Chapter 47 · That won't stop the tower from cutting the signal

"That won't stop the tower from cutting the signal."

"It might stop anyone who tries."

Nora glanced between them. "Are you two done flirting like people who plan to die together?"

"We're not flirting," Evelyn and Lucas said together.

Nora snorted. "Sure."

The upload bar crawled forward.

Lucas leaned over Evelyn to reach the console. His chest brushed her back. Heat pressed through the thin fabric of her shirt. She caught the clean bite of his soap beneath the blood and smoke.

His mouth came close to her ear.

"Don't move."

"You first."

"I'm trying to keep you alive."

"You're standing close enough to make that difficult."

His hand paused over the controls.

For one charged second, neither of them looked at the screens.

Then Nora said, "If you two are done breathing on each other, we've got a signal."

The speakers crackled.

A woman's broken voice filled the room.

"If this reaches the tower, listen carefully. Lucas did not approve the cleansing list. He was used as the access key. The person who ordered it is—"

The audio ripped into static.

Evelyn slammed both hands onto the console. "No. Stay with me.