Chapter 28 · Traceless - Chapter 28: Three-Way Trap

The pod door sealed behind Evan with a hydraulic hiss that made my stomach drop. He didn't rush in. Didn't shout orders. Just stood there in his tactical gear like he had all the time in the world, one hand resting on the stunner at his hip.

"Step away from the pod," he said. Calm. Too calm. Like he was asking me to pass the salt.

Cole moved in front of me. Not obvious. Just a half-step that put his shoulder between Evan's line of sight and my body. His hand stayed loose at his side, but I could see the tension in his jaw.

"You're not taking her," Cole said.

Evan's mouth twitched. Not quite a smile. "I'm not here for her. I'm here for that." He nodded toward the pod where Mara was pressed against the glass, her pale eyes tracking every person in the room. "The anchor. The one HQ's been looking for since the fire."

"She's not an anchor," I said. My voice came out steadier than I felt. "She's a person. She has a name."

"Had a name." Evan took two steps closer. The enforcers behind him fanned out, blocking the only exit. "Mara Grey.