Chapter 16 · The Firewall

"Don't you fucking move, Maya Reeves."

The red dot settles right between my eyes. Vance’s rifle doesn't shake. Not a millimeter. He’s a statue with a trigger finger.

"Wrong girl," I say. My voice cracks. I hate it. "You want the lab rat, not me."

"I want the bloodline," Vance says. He doesn't even glance at Kade. Like Kade is just a piece of furniture. "Step away from her, Mercer. You were supposed to bring her to me clean."

Kade doesn't step away. He steps in.

His shoulder slams into my chest, shoving me hard against the rusted side door. He becomes a wall of muscle and tactical gear between me and that muzzle.

"You don't get to call the shots anymore, sir," Kade says. His voice is low. Flat. Dangerous. "You lost that right when you left them to die."

Vance smiles. It’s worse than if he’d screamed. "Still playing hero for ghosts? Your mother would be so proud. Oh wait. Maya's mother. Same difference now, right?"

Behind us, Nox is losing it. He’s yanking the side door handle with both hands. Metal screams. Rust flakes off in chunks.

"It's stuck! It's fucking stuck!" Nox shouts.