Chapter 15 · Carved in Bone

"Don't move, or the contract lights up again." Evelyn shoved Nolan against the maintenance door just as another burst of gunfire chewed through the tunnel behind them.

Nolan's shoulder hit metal. His breath caught, but his eyes stayed on hers.

"You think I can move?" he asked. "My spine is still trying to kill me."

"Good. Then you won't argue."

"That's never stopped you before."

The manual lock clicked under Evelyn's bloody fingers. The door opened three inches, then stopped against something on the other side.

A body.

She heard the scrape of a boot. A muffled curse. Then the door slammed toward her.

Nolan grabbed her waist and yanked her back. The impact missed her face by an inch. Metal screamed. A white-gloved hand shoved through the gap, reaching for the lock.

"They cut us off," Nolan said.

"I noticed."

He pressed two fingers to the inside of her wrist. Heat jumped through the neural contract, sharp enough to make her knees dip.

"Evelyn. Your brother's signal is still live."

"Mika's signal?"

"The one the Authority planted in your comm unit. It is broadcasting both of us."

Another shot punched through the door.