Chapter 55 · The Heir Signature

"Step away from the vault, Lucas. Your command code is dead."

The warning blasted from every speaker.

Red light washed over Lucas's face, catching the blood running from his temple. One hand stayed pressed to the vault seal. The other locked around his pistol.

"Dead doesn't mean useless," he snapped.

"It does when the city just revoked your clearance."

Lucas shoved the metal key into the slot.

The vault clicked once.

Then the lock tightened.

A second voice cut through the chamber. Female. Cold. Official.

"Senior Warden Lucas Vale, stand down. Evelyn Voss is designated a Class-One terrorist. Lethal force is authorized."

My name hit the room like another bullet.

Lucas turned toward me. His jaw clenched. "You heard that?"

"Hard to miss. Your bosses sound thrilled to kill me."

"They aren't my bosses anymore."

He said it like the words scraped his teeth on the way out.

Three defense drones dropped from the ceiling.

Their barrels snapped open.

Lucas grabbed my waist and slammed me behind the stone console. His chest hit my back.