Page 118 of Push My Buttons
"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."
