Chapter 14 · Smile For The Glass

"It's not turning." My knuckles went white on the wheel valve, and it still wouldn't give. Torin's hands closed over mine, and for one second the only heat in that concrete stairwell was his palm pressed flat against my skin, his pulse ticking against my wrist.

"Together," he said. "On three."

We pulled. The wheel groaned, spat rust flakes onto my boots, and held. Locked. Bolted from the inside, like something wanted us stuck out here listening to the pump hum through six inches of steel.

Halloran hadn't moved from the landing. He had a folder against his chest like a shield, watching us fight a door instead of helping us fight it.

"You gonna stand there," I said, "or you gonna earn that per diem?"

"I don't have the override code." Halloran didn't blink. "Building services does. I've called them."

"Call them faster." Torin didn't look up from the valve. His forearms were corded, veins standing under the sleeve he'd shoved to the elbow, and I could smell him —