Chapter 70 · The Shot Meant for Me

"Step away from her, Warden."

The deputy's pistol stayed pressed to Nora's temple.

Lucas stood between us, blood running from the cut above his eyebrow. His command coat hung loose from one shoulder, and his hand locked around the gun he'd taken from a fallen guard.

Nora's face had gone white. "Lucas, don't do anything stupid."

"Like obeying my father?" He didn't take his eyes off the deputy. "I've tried that. It got half the Lower District arrested."

The deputy's mouth tightened. "You voided a direct order. You opened the city feed without clearance. You protected a terrorist and an illegal witness. Put the weapon down."

"You forgot one." Lucas shifted, blocking more of Nora's body with his own. "I exposed your murder files."

Behind him, the tower console flashed red. The emergency feed had broken through, but the screen kept jumping between city cameras and blocks of corrupted data.

A countdown appeared in the corner.

00:02:41.

My stomach dropped. "Lucas."

His eyes cut toward me.

That was all the deputy needed.

"Don't look away," he snapped. "You know what happens when Command loses control."

"Yeah." I stepped toward the console. "They kill witnesses and call it public safety.