Page 96 (2/2)

For a second, the bat’s dizziness and weakness were also Mace’s, and his opponent took advantage of his disorientation, hitting him with a roundhouse kick to the chest It happened too fast to stop, and the force of the kick propelled his broken ribs straight into his lung

He staggered back Unable to breathe

Bleeding internally

Dying

Because there was no way he could get the help he needed before it was too late

The broken edge of the terrace wall, where his grenades had caused dae, hit the back of his knees His opponent watched hi that one kick couldn’t fell athat the kick had killed hi, heavy second, Mace wondered why Mercer didn’t follow up on the kick Why didn’t he come in close and finish him off?

It wasn’t important His opponent wasn’t iotten free? Hoas he going to save her now that he was dying? Now that he couldn’t even save himself

His eyes found hers over the carnage on the terrace Her Mercer twin had released his hold on her hair to wipe the blood from his face Her eyes hen they connected with his Her lips fell open as though to call to hiister on her face Panic for him Only Keiko would feel fear for hier

He swayed against the cru harder to breathe now Dizziness was stealing his sense of reality, and it seehtless Or maybe it was him He kept his eyes on the woman he loved She was his lifeline, and he wanted her face to be the last thing he saw before it all went black

She was so fucking beautiful Too beautiful for hiht that he wouldn’t have a chance with her Men like hiet to touch beauty like Keiko Sato A beauty that was soul deep

“No!” she screaht she did He was focused on the perfect shape of her lips and saw the word ripped from them

“Live” Mace wanted to shout it to her Maybe he did But it could have been a whisper

No! Not die! The imperial command was pushed into his brain

Sorry, rat face I don’t have a choice

He kept his eyes glued to Keiko Nothing but death could make him look away now If he couldn’t have her, couldn’t touch her, he would take what he could get—the i with her Drink her in While he still could