Chapter 27 · Untitled Chapter

"Don't open that door, Nia. They want you scared enough to make a stupid choice."

"Great advice," Nia shot back. "Got anything useful? Like a miracle?"

"I have a gun."

"You have one bullet."

"Then don't miss."

The security door bucked under another hit. Dust shook loose from the ceiling. Nia shoved her laptop across the metal desk and checked the upload bar with one hand while aiming the pistol at the entrance with the other.

Seventy-eight percent.

Too slow.

The room had one door, one narrow maintenance hatch, and a wall of old monitors showing the gala hall below. Every screen carried Celeste Rook's face: perfect smile, white dress, gold crown.

Saint Celeste was about to go live for the whole city.

Nia had less than a minute to make sure the city saw the truth first.

"Tell me the file's moving," Mara said in Nia's earpiece.

"It's moving. Your murder tape's crawling like it owes the internet money."

"How long?"

"Two minutes."

The door slammed again.

Nia glanced at the pistol. "We don't have two minutes."

"Make one."

"That's your plan?"

"My plan is to keep Celeste from turning my name into a public execution.