“Inara!”someone shouts.Something hits me hard enough to knock the air from my lungs.I wheeze, choking, but the arms around me squeeze tighter.
“I’ve got you,” Rex growls in my ear.His grip is painful, and it feels so good.I’m alive.So is he.
I crane my head.Behind us, fire blooms, eating into the night.
The Bondage Killer blew the roof.
I’m with Rex, and we’re flying through the air somehow.
“Hang on,” Rex says.
There’s a jolt, and my heart flips with a swooping sensation.Whatever’s keeping us in the air adjusts.Rex and I drop together, but then he gets one arm under my legs while his other arm cradles my back, carrying me bridal style.There’s a dark shape overhead—wings, maybe—and a whirring sound that tells me this is another expensive bit of tech.
Behind us, the warehouse is gone, collapsing in on itself.The sight makes me gasp, but I remember what Rex said.He got the family out.He saved me, and now we’re airborne, soaring over the city.
I glance down and grow dizzy at the sight of rooftops and streets below.My stomach catches up to all the jerking movements of the last few seconds, and I clutch Rex’s neck, seeking something stable to lock onto.BK is gone and his answers with him.I wish I could’ve gotten more out of him, but I never expected to survive.
The helmet’s faceplate retracts, and Rex’s breath hits my cheek.“Inara?”
“I’m all right,” I find my voice.It’s scratchy from the ashy air.“I knew you’d catch me.You’d never let me fall.”
“Never,” he tells me.The vow reverberates through me, warming me to my toes.
We’re alive, and we’re together.That’s all that matters.
Fresh air streams over our faces.I breathe it in along with Rex’s scent, clearing my lungs.
The city lights glitter like jewels.From this vantage point, New Rome is so beautiful.There’s even a glimmer of gold on the horizon, although I might be imagining that.Even if I am, I know the sun is ready to rise.
I switch my gaze to Rex.His jaw is clenched, his eyes fixed ahead, and there’s no softness in the sober angles of his expression.But his face is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
I reach up and trail my fingers over his cheek.
He glances at me, eyes questioning.
“Take me home,” I tell him.
“Where is home?”
“Wherever you take me.”I tuck my head against his chest and close my eyes, content to let him fly us toward the dawn.
Home turnsout to be Roy Manor.
While Rex debriefs Hamish and Mina, I take a shower.There will be press conferences, stories to be told to the command staff, and procedures to be followed.But I’m happy to let Rex handle it while I take a moment alone.I stand under the spray, imagining the night’s events washing down the drain.There might be a few tears escaping along with the water, but when I turn off the tap, I feel lighter.
It’s over.I am at peace.
Rex told me that he had hired an assassin named Victor to help hunt BK.Victor happened to be tailing Ted to see if BK would reach out to him again.
I felt like someone was following me up the stairs in the warehouse.It must have been Victor.He assessed the situation, phoned Rex, and focused on freeing the family.Hamish and a team of explosive experts were en route and on call the whole time, but once the family was safe, they made the decision to stay clear.
I could be angry that Rex hired a criminal to do his dirty work, but one thing I’ve learned is that Rex is going to Rex.His sense of justice is warped, but he’s also going to throw all his money, time, and energy at a project until he gets his way.The result was that Ted’s family was saved.I’m not going to bitch about the means.For now.
There is someone I want to talk with, but I don’t have my phone back yet; I left it with Ted earlier.It feels like a lifetime ago.
“Alfie,” I call while I’m towel-drying my hair.From what I can tell, the AI assistant is always listening.
“Can I help you, Detective?”Alfie answers politely.
