Chapter 14 · The Names in the Gas

The blast door slammed down between Gabriel and the control deck.

"Gabriel!"

His hand caught the narrowing gap. Metal crushed against his palm. Blood ran over the edge of the door and spattered the floor between us.

"The key!" he snapped. "Elena, now!"

I shoved the mine key into the emergency slot beside the frame. The lock flashed red.

"It wants both of us."

"Then stop staring and put your hand on it."

"You first."

His eyes cut to mine through the shrinking gap. Even hurt, even half-pinned, he looked like the man who could order a hundred armed men to their deaths without raising his voice.

"You think I have time to flirt?"

"You don't flirt. You threaten. There's a difference."

The door dropped another inch. His fingers slipped.

I pressed my palm to the scanner. Gabriel slammed his bloody hand over mine through the gap. Heat hit my skin. His thumb locked around the side of my wrist, hard enough to hurt.

The scanner screamed.

Then the door jerked upward.

Gabriel dragged me through first. I hit the control deck floor on my knees.