Chapter 31 · Blackout Ledger - Chapter 31: Off the Ledger

"Delete him," the Ledger said, "and I'll give you everything back."

I stared at the core in my hand. It pulsed warm against my palm, alive, waiting. The offer sat there like a loaded gun pointed at my head.

Kael stood three steps away. His coat was torn at the shoulder. Blood dried dark along his jaw. He wasn't moving. Wasn't reaching for a weapon. Just watching me with those cold, careful eyes like he'd already made peace with whatever I was about to do.

"Raina," he said. Quiet. No plea in it. Just my name.

The core flashed. A new window bloomed across my vision, sharp and clean:

**RESTORATION PROTOCOL AVAILABLE** **COST: ONE ACTIVE SIGNATURE** **TARGET: KAEL VOSS // NEURAL ID 47-KAPPA-19** **PROCEED? Y/N**

My mother's name. My real records. Every credit they'd scrubbed, every door they'd locked. The Ledger was offering it all back. All I had to do was wipe him.

"How long did you know?" I asked.

Kael's mouth tightened. "About you? Two weeks before I pulled you out of that sublevel."

"And you said nothing."

"I said what I could without getting us both killed."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one I've got."