Chapter 16 · I need information

She slammed him into the next door. Her face was close, her breath warm against his mouth, but the pistol remained between them.

"I need information," she said. "Don't confuse that with wanting you."

"I didn't."

"You looked pleased."

"You keep touching me when you're angry."

Her eyes flashed. "I can stop."

"You can try."

For one dangerous beat, her grip stayed on his collar. Then the entire bastion groaned.

A warning siren came alive overhead.

"All personnel remain inside assigned sectors," Victor's voice announced through the speakers. "External gates are closing. Unauthorized movement will be treated as hostile action."

Selena looked up. "He's starting early."

"Told you."

"Don't enjoy being right."

"I don't. I enjoy you listening."

She punched the lift control. Nothing happened.

"Power's cut," she said.

"There should be a manual release behind the panel."

"There should be a lot of things."

Kane crouched, ignoring the blood soaking his shirt, and pried open the panel with a knife. Wires hung loose inside. He found the bypass line and twisted it against the contact.

The old elevator shuddered below them.

Selena kept watch down the corridor, pistol raised. "How do you know all this?"

"I told you.