Song Liming’s eyes glinted with interest immediately. “Tell me more.”
65
Rui
“Safety first,” Zizi said, tossing Rui a helmet. He got on the motorbike and entered the code Lieutenant Shuang had given them. The engine roared to life. “We’ll leave the other bike for Ash. Hop on.”
Rui’s sword bag got in the way as she grappled with the twisted strap of her helmet.
“Let me.” Zizi tugged it, inevitably pulling her close.
She tried not to look at him while he fiddled with the catch. Her heart was beating faster, and she was getting annoyed again. Two reactions that seemed to happen a lot whenever Zizi was near. She heard a click.
“Done.”
She couldn’t see his smile because of his helmet, but the corners of his eyes were crinkling. “Thanks.” She swung a leg over the seat, primly placing her hands on his shoulders, ignoring the feel of taut muscles under his thin coat.
Zizi looked over his shoulder. “Ever ridden one before?”
“No.”
“Nervous?”
“I hunt monsters for a living.”
“Touché. All right, then, arms around my waist. Lock your hands together.”
Despite her misgivings, Rui complied. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d held him this way before.
Zizi winked, snapping the visor of his helmet shut. “Hold on tight—we’re going speed-demon mode.”
The engine revved. He let out a cheesy whoop.
Rui yelped as Zizi popped an unexpected wheelie and the motorbike tilted sharply back. They flew out of the side street and onto the mainavenue. The world blurred as he weaved expertly in and out of traffic, leaving a barrage of honking in their wake. He didn’t slow down. In fact, they were only speeding up. Rui clung on tighter and tighter to him, her chest pressed against his back, finally slipping her hands under his coat for a better grip. Did she trust him to get them to the seaport in one piece? She wasn’t sure.
Zizi squeezed the bike between two huge semitrailers, cutting into another lane just as another vehicle was merging onto the same one.
“Where did you learn to ride a motorbike?” she yelled. “The underworld?”
The wind carried her words away, but he heard her. She felt his stomach muscles contracting. He was laughing. He was having a great time, and she could see why. They had hit the bridge, and the sun was setting. The sky was on fire above them, the river rippling below, its waters shimmering like liquid gold. Behind them, the panorama of the city’s skyscrapers glittered against the distant backdrop of rugged mountains.
It was magical. Her city. She would save it, no matter what it took.
As they sped on, the noise and chaos seemed to fade. For a moment, everything seemed to slow, and she was able to catch her breath. It was just the wind and her—and Zizi.
And she found herself wishing that this quiet would last forever.
They got off a short distance away from the seaport. Dusk had fallen, and the streetlights flickered on. As Zizi stowed the motorbike behind some shrubbery, Rui checked in on her comms.
“Kodie? We’re here. Any updates?”
There was a blip of static in her ear.
“Ash got held up,” Kodie replied. “But he should be there soon, and other reinforcements are on their way too. We’re sweeping the locations Yiran gave us. Nothing so far. I’m wondering if it’s a false flag of some sort.”
“But what would be the point?” Rui said. “Even if they wanted to divertand spread out our resources because of whatever they’re doing here at the seaport, they would first have to know that Yiran would go back to the dive bar and that he’d get a message to the Guild. Maybe the devices are well hidden. Hang on—”
Zizi was holding his paper doll in front of her. Its edges were glowing a faint orange.
