Chapter 26 · You picked a bad day to threaten my family

Lila's hand shook once. She hid it by pressing the weapon into Venn's coat.

"You picked a bad day to threaten my family," she said.

"I picked no day. You did."

The nearest shutter dropped another foot. Beyond it, boots pounded against the metal stairs.

Cain reached past Lila and caught the back of her neck. His palm covered almost her entire nape. He pulled her close enough that his mouth brushed her ear when he spoke.

"We have forty seconds."

His breath was hot against her skin. His chest touched her shoulder blade. The contact should have made her angry. Instead, her pulse kicked so hard she was sure he felt it.

"Don't use that voice on me," she muttered.

"What voice?"

"The one that makes everything sound like an order."

"You follow them."

"I follow the useful ones."

His thumb moved once against her neck. Not a caress. A check. Making sure she was still there.

Lila turned her face toward him. Their noses nearly touched.

"If you get me killed in here," she said, "I'll come back and haunt you."

"You'd be loud."

"You'd miss it."

For a beat, Cain didn't answer.