Chapter 48 · The Wife He Claimed

"Arrest her before she reaches the vault."

Oscar Venn pointed at me like the verdict was already written. His council badge flashed against his black coat, catching every eye in the hearing chamber.

Two wardens moved in.

I backed into the long table. Cold metal dug into my spine. "For what? Breaking a law you won't name?"

"Tampering with a city disaster line," Oscar said. "Stealing bureau property. Conspiring with the warden."

"You forgot the part where you forged the echo that caused all three disasters."

The chamber exploded.

Oscar's mouth tightened. "Careful, Evelyn. Your family already lost its license because of your accusations."

"My family lost it because someone buried the rescue logs." I jerked my chin at him. "You know that. I know that. And the people you nearly killed know that."

A warden grabbed my arm.

Kane moved before I could tear free.

His hand locked around the man's wrist. Not hard enough to break it. Just hard enough to drain the color from the warden's face.

"Take your hand off my wife," Kane said.

The chamber went dead quiet.

I stared at him. "Excuse me?"

Kane didn't look at me.