Toxic (Denazen #2)(23)

He was right. I did remember her. She’d flashed everyone at the party showing off that creepy tattoo.

“She had that barcode tattoo, too. ’Member?” he said with a smile. His head swiveled until he was staring at Kale. “We used to joke that she was someone’s property.”

“Alex,” I warned. Anyone could see where he was going with this.

He ignored me. Nodding to Kale, he asked, “What about you? Do you have a Denazen barcode?”

Kale’s fist was a blur as it shot across the couch. No counting this time. The blow landed square on Alex’s jaw. He rocked back and, just like in the cartoons, flew feet over head off the chaise.

Kale was off the couch, a look of horror on his face. From the other side of the chaise Alex rose, rubbing his face and looking just a little pale. It took me a minute to realize why. He didn’t know what Jade could do. The only change he was aware of was that I wasn’t immune anymore. Last he heard, Kale’s touch meant instant death.

From the look on Kale’s face, he hadn’t been thinking about Jade’s presence. He’d lost his temper. Slowly, though, it dawned on him. He looked from Alex to his hands. The sleeves of his new black hoodie had ridden up to reveal long, pale fingers. Jade was there. He’d touched Alex.

Alex was still alive.

I saw the realization just a second before Alex did. Something sparked in Kale’s eyes, and a twisted smile—twisted, but so, so hot—slid across his lips. His voice was low and dangerous. It sent chills up and down my spine and made my breath catch. Part of my brain was screaming at me to do something, but another part was just too enthralled to look away.

“I owe you.”

And if I’d blinked, I would’ve missed it. Right hand flat on the arm of the couch, Kale propelled himself over in a single swoop.

He landed in front of Alex, who’d taken a step back, still a little confused, just as Jade and I scrambled to our feet. “How the hell—”

“It’s me. My ability mutes his,” Jade said, inching her way around to the edge, but she was too slow. Kale’s fist shot out again, this time catching Alex in the gut. He stumbled back, coughing, and for a minute, it looked like he was about to go down.

It was an act. A second later he launched himself forward. Kale turned and ran in the other direction. Alex fumbled for a second but followed, determined to ground him. Kale leapt at the wall by the door. Right sneaker hitting about two feet high, he pushed off in an amazing back flip and landed behind Alex.

I couldn’t figure out why Alex looked surprised. He knew all about Denazen and what they’d made Kale into. This whole thing was pointless even with the use of his ability. But Alex wasn’t giving up.

Things were flying. Couch cushions, a lamp, the cordless from the corner table. All zooming above our heads and chasing Kale around the room. He dodged them with ease like some weird live version of the Matrix movies. Some missed by a wide margin, while he narrowly avoided others.

“You need to try harder. I’m getting bored.” Kale laughed. He was enjoying this much too much, but who could blame him? A showdown with Alex—a proper one—was something Kale deserved. Even if not for the events at Sumrun, it was the natural order of things for the new boyfriend and the old one to throw down. Especially if the old one was a dick who refused to take no for an answer.

Twirling to avoid the porcelain lamp, Kale’s feet did a fancy sidestep, and the lamp crashed into the wall behind him. Darting forward, he grabbed a fistful of Alex’s hair and slammed his head against the wall as Rosie appeared in the doorway.

“What the heck is going on in here?” she screeched as Alex crumpled to the floor. He ignored her, as did Kale, and she disappeared—probably rushing off to find Ginger.

A feral growl escaped Alex’s lips as he jumped to his feet, regrouping. “I’m just getting started, 98.”

His hands jutted out, and the couch surged forward. But the look of smug satisfaction on Alex’s face didn’t last long. Without turning, Kale leapt into the air and, in an astonishingly perfect backflip, landed safely on the other side. Alex wasn’t so lucky. With Kale not in its path, the couch collided with him, knocking him back into the wall.

Jade watched the whole thing go down with a stupid grin on her face. “Kale is totally rocking the Fight Club vibe!” she squealed as Alex climbed to his feet and threw himself back into the fray. Once in a while she’d try to step in, but every time they’d swing close, she jumped back with a tiny yelp and hide behind the couch.

Frigging moron.

Allowing Kale a few minutes to kick the crap out of Alex was something he deserved, but it was time to end this before someone started to hemorrhage—that someone being Alex, of course. He’d landed a few blows using his ability, but Kale had maintained the upper hand most of the fight. Enough was enough. It was a miracle that the entire hotel wasn’t down here with all the noise they were making. What the hell was taking Rosie so long?

“Knock it off,” I yelled.

Of course, my commanding voice and fearsome reputation got their attention right away. They froze in place and whimpered apologies, properly cowed.

Not even.

“You’re not a good person,” Kale growled as he dodged a flying plate. It crashed against the wall behind him, bits and pieces exploding in all directions.

“And you are? Least I’ve never punished anyone.” Alex laughed and swung out with his own fist. The blow landed in midair beside Kale’s shoulder. He straightened and rolled his shoulders. “Tell me something, Reaper. Did you keep count? Have a score sheet, maybe? You can tell me the truth. You liked it, didn’t you?”