Chapter 21 · The File

"Where's the file?" I shouted over the roar of the fire.

"Vault Three!"

A cabinet crashed behind us. Metal shrieked across the floor, crushing the path we'd taken seconds ago. Flames raced through the scattered papers, swallowing names, dates, and every secret someone had buried in this place.

Lucas grabbed my hand and pulled me through the smoke.

"You know that because?" I coughed.

"Because my sister found it."

My boot caught on a fallen drawer. I stumbled hard enough to wrench his arm.

"Your sister was here?"

"Keep moving."

"Lucas. Your sister was here?"

He didn't slow down. "She was looking for the same thing you are."

"The records on my family?"

"The records on what they did to you."

The words hit harder than the heat.

"You knew?"

"I knew enough to get you out."

"You chained me to a contract!"

"To keep Harrow from taking you."

"You still put your name on it."

"And you're still alive."

I ripped my hand out of his. "Don't act like that makes everything fine."

Lucas spun on me. Smoke curled between us. His face was streaked with ash, blood darkening the collar of his shirt.

"I don't," he said.