Page 120 of Ace of Spades

"He’s gone," Joey blurts out, voice cracking. "Theo's gone."

I sit bolt upright, the sheet tangling around my legs. "What do you mean gone?"

"He left. I just got a text. Said he went home."

My brain scrambles to catch up.

“Did he say why?”

“Just that he’s done.”

Oh God.Levi.

“Fuck, Sienna. How are we gonna pull this off now?”

I swing out of bed, heart pounding violently from the way it was forced to wake up.

"I’m coming," I tell Joey, grabbing my hoodie off the chair and yanking it over my head.

I quickly brush my teeth and hair and the moment I step into the hallway, I see Levi pacing at the far end, his phone pressed tight to his ear.

The muscle in his jaw ticks hard. His back is rigid, his entire body broadcasting frustration and panic.

He lowers the phone and looks at me.

"No answer," he says, voice raw.

His eyes look sunken and tired, like he didn’t sleep a wink last night.

I walk toward him. "Joey just called me. Theo texted him early this morning. Said he went home."

Levi swears under his breath, dragging a hand down his face. “I should’ve been more careful. This could’ve all been prevented if I hadn’t–”

“Levi… don’t. Not now. There’s too much at stake today to let this be what takes us down.”

He fists his hands but nods in agreement.

I hate this. Hate seeing him like this. Torn up, blaming himself, trying to fix something he just can’t.

"We still have his designs," I say quietly. "We can still pull this off."

He gives a jerky nod, but the tension rolling off him is thick enough to choke on.

"We just need to keep the crew focused," I say, trying to sound stronger than I feel.

He nods again, rougher this time. Like it’s costing him something just to keep standing here and not tear the world apart to find his son.

"I’ll meet you downstairs," he mutters, heading for his room.

By the time we pile into the lobby, the competition nerves are already a live wire under everyone's skin.

Joey’s a mess. He’s jittery and pale, tucking his head between his knees like he might throw up at any minute.

Kick’s trying to distract him with snacks.

Meanwhile, Gramps is sipping his coffee like nothing short of a nuclear bomb could shake him.

We’re still waiting on Ghost and Levi.

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