Page 2 of Queen Of WildCards

"Freeze, orI'llshoot!"

Ilaughed, perhaps a bit too eagerly, asIrounded another set of stairs and started on the next one. "Youshoot me now, you're more likely to catch a body inside the apartments than connect with my gut.Sorry, sister sledge, butIwin this round!"

Hepopped off a shot, andIgrinned wildly as it ricocheted off the metal grating of the stairs.Myfeet pounded up the next floor of the fire escape, and with a cry of victory,Icrested the rooftop and took off like a bat out of hell.

TheMaseratiwas a sad casualty, but it was insured.I'dreport it missing, and they'd replace it.Simpleas that.Itwas very likely my pursuer would take it or junk it.I'dsend someone back to check for it later.

Icleared the three feet of space between the first building and the second, and my feet slapped the tarred surface of the next building's roof asIhuffed and puffed, trying to orient myself.

Lookfor the tower, stupid.

Icast my eyes left and right, but there was no tower in sight.Igroaned, skidding to a stop asIturned around and caught sight of the fucking hulking metal monolith—back in the directionI'dcome from.

There'sno wayIcan risk turning around now.

Ifthe asshole who'd cornered me followed up the ladders, there was a very real chance turning around could cost me my life.Ihad no choice but to find a way down and get the fuck out of here.

Outof this neighborhood, out of this fucking shit situation.IfImade it home safe and sound,I'deven apologize toAcefor being so reckless this time.

Iredirected and raced for the nearest reasonable gap, leaping onto a diagonal building, taking a bit of the impact in my poor knees asIfell about ten feet and tried to keep on my feet.Witheach step, the bag over my shoulder grew heavier, butIwasn't about to drop it.Nofucking way.

They'dhave to pry it from my cold, dead hands.

Orcheck it in as evidence.

Thediamonds sloshing around in the leather bag on my left arm were stolen goods.Anold friend of mine had heard about a shipment coming in, some hot jewelry our rival gang planned to melt down and disperse as raw material.They'dpulled all the gems from the various pieces, and they'd been conveniently repackaged and prepared for the black market buyer they lined up for the following day.

Exceptwhen they showed up to make the swap, they'd find their safe empty and the gemstones conveniently missing.

Iwas nice enough to at least leave them the gold and silver.

Onthe side of the short building was a ladder, andIdidn't bother to check the damn height of the thing beforeIscrambled down it, aiming for the alleyway at the bottom.ButwhenIran out of ladder to descend,Ifound myself dangling a neat fifteen feet, at least two stories up.Therewas no convenient dumpster at the bottom, either.Justa few bags of whatIassumed was trash, and hard concrete.

Gottatake thatLsometimes, buddy.It'seither that or risk climbing back up.

Thesound of a loudthudabove me, followed by a groan of pain, determined it for me.Iswore colorfully and released my hold on the rusted metal bar, bracing for impact.

Ididn't expect to catch a sleeve on a metal pipe sticking out from the wall.Orfor the damn thing to slice my arm open, elbow to wrist.

Fuck, fuckity fuck, fuck.

Ifrowned at the blood pouring from the gash in my arm and stood on shaky legs, dusting off the grime on my clothes.Ireadjusted the bag with a grimace and tucked my arm against my torso, running for the placeI'dleft my bike.Ijust prayed my pursuer hadn't had time or foresight to take the keys or tip it.Iwouldn't get it up with only one hand if it were lying down.

Andthe other arm was useless right now.

Irounded the corner and found my bike whereI'dleft it, kickstand holding the fucker up like some divine gift.Igroaned in relief and swung my leg over the damn thing, swearing profusely whenItried to lift my injured arm to grip the handle.

Therewas blood everywhere.

Probablyshouldn't be riding this bike whileIbleed out, but no time for regret now.

Regretlater.

Itwisted the key with a wince and adjusted the bag, prepared to peel out and bail before the other guy came back.Ina spur-of-the-moment decision,Ikicked out with my leg asIpassed his bike and sent the thing toppling to the ground, the satisfying crunch of metal easing my anxiety asIsped off into the night.

Asthe blocks turned from slum central to a less run-down warehouse district,Ipicked out the tower in the distance and shook the lingering dizziness from my brain.

Onlya few more blocks.Afew more minutes andIcould fall over at the front door, and the guys would come out and pick my dumb ass up off the ground, drag me in, and bandage me up just in time to have my almost failure rubbed in my face byAce.

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