Chapter 31 · The Signal Capsule

"You’ve got three minutes before they cut this car open." Captain Rusk shoved the execution order against my chest. "Hand over the case, Mara. Or your husband goes to the firing line first."

Dorian’s bound hands jerked against the restraint bar. Metal bit into his wrists, but he didn’t look down.

He looked at me.

"Don’t give him anything," he said.

I held up the order between us. My signature stared back from the bottom of the page.

Same hard slant. Same ugly hook under the Q.

"You already gave them everything," I snapped. "Your name. Your command. Your death order."

His jaw tightened. "That isn’t my order."

"It has your seal."

"And your signature."

"I noticed."

Boots thundered across the roof.

The train car shuddered as the lockdown slammed into place. Metal bars crashed over the doors. Somewhere behind us, a soldier shouted at the engine crew to surrender control.

Rusk tapped the order with one gloved finger. "The search team won’t ask twice."

"Then tell them to wait."

His mouth thinned. "You don’t give orders here."

"I do when the man you’re trying to execute is my legal husband.