Chapter 16 · They know who I am

"They know who I am."

"Do they know what you did?"

Kade's gaze stayed on the recorder. "Not anymore."

"What does that mean?"

"My memories were wiped."

"You told me you didn't remember. You didn't tell me the Crown did it."

"I didn't know until today."

"And now you do?"

"Now I know someone paid to erase me."

The Crown voice came again. "Evelyn Sable, kneel and place both hands on the floor. Your brother is waiting for you. One wrong move, and he loses another finger."

Evelyn's breath caught.

Kade moved in front of her. "Don't listen."

"They have him."

"They have a recording."

"You don't know that."

"I know Crown procedure. They use family voices to break targets."

"You expect me to gamble my brother's life on your guess?"

"I expect you to gamble on me."

She stared at him. "That is the stupidest thing you've said all day."

"You have better options?"

"Yes."

"Name one."

She grabbed the recorder from the floor and shoved it into his chest. "You open the path. I get the message. If there's a trap, you take it first."

Kade looked at the recorder in his hand.