Page 113 of Jump or Fall
The ride back to Hyperion was tense. Columns of smoke obscured streets, with dense traffic and the sounds of gunfire. She kept a tight grip on Gordon with one hand while the other remained ready at her hip. She only had to draw her H-ek once, but it was too close.
Hyperion rose from the chaos like a dark beacon of safety.
Asher was waiting in the Armory, pale but slightly less jumpy. He immediately got to work assisting her with crafting new suits. As if he were eager for the distraction.
Of all the employees to show up on their doorstep, she was glad it was him. Her young apprentice had always been respectful and easy to work with—unlike some of the others who had come and gone.
He wouldn’t be coming with them to the trade, which was for the better. His nerves were shot, and his hands unsteady even while working the joiner. Handing him a firearm would be catastrophic.
They opted for standard enforcer suits, except for Millon, whose armor was custom-fitted for his prosthetic arm, and Kimmie, who would wear the God’s Eye helmet.
Mara adjusted the helmet’s visor, watching as Kimmie stared off into the distance. A pang of jealousy twisted in her. Countless hours and sleepless nights had gone into designing and crafting it.
“Tap here to bring up the predictive function,” Mara instructed, pointing to the side of the visor. “It’ll provide a percentage of certainty, so keep that in mind before you shoot someone.”
The memory of the teenage boy they’d killed in the alley surfaced, making her chest feel tight.
She expected a sarcastic remark, maybe even a dramatic eye roll—but Kimmie just nodded. Silent and focused.
“Are you okay?” Mara asked.
Kimmie’s shoulders lifted as she took a deep breath. “No, but there’s no time to not be okay.”
Unsure of what to say, she patted Kimmie’s shoulder.
To her surprise, Kimmie let out a small laugh. “Even after all the shit I’ve said, you still try to comfort me.”
“We're a team,” Mara said simply. “You haven’t tried to kill me yet, and holding onto grudges isn’t going to do either of us any favors.”
Her eyes widened. “I'm not evil—I’m just… stupid about boys, I guess.”
“Well, that forty-something ‘boy’ over there seems just as stupid about you, so tread carefully.”
Kimmie’s gaze drifted over to Millon, who was testing his armor. She bit her lip. “Yeah. I like him.”
“I can tell.”
Kimmie turned back with a curious expression. “What do you know about him?”
“Honestly? You probably know more than I do by now.”
“What? How? You’ve worked here forever.”
“He isn’t exactly an open book.” Mara sighed. “I know his father started the company, he likes black, and he’s missing an arm.”
“Do you know how he lost it?”
“No.”
Kimmie nodded, some of the tension leaving her face. “I’m sorry for being an asshole to you.” She hesitated. “Gordon and I have been friends for a long time, and it’s taken me a while to get it through my head that it won’t go anywhere.”
“Apology accepted.”
Kimmie blinked. “Really? That’s it?”
“Yes.” Mara shrugged. “Considering the last time a woman was pissed at me over a man, I was quite literally stabbed in the back, I think I can move on.”
How much of Kimmie’s change of heart came from having a new love interest, Mara didn’t know. And she didn’t particularly care. What mattered was Gordon. He was the one she’d be spending her life with—however long that might be.
