Chapter 12 · Gate Standoff

"Don't you fucking move."

Iris's rifle is up before the gate lights even finish sweeping us. "One more step, Maya, and I do it for them."

I freeze. One boot is hovering over the white line. Beside me, Kade’s hand locks around my wrist. He doesn't just hold me—he crushes. I can feel my bones grinding.

"Let go," I hiss. I don't even look at him.

"No." His voice is a low vibration right against my ear. His breath is hot on my neck, smelling of adrenaline and old coffee. "You don't walk to her. She walks to us."

"She's got the code, Kade," I snap. "You want to stand here and debate while we're in a killbox?"

Iris takes two steps forward. The floodlights hit her, exposing the sweat on her forehead and the tremor in her trigger finger. She doesn't look like a commander. She looks guilty.

"Maya Reeves," she says. Her voice cracks. "You shouldn't have come."

"Yeah? Well, you burned my mom's letter." I stare her down. "So here I am. In person. You want to apologize? Do it without the gun."

Her mouth twitches. "You think this is about sorry?"

"I think you owe her."