Page 105 of Jump or Fall
Dawson stepped outside with a grin plastered across his face.
Mara’s hands started to shake, bile rising in her throat. “Is there any way we can peck out his eyes?”
Gordon grimaced. “It can attack him, but I don’t want to lose a bird and have him figure out we have spy animals.”
On the screen, Nella looked up and beamed, tossing her tablet aside. She practically skipped to him and wrapped her arms around his neck with a delighted squeal.
“What…”
Dawson kissed her—deep and slow.
Nella hooked a leg around his waist as he lifted her with ease, carrying her to the outdoor couch.
As she wrapped both legs around his hips, his hand slid up her thigh and disappeared beneath her dress.
Mara dropped the tablet.
“Turn it off,” she said, her voice weak.
Gordon snatched it up, issuing a quick command to the bird before setting it aside.
They sat in stunned silence.
He was the first to speak. “I think we need to have a chat with Kimmie.”
Chapter 35
Mara
“Where is she?” Mara asked as they hurried out of the Armory.
“Last I saw, she was in Weapons with Millon.”
They rounded a corner, and Mara pressed her palm against the hand scanner. The door to the Weapons Division slid open with a soft hiss.
Her mind raced with how to confront Kimmie over her lies, but the second she stepped inside, all thoughts evaporated.
Kimmie was leaning back against a display table, her face flushed a deep pink. Millon stood between her legs with his body pressed against hers, their lips locked in a slow kiss. He broke it off, but made no effort to put space between them.
He turned lazily to Mara and Gordon. “Yes? If you couldn’t tell, we're kind of busy.”
“Clearly.” Mara stepped forward, her focus on Kimmie. “Tell us what really happened to Nella.”
Kimmie blinked, face still pink. “What do you mean?”
“You told us Dawson kidnapped her. We took a bird over there and she looked pretty fucking happy.” Mara exhaled sharply through her nose, forcing herself to stay calm. “You’ve shown me nothing but vitriol since we met, and now I know it was all about Gordon.” Her eyes found Millon. “Good to know you’ve finally moved on.”
Kimmie’s entire body tensed. The silence stretched long enough for Mara to lose patience and she turned to leave.
Of course the brat wouldn’t answer.
“She’s a model,” Kimmie said.
Mara stopped.
“Nella met him at some party. She used a friend’s address to get the job in the first place since they wouldn’t hire someone from Eight. When she told me there was a guy interested in her, I didn’t think anything of it. Nella’s gorgeous—guys always like her. But then I found out it was Knight and I lost it.
“I told her she had to stay away from him—fuck, she lived in Eight. She should get it.” Her jaw clenched. “But she told me to fuck off and that just because I was fine with being an ‘Eight rat’ forever didn’t mean she had to be. Then she disappeared.”
