Page 40 of Jump or Fall
He turned the corner—and nearly jumped out of his skin.
“Fucking hell!”
Mara yanked off the helmet, breathless with exhilaration. She’d never been able to test the helmet outside of the controlled environment of the Armory.
“It worked!” she exclaimed. “It knew which way you’d come from!”
Gordon’s eyebrows shot up, his breath still heavy from the scare. He held out a hand, silently asking to see it. She passed it over and he examined it with open curiosity. “Can it replay what you saw?”
“It might be a little tight, but you can try.”
He slid it carefully on his head, and she tapped the replay function.
He stood perfectly still, so it must’ve been working.
“This is amazing,” he said in awe. “Do you own it, or does it belong to Hyperion?”
“It’s mine and they don’t know a helmet with a synth-mind is currently out there. I don’t want it to be taken if Dawson starts searching my apartment next. Max was outside again tonight—I think Dawson knows I’ve been using the biometrics to get in late.”
Gordon’s expression darkened as he handed it back. “You can store it in Crux. The map covers a hidden compartment that we use to store valuables. As for the door, I can give you an override in the key.” He shook his head, clearly frustrated. “I should’ve thought of that earlier. I'm sorry.”
She wanted to hug him again—wanted to feel that warmth that stirred inside her when they touched—but she remained still. This was all professional. Gordon didn’t have feelings for her. Why would he want Dawson’s leftovers? He had just been too nice to say anything before.
“Thank you. For everything.” She hesitated, then dug into her pocket and pulled out the brass key. “Oh, and I wanted to give you this.”
He took it gently, the tips of his fingers brushing against hers. Such a small touch, but she'd take anything.
“Is this an old key?” he asked.
“I found it in an antique shop a while ago. It’s a replica, but you’re always unlocking things, so… I thought you might like it.”
That familiar crooked smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Thank you. What are these little notches for?”
“They move the pins inside the lock so the cylinder can rotate. You can’t hack them. I think it takes these long, skinny tools.”
“Hm, those locks probably don’t rat out whoever’s opening it,” he muttered.
“Do you like it?” she asked quietly.
His eyes met hers, and his smile widened enough to make her chest feel too tight. How did that smile get to her so easily?
“It’s great,” he said, then nodded toward the helmet in her hands. “We can drop that on the way. My bike’s near the Crux entrance, and you’ll need a different coat.”
She glanced down at her long black one as she fell into step beside him. “No long tunnel walks tonight?”
“Tonight we ride.”
Chapter 15
Mara
Mara hadn’t ridden a motorbike in years. In Division Two, they weren’t as common, and her daily life revolved around a small, walkable area. A vehicle had never been a necessity.
After stashing her coat and helmet behind the map, Gordon handed her a dark, faded green jacket similar to his own. Before putting it on, she ran her fingers over the fabric—a well-made blend of aramid fibers and ballistic nylon.
He passed her a full-face helmet. “It’s not nearly as impressive as yours, but it’ll work.”
As they stepped out of the tunnel, she took in the surroundings.
