Chapter 14 · Neon Trade-Off

"One more step and I’ll fry your nervous system before you can even blink," Lilith snapped. She didn't move her gun, but the muzzle was still locked onto the bridge of my nose.

I leaned back against the cold metal of the operating table, my arm still flickering—half-flesh, half-digital static. It felt like a thousand needles were stitching my skin to the air. "You’re not going to do that," I rasped. "Because if I crash, the Reaper Plugin goes with me. You’ll have nothing to sell to the Board."

Lilith’s eyes narrowed. She stepped closer, the scent of expensive ozone and gunpowder clinging to her. She pressed the barrel harder against my skin, forcing my head back. "You think you're a bargaining chip, Kai? You're a glitch. A mistake in the code. I can find another ghost if I have to."

"Liar," I spat. I could feel her breath on my cheek, warm and steady, while mine was coming in jagged rips. "You need *this* specific version. The one that can see the death-lines. Admit it. You’re terrified of going back to the Board empty-handed."

She didn't flinch.