Chapter 32 · The original code doesn’t read the ink

He dropped to one knee beside the seat. I crouched with him, our shoulders jammed together while soldiers pounded on the sealed door.

"The original code doesn’t read the ink," he said. "It reads the hand."

"That’s not what you told me before."

"Before, I didn’t know what they wanted you to see."

"You always have an answer after the gun comes out."

His eyes hardened. "And you always accuse me after I put myself in front of it."

"You put yourself there because you need me alive."

"I need you alive because you’re my wife."

The words stopped me cold.

His face tightened the second he heard them. Not regret. Something rougher. Something he tried to bury under anger.

I lowered my voice. "That contract is the only reason your men haven’t dragged you away."

"It’s also the only reason I’m still standing beside you."

"You could’ve fought."

"And let them shoot you?"

"Maybe you should have."

His fingers closed around mine before I could pull away.

The cuffs forced his wrists together, but his grip still had enough strength to make my bones ache.