Page 152 of Fractured Future

“Is that the best you’ve got?” I cackle desperately.

Spitting an insult, Miguel wails another foreign curse when I whip out my other leg to kick him in the face. He’s thrown off balance, blood spurting from his mouth.

Without hesitating, I tackle his slumped form to continue landing blows.Smack. Smack. Smack.I need to take this motherfucker out so I can get to those who really matter.

Luis and Diego.

They’remine.

My knuckles burn and crack with each blow I levy against Miguel, caught flat on his back and too disorientated to put upmuch of a fight. When the back of his head whacks the ground again, I watch the light in his eyes wink out.

“Stay down,” I spit at him.

The sense of euphoria from knocking him out is fleeting. Looking around, I find that a few others have emerged from the warehouse to join the fight. Hyland and Luis are locked in a violent battle of fists while Axel and Warner pick off incoming thugs, one by one.

Panic takes root at the realisation that Diego has vanished. I haven’t laid eyes on Madden or his crew yet either. I resolve to deal with the consequences of their bullshitno forcerule and start taking people out.

“768! You made it!”

A lilting voice hollers from behind me.

“Over here, 768! Yoo-hoo!”

Lifting onto my feet, I boot Miguel’s unconscious body in the stomach for good measure before looking over my shoulder. My bloodstream freezes into an arctic dagger that buries in my gut.

“You still alive?” I shout back.

Hand resting on the weapon tucked into the front of his jeans, Diego sneers at me. “Last I checked.”

“Too bad. I was hoping I’d caught an artery.”

“Hope you’re a better shot now than you were six years ago,puta!”

With a sick grin, Diego turns and darts around the side of the warehouse. He’s gone faster than I can draw my weapon to take him out. I know it’s a trap, but I don’t care all that much.

This time, he’s mine.

Without glancing at the others, still knee-deep in the rush of assailants, I chase after Diego. Like hell am I going to let him escape. I want his boss, but I also want him.

As he vanishes out of sight, memories of the last time we faced each other fill my mind, piercing the woozy fog that’s gradually worsening.

With Gracie’s sobs still ringing in my ears, dim light guides me into the overgrowth that creeps up the exterior of the abandoned husk. All manner of litter, detritus and smashed glass pepper the long grass.

“Come get me, 768!” Diego’s voice echoes.

That same voice haunted so many of the bleak days we spent trapped behind rusted bars, stomachs screaming for sustenance and bodies blue from hypothermia.

For Gracie. For myself. For every single woman left to rot in that hell. I don’t care if I die trying—I’m going to make this motherfucker bleed for what he’s done.

“I know where your bitch friend is!” he adds with a hyena-like laugh. “Do you want to know?”

Steps growing wobblier and more unstable, a loud ringing fills my ears. Shit, I can feel myself fading. Still giving chase, I push past the exhaustion sapping my strength.

Not now. Not now!

My limbs are now jerking, growing heavy under the strain of crashing adrenaline. I have to reach him before my body pulls the plug. This may be my only chance.

Pushing past every last warning sign telling me to stop, turn back and find a safe spot to collapse in, I refuse to let Diego get away. I can’t see him or take aim, but he can’t be far ahead.