Chapter 20 · The Fake Beat

"Stop lying to me, Mara. Just once, try it," Kane spat, his voice raw. He had her pinned against the rusted bulkhead of the safehouse, his forearm pressing into her collarbone. Not enough to choke her, but enough to let her know exactly who owned the space between them.

Mara didn't flinch. She leaned into the pressure, her eyes locked on his. "What part? The part where I hate your guts, or the part where I’m the only reason your heart is still beating?"

Kane’s grip tightened. His chest was heaving, and she could feel the unnatural thrum of his engineered heart vibrating through his ribs—a heavy, metallic rhythm that didn't belong in a human body. It was out of sync. It was failing.

"You're a runner for the underground. You steal from the company. You're a thief," he hissed, his face inches from hers. His breath smelled like bitter coffee and adrenaline. "Why the hell are you helping me?"

"Because your mother is a monster, and I’ve spent my whole life fighting monsters," Mara snapped. She reached up, her fingers brushing the collar of his tactical jacket. She felt him shiver.