Chapter 30 · I'm asking now

"I'm asking now."

"Get inside first."

The guard dragged himself upright. His broken hand hung at an ugly angle against his chest.

"You think you can walk away?" he said. "The lift ward recorded your core. Every floor above Twelve will know you're coming."

"Then they can prepare."

"You're marked."

"So are you."

He raised his good hand and pointed at the dealer. "That man sold you a stolen face. He'll hang for it."

The dealer stepped behind me.

His shoulder brushed mine.

The contact was brief, but I felt the tension in him. His breath touched the back of my neck through the collar of my coat.

"You're not leaving me here," he murmured.

"I might."

"You need me."

"I need your knowledge. That's different."

"Call it whatever you want. If I stay, I tell them where you came from."

"You don't know where I came from."

"I know enough."

I turned my head.

His face was inches from mine.

The mask gave me another man's features, but he was looking at my eyes. He had started doing that more often. Like he could see through the false skin if he stared long enough.

"Threatening me now?" I asked.