Chapter 75 · Six Minutes

"Let go of me, Lucas. I can walk."

"Then walk faster."

His fingers locked around my wrist as the tower shook. Metal shrieked below us. The floor bucked, sending my shoulder toward the wall.

Lucas caught me before my skull hit steel.

His palm stayed against my back for half a second too long.

Then he shoved me forward.

"The shield drops in six minutes," he said. "Reach the core before that, or the whole east district loses protection."

"And if I reach it?"

"You upload Nora's testimony."

"You mean I do the part your command wants me dead for."

His jaw tightened. "I mean you keep breathing."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one you're getting while the ceiling's trying to kill us. Move."

I jerked against his grip. "Drag me one more step, and I'm charging you."

"Put it on my account."

"Your account's already packed with murder, kidnapping, and terrible leadership."

"You're still talking."

"You sound disappointed."

A red strip of light snapped across the corridor ahead.

The security grid had split open, leaving a bright, crackling gap between us and the core elevator.

Lucas yanked me back so fast my spine slammed into his chest.