Chapter 27 · Override Protocol

"Vera, put the gun down." Kane’s hand closed around my throat before I could squeeze the trigger.

My back hit the vault wall. The pistol jammed between us, useless and shaking in my grip. Kane’s face was inches from mine, his jaw locked, his pupils burning with that cold blue interface light.

"Get your hand off me."

"You’re aiming at my heart. I’m making a reasonable request."

"You tore through three security teams to get here. Reasonable left the building hours ago."

His fingers tightened.

Not enough to crush. Enough to remind me he could.

The neural link flashed across my vision.

[DUAL SYNAPSE LINK: UNSTABLE] [HOSTILE OVERRIDE DETECTED] [COMMAND SOURCE: KANE CROSS] [FAILURE RESULT: CERVICAL TERMINATION]

My lungs hitched. Kane felt it through the link. His eyes narrowed.

"You can see the command, can’t you?" he asked.

"I can see your name on it."

"That isn’t my command."

"Funny. It sounds exactly like you."

I drove my knee up.

Kane twisted before it landed. My leg slammed against his thigh, and his shoulder pinned my arm to the wall.