful of people mill about, most already drifting toward the main stage where Jace will soon begin his presentation.
Beyond the bar, a sleek door marked with a "Staff Only" sign indicates the entrance to the building's offices, cordoned off with a velvet rope.
"Better?" Theo asks, positioning himself so his back is to the wall, giving him a clear view of anyone approaching.
I nod, though "better" isn't quite the right word. Less exposed, perhaps.
A server approaches with a tray of champagne flutes. "Drink?" Theo offers, snagging two glasses.
I accept one gratefully, the cool glass steady against my trembling fingers. The champagne bubbles tickle my nose as I take a sip, the alcohol doing little to calm my frayed nerves.
"There he is," Theo says suddenly, nodding toward the main stage where Jace has appeared.
The crowd applauds as Jace steps up to the microphone. Even from this distance, I can see the subtle signs of his anxiety—the way he adjusts his glasses, the slight rock of his weight from heel to toe, the careful way he positions his hands to avoid unconscious gestures.
"Ladies and gentlemen," his voice carries clearly through the speakers. "Thank you for joining us tonight for this milestone in the Wasteland Chronicles journey."
As Jace launches into his carefully rehearsed introduction, I feel some of my tension ease. He's in his element now, his passion for the game overriding his social discomfort. The screens behind him light up with gameplay footage, and I watch his hands move as he demonstrates the new features.
"This expansion introduces a revolutionary adaptive quest system," Jace continues, his voice growing more confident as he loses himself in the technical details. He's rocking slightly on his feet—most wouldn't notice, but I notice everything about him.
"Watch how the environment responds to player choices," he says, demonstrating a sequence where the wasteland terrain morphs based on in-game decisions. The crowd murmurs appreciatively.
I feel Theo shift beside me, his attention torn between watching Jace's triumph and scanning for any sign of Levi.
"Mr. Dawson?" A harried-looking woman in a Nexus Gaming polo approaches us. "I'm so sorry to interrupt, but there's an urgent situation with the marketing materials in the press room."
Theo frowns. "Can't it wait? I'm a little busy at the moment."
She shakes her head apologetically. "The CEO specifically asked for you. Something about the press kits missing crucial information about the expansion features. They're about to distribute them to journalists."
Theo's jaw tightens. "Fuck," he mutters. "That could be a disaster." He looks at me, conflict clear in his eyes.
"Go," I say, forcing confidence into my voice. "I'll be fine. I'm right here in plain sight."
His hesitation is palpable. "I'll be right back. Two minutes, tops. Promise me you won't move from this spot."
"I promise."
Theo squeezes my hand, then follows the woman toward the press area, glancing back twice before disappearing around the corner.
I turn my attention back to Jace, who's now demonstrating the expansion's new character customization options. The crowd is completely captivated, all eyes fixed on the massive screens showing the intricate details of his creation.
"As you can see," Jace says, his hands moving with precision as he manipulates the demo, "players can now choose from over two hundred unique facial features, creating truly personalized avatars that—"
A hand clamps over my mouth from behind, an arm like steel wrapping around my waist. I'm yanked backward so quickly my feet barely touch the ground. My champagne glass shatters on the floor, but the sound is swallowed by a swell in the music and Jace's amplified voice.
My assailant drags me past the velvet rope, through the door marked "Staff Only" before I can even process what's happening. The door clicks shut behind us, cutting off the sounds of the party.
I thrash wildly, my elbow connecting with something solid. A grunt of pain in my ear, but the grip doesn't loosen.
"Still fighting, little Lily?" Levi's voice, silky and amused, sends ice through my veins. "I've missed that spirit."
He spins me around, shoving me against the wall hard enough to knock the breath from my lungs. His hand remains firmly over my mouth, the other pinning my shoulder.
"Look at you," he breathes, his eyes traveling over my elaborate costume. "You've become quite the performer, haven't you? First the camming, now this dramatic entrance. All for me, I assume."
I bite down on his palm as hard as I can. He hisses, jerking his hand away.
"HELP!" I scream, the word tearing from my throat. "SOMEONE HELP ME!"
Levi laughs, the sound chilling in its genuine amusement.
"Scream all you want. With the music, the presentation—no one can hear you.
" He gestures to the glass wall separating us from the party.
Through it, I can see the crowd still focused on Jace's presentation, completely oblivious to what's happening mere feet away.
"I've waited so long for this reunion," Levi continues, his hand now gripping my throat. Not squeezing, just... holding. A reminder of his control. "You've been quite elusive. Changed your name, moved across the country. Very resourceful."
"Let me go," I say, injecting as much steel into my voice as I can manage.
"Oh, I don't think so." His thumb strokes my jawline, a parody of tenderness that makes my skin crawl. "We have so much to discuss. Like how you've been fucking not one, but two men." His grip tightens slightly. "That wasn't very loyal of you, Lilliana."
I spit in his face.
The blow comes so fast I don't see it coming—the back of his hand connecting with my cheek, snapping my head to the side. Stars explode behind my eyes, the taste of blood filling my mouth.
"I see you still need to be taught respect," he says, his voice colder now. "Just like before. Don't worry—we have all the time in the world now."
I launch myself at him, fingers clawing for his eyes. He catches my wrists easily, spinning me around and slamming me face-first into the solid wall. The impact dazes me momentarily, allowing him to pin both my arms behind my back with one hand.
"I've imagined this moment for so long," he murmurs against my ear. "Finding you again. Making you understand that you belong to me. Only me. I've been watching you for months, the quiet little barista, so careful, so controlled."
"I will never belong to you," I snarl, struggling against his grip.
His laugh is soft and menacing. "I thought you knew I was watching. That’s why I chose the name. GlassHouse. I’ve been watching you all along—through your windows, through your streams. You’ve never really been hidden, Lilliana. Not from me."