Silence crashes down like a physical thing.
I'm standing in the middle of a slaughterhouse, breathing hard, ribs grinding with each inhale. Blood everywhere. Bodies everywhere. The fluorescent lights buzz overhead, flickering, casting everything in sick yellow shadows.
“Ivy.” Daniel's voice is carefully controlled. “Status.”
I prod my ribs gently, bite back a whimper. “Alive. Mostly.”
“Target?”
I look at Jarvis. He's stopped twitching. The pool of blood around him is spreading, dark and glossy.
“Confirmed.”
“Get out,” Luce says. “Now. Before—”
Sirens. Distant but growing closer.
“Fuck.” I'm moving before I finish the word, grabbing my knife from the wall, from Jarvis neck, wiping blades on a dead guard's shirt. My Glock goes back in its holster. Each movement sends fresh pain through my chest.
The stairs are a nightmare. Each step is agony, ribs grinding, but I force myself to move. Fast. Faster.
I hit the main floor at a stumbling run, heading for the service door. Cold air hits my face like a slap.
The car door is already open.
I collapse into the backseat and Daniel floors it before I can even close the door properly. Tires squeal. The warehouse recedes in the side mirror, getting smaller, guards spilling out onto the loading dock, too late, too slow.
“Jesus Christ.” Daniel glances at me, then back at the road. “You look like hell.”
“Feel worse.” I slump against the seat, pressing one hand to my ribs. When I pull it away, there's blood. Mine or Jarvis, I can't tell anymore.
My earpiece crackles.
“Ivy.” Luce's voice is shaky. Relief and fury mixing together. “Don't ever do that again.”
“Do what?”
“Nearly die.”
I close my eyes, suddenly exhausted beyond measure. “Wasn't planning on it.”
“You never are.” Punk this time. “I'll divert the cops for a bit and call in clean up just to be sure.”
The city blurs past outside the window. Lights and shadows. The choker sits heavy against my throat, and for one insane moment I wonder what Asher would think if he could see me now. Covered in blood. Broken ribs. Hands still shaking from adrenaline comedown.
You're terrified of wanting anything.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I don't need to check it to know—
Asher: How's your night going?
I stare at the message, then at my bloodstained gloves, then back at the message.
Me: Quiet. Boring. You?
Asher: Same. What are you wearing
My laugh leaves me through bloody lips, catching Daniel's attention.
