Page 82 of Jump or Fall
Mara rested her head against the wall and let out a long breath. “This just got a lot more complicated.”
Gordon took her hand and pulled her in for a hug. The armor created a frustrating gap between them, but the contact warmed her to the core.
Silva’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh, you two realized you love each other. Finally.”
Gordon pulled back and gave him a look.
“Just saying.” Silva raised his hands. “It was obvious to anyone with eyes.”
Mara averted her gaze. They hadn’t said it yet, but she felt it. Shelovedhim. And part of her ached to tell him, to speak the words and make it real.
But what if she scared him off? They’d only just admitted to wanting to be together.
She needed to wait.
Gordon didn’t respond to the quip either, so maybe her suspicions were correct. He liked her, but this was still new.
Silva scoffed. “Well, you two learn how to use your words. I’m going home. Good luck, Mara.” He patted her shoulder and rushed deeper into the tunnels.
After a pause, neither of them knowing what to say, Mara broke the silence. “Let’s stash our armor. Silva’s right, the fallout is going to be bad.”
Gordon nodded. They hurried to Crux and shed their armor before tucking it behind the map on the wall.
Mara sighed in relief from removing the layers. She loved armor, but it was stifling if worn for prolonged periods. She couldn’t imagine what it was like for an enforcer to wear it forhours.
On the walk to the tunnel exit, Gordon took her hand and pulled her close. Like they were a real couple. She hoped he would love her back someday.
When they reached the heavy door, Gordon gently pushed her against it and bent down to kiss her. Heat bloomed beneath her skin as her mouth moved with his, devouring everything he could give her in the moment.
She combed her fingers through his hair. It was softer than she’d imagined when he showed her the ocean. When this was all over, she would spend hours touching it.
Too soon, the kiss ended. Gordon cupped her face. “Message me tomorrow, okay?” he said. “It's not going to be safe much longer.”
“I will.” Mara grimaced. “Dawson’s going to be pissed.”
His thumb stroked her cheek. “That’s what I’m the most afraid of.” He took a deep breath. “We can still run, Mara.”
A tear formed at the corner of her eye. “I know that’s the smart thing to do… I just can’t, Gordon.” She wiped the tear away before it could fall. “I have spent so many nights lying awake and fantasizing about killing him. I know what you said about Naxos and the trial, but he’s going to die. And I’m going to do it.”
That muscle ticked in his jaw again. “Then I’ll help make it happen.”
She kissed his scar and felt the tension ease out of him ever so slightly. “Tomorrow, I want to see what I can still do from the inside, if anything. After work, I’ll slip away and maybe… maybe I could come stay with you in Eight?”
That got a faint smile from him. “Sounds like a plan.”
They kissed again and she left him there in the tunnel. Each step closer to her apartment deepened the dread of what was to come.
Maybe she could come up with a plausible reason for the malfunction. No one else knew the suits had been controlled remotely. To everyone else it looked like they started wandering around. And with all theturmoil from the riot, there was no way anyone knew they had been hiding in the shadows.
First, she needed to brace herself for the incoming barrage of messages from Millon. Once she knew what they thought had happened, it would be easier to come up with a lie. Maybe she could catch Silva alone and work out a story.
Her apartment building came into view. Soon, she could escape. Soon, she could be with Gordon.
Chapter 27
Mara
Mara reached the fifth floor and used the key to get in. The evening lights had been left on intentionally, and she headed for the living room where she’d left her tablet.
