Page 179 of Kingmakers, Graduation

“GO!” he roars.

Staying as low as I can, I sprint for the bay door. Adrik provides cover fire as I run for the exit. Still, I hear a bullet zing overhead as I drop down off the side of the ramp.

I’m out, but Adrik is still trapped.

“Chief!” I scream.

Chief unrolls the back window of the SUV, propping Vlad’s AR on the sill. He fires a steady stream of bullets at the truck’s back tire, puncturing it so the tail sags down.

Adrik runs for the bay door, dropping and skidding down the ramp like he’s sliding into home plate.

He grabs my arm and drags me toward his bike.

I hesitate for just a fraction of a second.

“ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?” Adrik bellows.

“I’m doing it!” I cry, swinging my leg over the bike, sitting with my back against the handlebars.

Adrik understands. He gets on the bike, revving the engine, his arms on either side of my waist. I point my gun back over his shoulder.

Yuri’s last, most indefatigable soldier appears in the doorway, a black silhouette against the lightning flash.

I’m waiting for him.

He crouches at the head of the ramp, protected by his vest. The rifle at his shoulder points at Adrik’s back.

Headshots only …

Exhaling softly, I squeeze the trigger.

The shot hits him dead between the eyes. He tumbles backward, his rifle slipping through boneless fingers, clattering down the ramp.

Adrik peels out of the lot.

I cling to his neck, his heart pounding against mine.

Riding backward is fucking bonkers. The balance is opposite, the road racing away behind me disorienting. All I can do is put my arms around Adrik’s waist and my head against his chest, holding on tight.

The rain pounds down on us, heavier than ever. I don’t know where Adrik is going—only that we can’t ride far in this weather. I can’t see in front of us, I don’t even know if he’s following the SUV.

After only a minute or two, he makes a sharp turn, then pulls to a halt in the narrow space between a silver bullet trailer and a filthy brick wall.

I sit up, looking in his face for the first time.

We stare at each other, water running down our faces, shivering, freezing.

Then Adrik seizes my face in his hands and kisses me.

The pain is excruciating. My lip bleeds everywhere. My jaw aches.

Still I kiss him and kiss him, taking in as much of him as I can. I want his taste and his scent, I’m desperate for it in the drowning rain.

I kiss him like I’ll never get enough. I know I never will.

His hands are all over my body, as warm and strong as ever they’ve been. When he reaches a part that’s too painful, I cry out, and he tries to touch me gently, but it’s impossible. We’ve been apart too long.

We don’t stop until I realize he’s bleeding all down his side.

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