Chapter 8 · Mag-Lev Highjack

"Get off the roof before the next drone cuts you in half!" Vesper shouted.

A burst of blue rounds chewed through the metal three feet from my hand. I rolled, caught the edge of the mag-lev car, and slammed my shoulder against the raised service rail.

The train was doing two hundred miles an hour.

That made the roof a terrible place to fight.

The fact that Vesper was standing on it in a torn corporate coat, firing one-handed at three attack drones, somehow made it worse.

"You said the roof was clear!" I yelled.

"I said the train was clear. Learn the difference."

"You dragged me up here!"

"And you're still alive, aren't you?"

Another drone swept low over the cars. Its four rotors screamed against the wind. The gun pod under its belly turned toward us.

Vesper grabbed my jacket and yanked me flat just as the pod opened fire.

The rounds passed over my back. Heat punched through the fabric. Her body landed half on top of mine, one knee braced beside my ribs, her gloved hand locked around my collar.

Her face was inches from mine.

The wind tore at her dark hair.