Chapter 43: Lights Out, Midtown

The subterranean service elevator plunged down toward the East River transit tunnels at a stomach-churning speed, dropping so fast Mari’s feet practically left the steel floor.

"So, quick corporate briefing," Ren shouted over the screech of rusted iron cables, hammering at his wrist console. "The guys waiting for us down there belong to Apex Global Logistics. They're technically contractors, which means they don't get dental, overtime, or mercy."

"A tragic lack of benefits," Sera deadpanned, idly snapping a long, razor-sharp icicle off her elbow and testing the point against her thumb.

The elevator slammed to a halt with a hydraulic screech that nearly rattled Mari's teeth out of her skull. The heavy steel grates hadn't even finished sliding open before Adrian let out a deep, gut-rumbling roar and kicked the entire door assembly off its tracks, sending three tons of metal flying into the dark tunnel ahead.

Two Apex mercenaries were flattened instantly under the door.

"Room service!" Adrian bellowed, stepping through the wreckage with his heavy plasma cannon already fully charged and whining like a feral dog.

The underground transit tunnel exploded into pure, unadulterated madness. Flashbangs popped, automatic rifle fire chewed through the brick walls, and plasma bolts lit up the damp, dark air in blinding neon pinks and blues.

Mari sprinted straight down the third rail, ducking under a hail of high-caliber rounds. A mercenary built like a brick wall lunged out from behind a stalled subway car with an electric stun-baton. Mari slid on her knees right between his legs, spun up behind him, grabbed his tactical belt, and shoved him rear-first straight into an exposed 600-volt junction box.

The spark shower illuminated the tunnel like a rave, accompanied by a very loud, very fried scream.

"Shocking lack of situational awareness," Mari called out, vaulting over his twitching body without missing a beat.

To her right, Kael was having a field day. He kicked a mercenary into a vending machine, snatched a falling bag of chili cheese corn chips out of the air, took a bite, and then smashed the guy across the jaw with his own helmet. "Expired!" Kael yelled, tossing the bag over his shoulder.

"Focus, psychopath!" Sera shouted, gliding past him like a blue-tinted freeze ray. She slapped a hand onto the side of an oncoming armored tactical buggy, instantly freezing its front axle solid. The buggy flipped end-over-end, crashing into a pile of sandbags with a satisfying metallic crunch.

From behind them, a massive, heavily armored squad captain equipped with a riot shield and a heavy flamethrower stepped out of the shadow of the train cars, aiming a roaring stream of liquid fire straight at Mari.

Before the flames could reach her, Adrian threw himself in front of her, taking the heat wave directly on his heavy chest plate. The armor glowed white-hot, but Adrian didn't even flinch. He let out a savage laugh, stepped straight through the fire, grabbed the flamethrower's fuel tank with his bare, calloused hand, and crushed it like an aluminum soda can.

The captain froze in sheer horror as Adrian reached down, grabbed him by the throat, and slammed him against the subway car so hard the metal caved in.

"She said all of Manhattan," Adrian growled, his face inches from the captain's visor, his dark eyes burning with raw, terrifying lust and adrenaline. He tossed the guy like a ragdoll over his shoulder right into the waiting arms of Lena, who casually knocked him out cold with the butt of her rifle.

Adrian turned back to Mari, his chest heaving, his dark hair damp with sweat and soot. Smoke curled off his heated chest armor as he strutted toward her, grabbing her by the waist and hoisting her effortlessly against the side of a derailed train car.

His mouth came down on hers in a filthy, scorching kiss that tasted like sulfur, ozone, and pure victory. Mari wrapped her legs around his hips, her fingers digging deep into his shoulders as she pulled him harder against her, feeling the insane, thrumming heat radiating off his body.

"Tunnels cleared, my Queen," Adrian panted against her neck, biting down lightly on her collarbone until she let out a low, breathy gasp.

"Not yet," Ren interrupted, stepping over a pile of unconscious contractors while chewing on a protein bar. "The main valve to the Midtown power grid is right down that hatch. One twist, and we turn off the lights for every billionaire still hiding in the penthouse suites."

Mari broke the kiss, her eyes flashing with dangerous, irresistible delight. She slid down Adrian's body, her boots hitting the damp concrete as she looked toward the heavy iron hatch.

"Let's go plunge Midtown into the dark ages," Mari purred, winking at Adrian as she led the pack deeper into the abyss.