Chapter 25 · The Death Time

"You're bleeding."

Cade didn't answer. He leaned against the rust-streaked wall, one hand pressed to his ribs, the other still holding the gun. His jacket was dark with something wet.

"How bad?" I said.

"Bad enough." His voice came out thin. "How far?"

I checked the phone. The signal pulsed three blocks west, deep in the industrial zone where the old server farms used to run before the city sold them off. Nix had gone quiet ten minutes ago. The screen just showed the blinking dot and a countdown I didn't understand.

"Three blocks," I said. "Can you walk?"

"Can you carry me if I can't?"

"No."

"Then I can walk." He pushed off the wall and nearly went down. I caught his arm. He was heavier than he looked, all that lean muscle suddenly dead weight against my shoulder.

"You're gonna get us both killed," I said.

"Not both." He straightened, shook me off. "Just me."

I stared at him. Blood was dripping off his knuckles now, pattering on the cracked asphalt. "What the hell does that mean?"

"It means you don't die this time." He started walking. Each step looked like it cost him. "Not on my watch."