Chapter 18 · Three-Way Firefight

"Put that fucking gun down, Maya!"

Iris's rifle snapped up, locking onto my chest before the smoke even cleared. Her finger was white-knuckled on the trigger. Shaking.

I didn't budge. I swung my own barrel up and pressed it right against her forehead.

"You first," I spat. "Move that thing one inch and I'll paint the wall with your brains."

Kade slammed into me from the side. Not a hit, but a shove, his hand gripping my wrist to force my aim down.

"Maya, don't," he hissed. His breath was hot against my ear. Too close. His chest pressed hard into my shoulder, his other hand clutching my jacket to yank me back. "She's not the target. Put it down."

"Get off me!" I jerked away, but his fingers dug in. "She knows! She knows what happened to my mom and she's been lying to my face!"

"And she'll keep lying if you give her a reason to shoot you!" Kade snapped. His eyes flicked to Iris, then back to me. "Think!"

Behind Iris, the second figure moved. Tall. Federal blacks. He looked clean, while the rest of us were coated in ash. He didn't even have his gun drawn.