Chapter 46 · Bait

"Put the kid down, Reid." Mira's voice cut through the loading bay speakers. "Slowly. Or every gun in this room fires at him first."

Leo's small body jerked against Reid's arm. A black restraint band locked around the boy's chest, pinning his arms to his sides. Three red lights blinked on the band. Each blink matched the pulse of the charge building under it.

Reid kept one hand against Leo's shoulder and the other raised. He stood between the boy and six armored officers, though half of them had rifles aimed at his head.

Mira stepped out from behind a stack of shipping crates.

Her silver coat was torn at the sleeve. A thin line of blood ran from her temple to her jaw. The light built into her gloves flickered, bright enough to turn the dust around her into sparks.

Reid looked at the blood, then at the collar around Leo.

"You put that on him?"

"I stopped it from killing him."

"You put it on him."

Mira's mouth tightened. "I had three seconds. Pick your next words carefully."

Leo tried to twist toward Reid. "Don't let them take me."

"I won't."

"You already did," Mira said.