Chapter 62 · What Does That Mean?

"What does that mean?"

Lucas turned on her, gun still locked in his hand.

Evelyn didn't flinch. "Ask your father."

"Evelyn."

"You're the one demanding the truth, right?" She lifted her bloodied thumb. Red emergency light dragged across her face. "Then stop asking me to wait while he controls the room."

Lucas looked from her to Vale.

Beneath their feet, the countdown pulsed through the tower.

00:02:11.

Vale lifted his chin. "Step away from the console."

Lucas gave a sharp laugh. "You don't get to order me around anymore."

"I'm still your commander."

"Not for much longer."

"I'm still your father."

Lucas's jaw tightened. "And I'm still the man holding the gun."

For the first time, Vale's control cracked. His face went white with fury.

"You have no idea what you're about to unleash."

"Then explain it."

"Destroy that console and the command net dies. The districts open. The containment locks fail. Every enemy we've spent twenty years holding back walks straight into the city."

"You mean every person you locked away."

"I mean monsters."

"You called her one, too."

Vale's eyes slid toward Evelyn. "She isn't what you think."

"Funny," Evelyn said.