Page 106 of My Vigilante Valentine

“I’m coming with you.”

“No.” I turned back, letting him see the darkness I usually kept hidden. The killer inside that the serum had enhanced along with everything else. “He knows who I am, which means he’s prepared for what I can do. I need you running tech, like in practice. Be my eyes and stay in my ears.”

He hesitated only for a second before he nodded resolutely. “I’ve got your back.”

“I know.” I started to leave, then paused. “Chris?”

“Yeah?”

“If anything happens to me...” The words tasted like ash. “Get her out. No matter what.”

His expression hardened with determination. “Nothing’s going to happen to either of you.” A ghost of his usual snark appeared. “Now go get our girl. And Jax? Make him regret this.”

I didn’t need to be told twice.

Luna was waiting. And this time? This time, I wouldn’t hold back.

25

not a superhero

The moment I was outside, I let loose. The world blurred around me as I ran faster than I ever had before, pushing my abilities to their limits.

The location Chris sent was for an industrial area near the docks. The factory loomed ahead, and I aimed right for it.

“I’m here,” I murmured into my comms, crouching in the shadows of a rusted shipping container. “Anything?”

“Thermal imaging shows two people inside. One stationary, one moving. Third floor, west side. And Jax? The stationary one’s heart rate is elevated but stable. S0, she’s scared, but she’s alive.”

Leave it to Chris to know exactly what I needed to hear without me having to ask.

I circled the building like a predator, noting entry points and potential threats. No obvious guards, but that didn’t mean anything.

He knew what I could do.

He’d be prepared.

“Wait,” Chris said in my ear. “There’s something weird about the thermal readings inside. Like patches of cold spots that shouldn’t be there.”

Not sure what to make of that, I grabbed the first of my throwing knives.

This was obviously some kind of trap—I was stupid-in-love, but not stupid in general.

I studied the building again. The layout reminded me of the facility where everything had changed—where the accident had given me these abilities.

“He’s using my speed against me,” I realized, random pieces clicking into place. “The cold spots you’re seeing? Probably gas dispensers. Triggers set up throughout the building. Tripwires. Pressure plates. Things I’d hit at full speed before I could stop.”

“So don’t use your speed.” Chris’s voice had that tone—the one that meant he was about to suggest something logical that I wouldn’t like.

“That’s what he’s counting on.” A plan started forming—the kind that would either work brilliantly or get me killed. Probably both. “But what if...”

I explained my idea quickly, and Chris let out a low whistle that made my comms crackle.

“That’s either brilliant or suicidal. Luna’s going to kill you if you survive.”

“Let’s hope for brilliant.” I moved toward the building, every sense on high alert. “Stay on comms.”

“Always.” Then, because he was still Chris: “Try not to die. Pretty sure Luna would killmeif that happened.”

---