Chapter 13 · The Tracker Under Her Skin

The hallway smells like burnt hair and copper. I'm running before I even register Mara's scream echoing behind me. My legs are shaking. The baby kicks once, hard, like she knows.

The contract mark on my forearm is gone. Just smooth skin where the black lines used to curl. But there's something else now. A heat. Low in my belly. Not the baby. Deeper.

I hit the stairwell door with my shoulder and nearly go down. My hand catches the railing. Cold metal. I can hear boots on the floor above. Heavy. Multiple sets.

They're already here.

I take the stairs two at a time going down. My ribs ache. My breath comes in short pulls. The heat in my abdomen spreads. It's not pain exactly. More like something waking up. Something that was sleeping and doesn't want to be.

Three flights down I see him.

Cole's at the landing, back against the wall, eyes scanning up. There's blood on his knuckles. When he sees me he moves fast. He grabs my arm and pulls me into the corner under the stairs. His hand comes up. Two fingers pointed down. Then a fist.

Stay low. Don't move.

I nod.