Chapter 15 · The Man Who Begged to Die

"Don't even breathe, Mara. Twitch, and I'll paint this floor with your brains."

The muzzle of the gun was a cold, hard circle digging into the small of my back. Right where my spine met my hip. I froze. My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird.

Ten feet away, Dax was a statue of coiled tension. His eyes were locked on Nessa. The vault was a tomb of polished steel and bad memories, and the air tasted like ozone and failure.

"Put the gun down," Dax snapped. It wasn't a request. It was the low growl that usually preceded a broken jaw. "Nessa. Open the doors. Now."

Nessa didn't even look at him. She leaned against the control panel, arms crossed, wearing a smugness that made me want to scream. "Why would I, Dax? The Auction House pays way better than your sense of honor. Besides, the show's just getting started. I want to see which one of you breaks first."

"I'm not breaking," I spat. My voice trembled, but I shifted my weight, testing the double's grip. "Who are you?