Chapter 25 · Eyes of the Code

“Take your hand off the console, Kai.”

Lilith’s voice came from behind me. Close enough that her breath brushed the side of my neck.

I kept my fingers on the glowing interface. “You say that like I’m going to listen.”

The blade touched my throat.

Not hard. Not yet. Just enough steel to make my skin remember what happened the last time I ignored her.

“Try me.”

“You’ll cut me before I finish the upgrade.”

“I’ll cut you if you finish it.”

The screen flashed red.

[REAPER PLUGIN: UNSAFE ACCESS] [HOST VITALS: 41%] [DEATH WINDOW: 00:02:17]

My jaw tightened. “You have two minutes before my nervous system starts shutting down.”

“Then work faster.”

“I need both hands.”

“You need to stop pretending you’re the only person in this room who understands what’s happening.”

I glanced at her reflection in the black edge of the console. Lilith stood behind me in a fitted combat jacket, one hand locked around the knife, the other resting near the pistol at her hip. Her dark hair was pulled back. No loose strands. No wasted movement.

She looked calm.

That was the problem.

The vault alarms had died three minutes ago.