Chapter 17 · The Heartbeat Charge

"Are you out of your damn mind?"

The vehicle swerved around a collapsed ward pillar. Carson's shoulder slammed into mine, and his hand left the wheel just long enough to catch my waist before I hit the door.

His palm burned through my coat.

"Don't," I whispered.

"You were falling."

"You keep finding reasons to put your hands on me."

His thumb pressed once against my side. His eyes dropped to his hand, then lifted to mine.

"You keep giving me reasons to catch you."

I shoved him away. "Drive."

"You say that like I wasn't already trying."

The black transport appeared ahead, fishtailing across the broken road. A red light blinked beneath its rear frame.

Carson's jaw tightened. "That's not a tracking beacon."

"What is it?"

"A charge."

He slammed the accelerator down.

"You said this was a trap," I snapped. "You didn't say there was a bomb."

"I didn't know."

"You always know. That's your favorite lie."

"Ivy—"

"Don't use my name like that. It doesn't make you honest.