Chapter 21 · What did you say?

I spun toward Mira. "What did you say?"

"You heard me."

"Get them out."

"That’s what I’m doing."

"And me?"

Mira’s face tightened. "You’re not on the passenger list anymore."

A Crown siren rose beyond the market wall. Red light strobed across the stalls. Three black skimmers dropped between the towers, their engines bending the air around them.

Kade stepped out from behind the drums, weapon raised.

"They’re closing the gate," he said. "Mira, drive."

"Evelyn stays."

"I know."

I looked from one of them to the other. "You both made that decision without me?"

Kade fired at the nearest skimmer. The shot punched through its lower engine. It spun into a stack of cargo crates, scattering metal and sparks.

"You’re welcome to complain after we survive," he said.

"I’m going with the truck."

He crossed the space between us in three strides. His hand caught the back of my neck, not rough, but firm enough to hold me in place.

"No, you’re not."

"Take your hand off me before I break it."

"You can try."

He leaned in. Too close again.