Chapter 28 · The Box Won’t Open

"Give me the last four digits, Rhea, or the vault takes the air with you."

The voice came through the ceiling speaker, flat and close. The words seemed to press against my skin.

I locked both arms around the evidence box. Its metal edge dug into my ribs through my shirt.

Knox caught my wrist before I could reach for the keypad again. His fingers were hot. Mine were slick with solvent and sweat.

"Let go."

"Stop typing."

"You don't get to order me around after admitting you caused the fire."

His jaw tightened. "I admitted it wasn't an accident. I didn't say I started it."

"Same confession. Better wording."

The red warning strip under the vault door stayed dark, but the timer above the keypad kept falling.

47:18:06.

A click came from inside the wall. Not the lock. Something deeper. A relay waking up.

Knox pulled me away from the keypad and put my back against the vault door. Wet steel pressed through my clothes. His shoulder braced beside my head, blocking the room and most of the cold air.

Then his scent hit me—leather, smoke, and sharp clean heat.

My breath caught.

His eyes dropped to my mouth.