Chapter 49 · The Last Order

"I kept this city alive."

"You murdered civilians and called it containment."

Commander Vale stepped through the tower doors with his pistol aimed at Lucas's chest.

I backed into the console. Blood and sweat slicked my fingers. Behind me, the broadcast rig blinked red, waiting for Nora to send Mara's testimony across Rookhaven.

One wrong move, and the whole tower would hear us before we got a word out.

Vale's eyes stayed on Lucas. "You know what happens if that recording goes live? Every district tears itself apart. The wardens lose control. The gates open. The people you claim to protect start hunting each other."

"Then let them hear why they're angry," I said.

His gun shifted an inch toward me.

Lucas moved with it. "Don't."

"You can't cover all of them," Vale said.

"Try me."

Vale's mouth pulled tight. "You were always weak where women were concerned. Your mother. Your sister. Now her."

Lucas flinched.

Tiny. Just a twitch beside his eye. A breath cut short.

I saw it.

"Leave Mara out of this," Lucas said.

"Mara found the files." Vale's stare pinned me to the console. "She knew what the Voss family had done.