Chapter 12 · Gold on the Crown

"Get off him, Jesse!" Valerie's rifle cracked against the railing as the Grandmaster drove Jax through the elevator doors.

Jesse hit the steel floor on one knee. His vision was still a mess from the fall, white scars cutting across everything he looked at. He could make out the Grandmaster's gold coat. Jax's red jacket. The card burning above them like a second sun.

"Working on it," Jesse snapped.

"You have three seconds before I seal the kill zone. Move now."

"You always this sweet under pressure?"

"Only with idiots who argue while their friend is dying."

The Grandmaster lifted one hand.

Jax's boots left the floor.

Gold light wrapped around his throat and yanked him upward. His fingers clawed at empty air, face turning dark beneath the glow.

Jesse lunged.

The Grandmaster didn't even look at him. A ring of golden cards snapped into place between them. Jesse slammed into the first card and felt the impact punch through his ribs. The card did not bend. It threw him backward instead.

He crashed into the elevator frame.

"Jesse!" Jax choked.

"Don't look at me," Jesse said, dragging himself up. "Look at the ugly bastard holding you."

The Grandmaster smiled.