Chapter 14 · The Thirteenth Memory

"Give me the key."

Eli's hand clamped around my wrist before I could touch the neural key at my throat. His other hand knocked my pistol down and trapped it between us.

"Get off me."

"No."

His voice was low. Final.

His torn shirt brushed my shoulder. Heat leaked through the fabric. The vault door pressed against his back, leaving me nowhere to go but into him. Every time he spoke, his breath touched my cheek.

I twisted hard. "You don't get to say no anymore."

"You're bleeding."

"You shot at me five minutes ago."

"I shot past you."

"You still missed."

His fingers tightened around my wrist. Not enough to break skin. Just enough to remind me who had the advantage.

Behind him, the vault panel blinked red. Black memory drives covered the wall from floor to ceiling. Numbers ran down their labels.

Twelve through twenty-four.

Thirteen sat in the center.

My number.

Eli glanced over his shoulder.

That tiny movement told me everything.

He knew what was inside.

"You came here to destroy them," I said.

"Move away from the panel."

"You came here to erase me."

His jaw tightened. "Mara."

"Say it.