Chapter 19 · You used me as a distraction

He shifted his hand, and the lock behind me clicked.

I glanced over his shoulder.

The security panel had opened.

"You used me as a distraction."

"It worked."

"You're welcome."

He let go of my jacket but kept hold of my hand. I should have pulled away. Instead, I let him drag me through the narrow door.

Not because I wanted his fingers around mine.

Because the instant we crossed the threshold, the contract tugged at my ribs. If I moved too fast, the bond punished me. If I moved too far, it punished him. The rules were simple.

Kane had written them.

I hadn't forgotten.

The archive level sat below the public Bureau floors. No cameras. No guards. No glowing mission boards for the press. Just concrete walls, black servers, and a row of sealed terminals.

Kane shut the door behind us.

A red light came on over the handle.

"Locked," I said.

"For six minutes."

"And after six minutes?"

"We leave."

"You mean we run."

"If you want to call it that."

He led me to the central terminal. The screen woke when he placed his palm against the scanner.

ACCESS DENIED.

I laughed.

Kane looked at me.