Chapter 10 · Wrong Side of the Law

"Don't move another inch, or I'll carve that smug look right off your face," Vera hissed. Her boot was planted firmly in the center of my chest, pinning me against the damp concrete of the alleyway.

I gasped, the air leaving my lungs in a sharp whistle. I could smell the rain-soaked ozone and the faint, metallic scent of her leather gear. She wasn't just holding me down; she was weighing me down with that terrifying, effortless strength.

"You're shaking, Kael," she whispered, leaning in. Her face was inches from mine, her eyes scanning my expression for a crack. "Is it fear? Or are you just excited to see me again?"

I managed a jagged grin, though it felt more like a grimace. "You're a real romantic, Vera. Really. The boot-to-the-chest thing? Classic."

She didn't laugh. She shifted her weight, pressing harder. I felt a rib groan. "Stop playing. You're a glitch. A variable. You're not supposed to be breathing, let alone talking back to me.