Chapter 28 · Warm Lies, Cold Steel

"Tell me why your access key opened Victor's vault." I pressed the blade under Jaxon's jaw before he could turn.

He stopped with one hand still on the vault panel. The other hovered near the weapon strapped to his thigh. A thin line of blood slipped down his neck and disappeared beneath his collar.

"Because I stole it," he said.

"Try again."

"That was the short version."

I pushed harder. Cold steel met warm skin. His pulse jumped against the edge.

"You brought me here," I said. "You knew this place was waiting for us. You knew the cameras were blind, the guards were gone, and the vault would recognize you. So tell me the part you left out."

Jaxon looked at me through the reflection in the black panel. His face was close enough that I could see the tiny cut above his eyebrow from the last fight. His breathing stayed even. Too even.

"You want the truth?"

"I want the version that keeps you alive."

"Then put the knife down."

"No."

His mouth pulled tight. "You rebooted my system three hours ago. You burned half my command pathways and left me with a security lock in my spine.