Chapter 71 · The Sister on Every Screen

"Get down!"

Lucas hit me before I could turn.

The gunshot cracked past my ear. His body slammed into mine, driving my back against the metal panel. For one stupid second, all I felt was his heat, his breath breaking against my neck, the hard length of him trapping me there.

Then blood slipped between my fingers.

"Lucas."

"I'm fine."

"You're bleeding."

"I've had worse. Move."

He shoved me aside and fired.

The deputy ducked behind Nora, dragging her down with him. Lucas's bullet struck the tower rail and burst into sparks.

I stared at the red spreading beneath his hand. "You took that for me."

"Don't flatter yourself." He pressed harder against his ribs. "I was aiming at him."

"You stepped in front of the gun."

"Evelyn, move!"

The console shrieked.

00:00:58.

Every screen in the tower flashed white. Then the same warning filled them all.

PURGE SEQUENCE ARMED.

Nora kicked backward and caught the deputy's knee. He swore. She twisted free, drove her elbow into his throat, and sprinted for the console.

Lucas caught her arm and hauled her behind it.

"The tower's wiping the protected archive," Nora said. "Top-clearance files first."

"Can you stop it?" I asked.