Page 24 of Repossess My Heart

When I turn back, refocusing on trying to get us the fuck out of here, those small hands grasp onto my back. Her forehead slamming against me hard enough I’m sure it hurt her. “But what if they do? Huh? What happens to me then? What am I supposed to do then?”

“That sounds like ayouproblem.”

All the air leaves her as she releases me. “Asshole.” When she says it this time, it’s not like the others. There’s a note a disappointment there that has me jerking my mask back off my head.

My hand finds her chin pulling her face inches from mine. “Nobody is going to lay a hand on you but me, Reverie. Understand? Nobody. Even if I die trying, I will kill you. We need to move now.”

She just nods as I release her, jerking my mask back over my head becominghimas my drone enters tracking mode heading for the green district. Knowing the most important part of my collection is safe inside it, I pull Reverie along beside me as I race towards the rooftop. A grunt of sorts leaves her mouth as I jerk her inside the Tube, her face buried deeply in my chest as it launches us at breakneck speed another fifteen stories up along the outside of the building to the rooftop where we keep our bikes.

“If you vomit on me, I will leave you behind.”

“No, you won’t.” She grunts, her hand clasps tightly over her mouth. Still clinging to me like her life depends on it.

Ironic.

My hand twitches as I catch it on its way to her back.

To what?

Comfort her?

When the tube jerks to a stop, she stays rooted to me, her knuckles white on the straps of my body armor while I stalk out onto the rooftop towards my bike. When I look down, her eyes are pitched shut. “Sweetling, are you afraid of heights?”

“No.”

She lies with such vigor it's almost impressive, except her hands are shaking.

“Look at me.”

Her eyes pop open, empty as ever, forcing an exasperated sigh from my lungs as I peel her from me like a slug. I sit her on the back of my bike before settling down in front of her. I don’t need to tell her to hang on. The second I’m within grasp she digs her nails back in. Hiding her face in my back. The roar of my flyer bike settles into silence as I track the Official, only seven floors below us. Ten less than two and closing in quickly for a man of his size. I grip her wrist, adjusting the delicate flesh away from the sheathed blades she’s hugging so tightly.

I’m sure they’ve figured out by now I removed my tracker. That the one they’ve been following for months has been a fake, broadcasting where I wanted it to. I kick off the rooftop, jolting us forward just as the tube opens. Ten’s colossal form jerking towards the back of the bike just as it hits dead air. His comm merging with mine, letting off ten rapid clicks, “All this time you’ve spent tracking me down Nine and you’re running.”

I laugh responding out loud, “Far from it, Ten. Far from it. In fact, the next time you see me, you’d better be ready.”

“What?” Reverie gasps. Only clued in to half the conversation.

“You’re a number, a Repo Man. One of the best. Years of impeccable service to the Officials and you’re throwing it away for what? A fucking bitch?” Something in his voice, the chastising tone grates on my nerves.“You have days at most before they deploy the Migs in earnest. You should know better than most the damage they can do. How will that little thing on your bike hold up, you think?”

“Fuck you.”

“So that’s what this is about? This is your big plan, Nine?” He yells, his voice booming in my head. “Kill her now. Get your head back on straight and report to headquarters. Maybe they won’t kill you too.”

I shut him out, disconnecting myself from the server completely as rage boils in my gut. They won’t touch her. Me? A smile tugs at my lips.

By the time they get their hands on me, we’ll all be fucked.

Reverie

My legs are shaky as they finally hit solid ground, my bruised waist and, well… everything aching. Nine keeps his hold on me despite having lifted me off his death bike and all but shoved me away from it moments ago. Residents scatter each one ducking into business or letting their leisurelycan’t be botheredpace to kick up to a speedwalk. It’s strange to think that days ago I would’ve done the same. That my heart would be beating rapidly in my chest, my eyes glued to the ground in hopes I could scoot past them just one more time.

Now I’m begging for his attention, the kind that ends in me not breathing at least.

Nine looks around, assessing the scene, his gas mask strapped snug over his face before nodding to himself.

“What-“

A loud whoosh fills the narrow alleyway, making me flinch as his bike erupts in flames. The drone I hadn’t noticed return zips to his side, a light bit of smoke leaking from its bottom panels.

---