The Leveller - Julia Durango Page 0,43

me around a bit so he can take a peek. “You’re right. Ready for phase two?”

“Ready,” I say, mentally rehearsing the next part of the plan.

“Okay, but you just put on your ‘Nixy Bauer, Butt-kicker’ face, which isn’t going to work,” he says, tapping me playfully on the nose. “We’re supposed to be crazy about each other, remember?”

Oh yeah. I plaster a smile back on my lips, and tap his nose back in return. “Sorry, sweetcakes, guess I’m better at butt-kicking than acting.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll get your chance,” Wyn says, “but for now just pretend you’re trying to woo me with your wenchiness.”

I want to snort, but I titter instead behind a demure hand. Someone should award me an Oscar for this performance.

Wyn waits for the song to die down, then he leads me off the dance floor, right past their table. He puts his arm around me and kisses me on the cheek. “Thanks for one last dance, beautiful,” he says, loud enough for them to hear. “Now let’s blast through that alt portal and get home so I can kiss you in the real world.”

I smile up at him like I’m head over heels in love with him, which isn’t actually that hard it turns out, and we stroll out of the cabaret and into the casino. We pass the slot machines and roulette tables toward the staff door at the back of the room. About halfway through the casino, I throw my head back and pretend to laugh at something Wyn says. He picks me up and swings me around, like we’re completely smitten with each other. While I’m swinging, I take a quick glance around the room.

“They took the bait,” I whisper in his ear. “They’re at the blackjack table directly behind us.”

“Right. Let’s do this,” he says, then pushes through the door.

I open my inventory and equip the rappelling gun.

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I CRASH DOWN ON JOSEPHINE LIKE A TON OF BRICKS AND SLAP MY hand over her mouth.

Wyn, whose job was to ambush Rico, swears then looks out the staff door. It appears Rico sent Josephine in alone, the coward.

“Damn,” Wyn says. “He’s already vanished.”

“That’s okay, we still have Josie here,” I say, looking down at my captive.

Josephine struggles frantically beneath me and I almost feel sorry for her. She never even saw me coming as I slid down the rappelling line and knocked her to the floor. Now I’ve got her pinned underneath me, though I’ve made one crucial mistake. I’m still in the wench dress, which makes it hard to maneuver. “Closet!” I say, then quickly select my commando clothes. My avatar’s outfit transforms instantaneously.

That’s better. Now it’s Josephine’s turn.

“I want to see the real you,” I say into the MEEPosphere without taking my eyes off Josephine. Her tawny skin, black hair, and white dress begin to pixelate like she’s a human blender just switched to puree. A new image solidifies before us.

Holy heck.

“Kora?” Wyn and I both say at once.

Yes, Kora. Josephine Baker in her slinky satin dress has just transformed into Diego Salvador’s trusted assistant. She’s in a black catsuit, her long black hair pulled back into a no-nonsense ponytail. She wears no makeup, but her fingernails are long, sharp, and red. She looks ready to scratch my eyes out, but I’ve got her claws trapped firmly under my knees.

“What are you doing here? Did my father send you? Why didn’t you reveal yourself?” Wyn asks, in a tirade of questions, but I keep my hand clamped tightly over her mouth. “Let her speak, Nixy,” he says. “Kora works for my dad. I’ve known her for years. She’s here to help.”

“I know who she is, but she’s not here to help.” I lean in, pinning her down harder. “Don’t you get it? She’s one of the bad guys.”

Wyn shakes his head like he doesn’t believe me. “She can’t be. Kora’s like family. . . . My dad trusts her implicitly.”

Well, that was a huge mistake, I think, though I refrain from saying so out loud. The last thing I want to do is argue with Wyn. We’ve got bigger fish to fry.

Meanwhile, Kora is blinking rapidly, like she’s trying to figure out what her story will be if I ever let her speak. She looks scared.

“If Kora came to rescue you,” I say, “why was she stalking you in disguise? It makes no sense.”

Wyn shrugs and looks at Kora for an answer. She turns her eyes away.

“You know I’m