Chapter 54 · You could've warned me

He tore one boot free of the field and pulled her with him. The force nearly threw her into the open kill zone.

Cain caught her around the waist.

Her back hit his chest. His arm locked across her middle, hard enough to hold her, not hard enough to hurt. Her hands closed around his forearm.

"You could've warned me," she gasped.

"You said now."

"I hate you."

"You keep saying that."

"Because you keep giving me reasons."

"Your heart's beating faster."

She twisted in his grip. "Don't you dare."

His mouth was close to her ear. "I'm not the one who put it there."

For one sharp second, neither of them moved.

Then she slapped his arm away and pointed at the wall. "Panel. Move."

"Stay close."

"That's not an order you get to give."

"It's not a request."

"Bossy bastard."

"Alive bastard."

They ran.

Rifles cracked overhead. Cain shoved Lila behind a support column and took the impact of a round against his shoulder. The bullet flattened, but the force spun him sideways.

"Cain!"

"Panel!"

Lila sprinted the last few feet.