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We just have to make sure we actually get through it first so I have quarters to go home to.
Ghost doesn't lead us to the front entrance. Instead we follow the outer walls of Kane’s sprawling estate. The street wraps around it, like is typical this close to the city. I try to imagine that the cameras lining the top of the wall aren’t following us. If Jessica's mother is on top of things, she should be in control of those. It's what we gotta bank on.
On a stretch between two larger properties, Ghost pulls over, and the rest of us follow suit. It's gonna be pretty fucking obvious we're here with all the bikes lined up, but then we don't have time for subtlety either. Skyhigh's already off his bike, carrying one of his backpacks, eager to punch a big fucking hole in the wall. While he’s getting set, I go to Riot and Jessica.
"You okay?" I ask her.
Jessica nods. She looks so fucking small and it makes me wanna sweep her up and keep her safe, if I could. But her pretty features are a mask of determination and she deserves to be here. Fuck,I'd be determined too if my mom was on the other side, and I haven't spoken to her since I was a kid. Guess that's another thing we have in common, even if our stories are different.
"Good. Shit's about to get dirty. Stay close to us, whatever happens. If we get separated, it's gonna be hard for us to protect you. And now that we've got you, I'd hate to fucking lose you."
I get a little smile at that. Fuck, I love seeing her smile.
"Get ready," says Ghost as he comes our way. "There's about to be a big noise, and after that, everyone's gonna know where we are."
"Do you think Mom's okay?" Jessica’s voice is thick with worry.
Riot nods, looking surer than I feel. "If she wasn't controlling the cameras, we woulda been shot at already. She's fine."
"Come here." I help her off the bike and into my arms, then Riot dismounts and draws iron.
Skyhigh raises a hand, like him running our way isn't warning enough. He's wild-eyed and grinning.
"Duck," I say and pull Jessica's head against my chest, angling her away from the explosion. A moment later, the ground shakes and a blast of air and debris showers the area. A big chunk of the wall around the estate ceases to be. Shit, the neighbors are definitely going to have something to say about the giant concrete block in the street. Skyhigh's nothing if not thorough.
My ears are ringing, but hearing's coming back. Enough that I hear the chorus of car alarms going off nearby. It's time to fuck shit up.
Ghost is the first one through, followed by Skyhigh, Poe and Junker. Me and Riot keep Jessica between us as we follow, and then Shiv brings up the rear.
We make it most of the way across the massive lawn, keeping low. Something moves in the darkness, followed by the crack and flash of a gunshot. Ghost and Poe fire at the same time and the guy drops outta sight. Dunno about Poe, but if he didn't get him, I'm positive Ghost did.
Jessica stumbles, but me and Riot react at the same time, getting an arm each, keeping her on her feet. "Thanks," she hisses. I know she doesn't wanna feel like a burden, but we're gonna be watching out for her, whether she wants to or not.
We come up on a low wall that separates the lawn from a fancy Japanese style garden, with one of those artsy sandboxes, and a pond with the faint shadows of the biggest fucking koi fish I ever saw in my life moving in the water around a fountain. It's low, but it's granite or marble and gives us cover from the inside. I grab Jessica's hand, feeling her shiver in my grip. She's nervous, and with good fucking reason.
"On my mark, run," whispers Ghost. “Go!”
Still gotta be about a hundred yards to the mansion. This looks like it's a guest house or something like that, and if that’s already this fancy, I can only imagine what it's like up there.
Shiv and Poe take the lead, their guns ready. Someone must be visible through the windows, because they fire at once, followed by a crash and a scream inside. Lights blink on around the property, spotlights making it impossible to sneak up on the building, but we can still stay on the outside of the cones untilwe get around to the back. When no one's shooting back, we run together.
Just as we're having to jump out into the light, the spotlights flicker and shut off.
"Mom," Jessica whispers with awe.
"She's right," grinds Riot, sounding even more gravelly than usual. "Let's not waste it."
We charge down a marble walkway that takes us past a gigantic, L-shaped swimming pool, and then we're right up against the house.
"This way," Jessica says, some of the tremor in her voice is gone. Now that we’re on her home turf, I think it gives her a little confidence. Makes me grin, despite everything. It's sexy.
She takes us to a solid looking door with a little window at about head height. There’s a panel next to it, and when she touches it and punches her code, the door unlocks with a click. Riot hauls it open and aims his gun down the hallway behind it, but there’s no one. Guards are probably still trying to figure out what’s up with the lights and checking the main entrance.
"This is going better than expected," I say quietly, our progress bringing a smile to my face.
"Shut the fuck up," hisses Ghost. "Don't say shit like that."
Is the mighty Ghost superstitious? Fuck, I learn something new every day. I keep my chuckle quiet as we close the door behind us and advance into the mansion.
