Chapter 22 · Your Mom Left a Door

Ghost stared at Rona's palm like it was a live grenade.

The blood was already crusting over, dark red turning rust-brown in the warehouse light. Rona flexed her fingers. The cut pulled. She didn't care. Dax's speed was still humming under her skin, fading slow.

"Where'd you learn that," Ghost said. Not a question. Her voice had gone flat.

Rona wiped her hand on her pants. "Learn what."

"Don't play dumb." Ghost's jaw worked. "That mark. That's a live bond. Your father tell you how to do that?"

"My father doesn't tell me anything." Rona stepped closer. "You want to stand here and stare, or you want to show me what you were talking about. The proof."

Ghost didn't move. Her eyes stayed locked on Rona's palm. "Your mom used to do that. Exactly that. Cut her own hand when she needed something fast."

Rona's stomach dropped. She forced her voice steady. "Then she taught me something useful. Now move."

Ghost finally looked up. Something shifted behind her eyes. Fear, maybe. Or calculation. "Yeah. Okay. But if we're doing this, you stay close and you do what I say. Your dad's people are still out there."

"Then stop wasting time."