Page 18 of Descent

Both of us dive to the side a split second before metal tinks against the pavement where we were just standing. Nice. Throwing stars. Looks like the Mocro are making their move. Why they haven’t just gunned us both down is another question altogether.

Maybe they’re just testing the waters, waiting for the Yakuza to wear us down. Either way, the Japanese mobsters are taking full advantage of the distraction. Ero is pressed by the two still carrying katanas.

Leaving the biggest of the three lunging at me. He’s too big for close quarters. If I let him grab me, he’ll crush me with those massive arms.

I feign back, letting him overcommit. Sliding low, I slash out at the tendons on the back of his legs, the wind of his swinging fist brushing my forehead as I tip my head back. He goes down grasping at his severed hamstring, screaming.

Kicking off the ground, I’m nearly blindsided by one of the Mocro appearing from the shadows. One powerful arm yanks me out of harm’s way, pulling me against a rock-solid, tight, fever-hot chest.

I only have a second to hate it and savor it before Ero spins me around aiming me right at the guy.

Both of my boots connect with his face, shattering his mask. Ero releases me to fly along in his wake, my sword leading the way. The Mocro thug is dead before he can hit the ground.

Glancing back, I see the one swordsman down, the other stumbling as Ero tails me, catching my free hand and dragging me into a sprint. Instinct tells me to comply, hinting at way more trouble on the way behind us.

The crack of a sniper rifle confirms my worry a second later, missing us by a foot both times, spraying brick debris at our backs. Left. Right. Right again.

No other sound follows as we duck out of the gunner’s line of sight. I sense movement above us, shadowing us on the rooftops.

“Shit!” Ero’s voice turns my head back, just in time to notice the dead end looming ahead.

Two forms drop into the walkway behind us as we reach the end of the line, closing in.

“Don’t stop. I’ll go high,” I order, increasing my speed.

I take the wall at a dead run, Ero using his speed to sling me forward and counter-swinging him back the way we came. Two steps up the wall and I launch myself backward, staring straight down as I arc.

Soaring over the two masked menaces, I let my eyes droop, let the calm of practice and a lifetime of training guide me. They both react in shock, their movements tense and jerky as one looks up, the other expecting to take Ero in the back.

But I’m silk and fucking razor blades. And he’s velvet. Lightning.

My blade takes the trailing Mocro at the neck, sending his body spinning to my left, his head to my right. Leaving me a front-row seat to Ero surging right at me through the middle of the other guy.

He skids to a stop on one knee, sprayed in the glory of battle, his eyes locked on mine. I nearly come undone right then and there. A wild flare of rage and excitement swells in me, fueled by our kiss a few days ago, our bickering, and the way we fight together.

“I’ve never met anyone who could keep up with me like that,” he utters, his voice husky, rough.

“Istill haven’t.” I smirk, tilting my head mockingly.

“Is that a challenge?” He’s rising, coming right for me when the first siren echoes in the distance.

So instead, we dash for the nearest side street, throwing caution to the wind that the cops will drive off the remaining sniper and clear our escape.

“No. She’s not.”Ero’s soft protest drags me back to consciousness.

“What?” I groan, sitting up from my uncomfortable slouch in the train car seat. Must have dozed off.

“Nothing. Wasn’t talking to you.” Ero stares out the window, sitting across from me. The night train rattles on through the dark, our car emptier than before I fell asleep.

Completely empty, actually.

Leave it up to you to attract a lunatic…Artemis hums, making a face.

Leave it up to you to haunt my love life, huh? Nosy bitch.

“Telling your imaginary friends about me?” I ask.

“Reminding myself that I can’t trust you.”

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