The Mech Who Loved Me(105)

"Get moving, everybody," Malloryn snapped. "Gemma, I want you to make a move on the SOG suspect we think we have. Break him if you have to, but make sure he tells you everything. We need to know what Ulbricht is planning. Charlie, go with her to watch her back.

"And you two"-Malloryn pointed a finger at both him and Ava-"make your way to the Nighthawks guild as swiftly as possible and alert the guild master. Our first priority is stopping the Nighthawks from making a dangerous mistake. Then we can figure out how Ulbricht's going to use the serum."





Twenty-Four





THE RUMBLE OF a steam engine thrummed beneath her, and Ava clung to Kincaid's broad back as he wove in and out of the stream of traffic in a deft line, maneuvering his velococycle as though he had some wish to die a fiery death.

"Slow down!" she yelled, burying her face against his broad back, the wind whipping past her ears, and her split skirts flapping against her calves and thighs. She wasn't human, and could probably survive a fall, but he wouldn't. Not at this speed.

"Can you hear that?" he yelled over his shoulder, indicating the rumble that undercut the velococycle's noise.

It sounded like a roll of thunder on the horizon... or a whisper of mutiny echoing through the streets.

And it was getting louder.

"It's already happening," Ava breathed, her goggles pressing tightly against her cheeks as she bumped into his back.

Kincaid zipped around a steam cab, and slid to a halt in the middle of the next intersection. The velococycle quivered beneath them like some enraged beast, ready to bolt. All around them people stared curiously. They'd probably never seen its like before.

Plumes of smoke rose from the East, darkening the already murky afternoon light. "If that's a riot," Kincaid said, "then there'll be Nighthawks on the scene."

"Malloryn said we need to get to the guild."

"Malloryn said we need to stop any altercation between the Nighthawks and potential rioters," he corrected. "What do you think?"

Ava bit her lip. From the sounds of it, there would be Nighthawks gathering. Little garrisons of them were stationed all over London, ready to deploy at a moment's notice. "Go," she said, making a swift decision. "There's no point in us alerting Garrett if a riot's already being crushed."



       
         
       
        

The back wheels of the velococycle slid out behind them, and Ava squealed as Kincaid gunned the engine, heading directly toward the smoke column.

He gunned it through the streets, up onto the cobbled footpath when he needed to, and in and around slower moving vehicles. Ava clung to the barrel of his chest for dear life.

"There's the Nighthawks garrison!" Ava cried, spotting the first burning tower. St. Marcus's Garrison was built into the old walls the Romans had built around Londinium centuries ago-the Echelon had built onto the wall in the past, separating the inner city and their territory from the sprawling boroughs that held only humans. "They've fired it."

The gateway beneath the arch linked both towers, and allowed Nighthawks easy access. She hoped whoever had been on duty had escaped before all this began.

Nighthawks guarded the arch, riot shields at the ready by the look of it. There were dozens of them packed into the narrow space, and she could barely see the crowd beyond thanks to the oily smoke. Another crew of Nighthawks powered the water cannon nearby, hosing down the West Tower of St. Marcus's.

Kincaid skidded to a halt, powering down the velococycle's boiler. A fierce line of Nighthawks glared at them, gesturing them to turn back. Anger lit their faces-no doubt they all knew of the Nighthawk who'd been shot several days ago, and retaliation would be brewing in the backs of their minds.

Ava swung off the velococycle, coughing as the smoke drifted past them. "I'll go through. Most of them should know me, and they'll listen to me. I think it best they don't set eyes on a mech just this moment."

She took one step, but Kincaid grabbed her wrist. "You bloody fool-you're running headlong into a riot!"

Screams started echoing ahead. There was no time for this. Ava stroked his hand, imploring him to let her go. "Trust me," she said. "Please. They'll listen to me."

"Here, now!" a Nighthawk bellowed, withdrawing a small truncheon and starting toward them. "What's going on here? Let the lady go, you bastard!"

She shot Kincaid one last look. Emotion warred on his face, a volatile mix of rage and fear, but he let her wrist go. "Don't get hurt. I'll wait for you back here."