An alarm started blaring—just like the one from the first attack.
Kimmie said, “You need to leave. He’ll be okay.”
No. She wasn’t leaving without him. Her chest felt like it was about to cave in.
“I’m not leaving.” Her voice cracked.
A groan came from the left. Her eyes locked in on the sound. All she could see was a cracked enforcer helmet—Gordon’s helmet. The rest of him was pinned underneath a car door that had been blown off. His suit wasn’t working.
Mara flung the door off of him and hauled him upright. He teetered for a second before grabbing her arm.
They ran as fast as they could down the street. She had no idea where they were going—but it needed to be far.
“Found him! We're out!”
The rain poured harder, collecting in shallow pools along the street. As they turned down another path, a flash of lightning lit up the world around them, momentarily making it feel like broad daylight.
The alleys narrowed and gaps formed in the deluge above them. She glanced up and found pathways crisscrossing overhead.
They were in Eight.
Gordon led her up a set of stairwells, some covered and some not. A steady stream of water flowed down them as they climbed higher.
At last, they reached a door. He frantically unlocked it and stumbled inside. The room was small and dimly lit by two windows.
Gordon yanked off his broken helmet and gauntlets, letting them drop to the floor. Bracing his hands on his knees, he gasped for breath. The loss of augmented strength meant he’d been running with the full weight of his suit.
Mara removed her helmet and took his in her hand, tracing her finger along the crack. Her breath caught, and the dam in her chest burst wide open.
Moisture dripped down her face. She searched the ceiling, thinking it was leaking—but it was coming from her.
She threw her gauntlets to the floor and wiped her stinging eyes.
“I thought I lost you,” she whispered.
When she looked up, he was staring at her.
He took a small step closer. The only sound was rain drumming against the roof.
She didn’t move away.
Please come closer.
He rushed her—his lips crashing against hers in a rough, desperate kiss. He cupped her face, kissing all over before returning to her mouth in an erratic circuit.
Her chest swelled with relief, and the tears kept coming.
She placed her hands over his and gently pulled them away, observing his fingertips. They were so perfect—so smooth, sohuman.
Kissing the tips, she watched the unscarred corner of his mouth curve up before he pulled her into a firm embrace.
She moved to unclip his armor. “I need to feel you against me.”
Gordon took over, stripping off his suit while she shed her own. The armor pieces hit the floor with heavy thuds.
She sighed in relief as she shed the layers, left only in her tank top and thin sweatpants. Gordon tenderly grasped her shoulders, drawing her into another kiss. His lips were so soft and warm.
His hand moved to the small of her back and slid under her shirt, making her whole body go stiff.