Chapter 19 · Mara Number Two

"You're bleeding."

Mara kicked the bell tower door shut behind her. Blood ran down her sword arm. Not hers. Thorn's.

"So are you," I said.

She looked at her sleeve. Didn't wipe it. "Where's the ledger?"

"Safe."

"That's not an answer."

"Neither is showing up covered in your deputy's blood and asking me to trust you."

Her jaw tightened. She crossed the room in three steps. I didn't back up. Couldn't. The workbench pressed into my spine.

"Thorn was going to kill Griff," she said. "Crowe got to him two loops ago. I didn't know until he tried to put a knife in my back."

"Convenient."

"Rowan."

"What?"

"Give me the ledger."

I pulled it out of my coat. Held it between us. "Tell me why I should."

She stared at the leather cover. Her hand twitched. "Because if Crowe gets it back, he wins. He'll know what we know, and he'll reset before we can stop him."

"You sold me out last time."

"What?"

"Loop eleven. You handed me over to Crowe's men at the north dock. Told them I had the proof. They cut my throat before I could open it."

Her face went white. Not shock. Recognition.