Chapter 24 · Dead Man's Deal

"You remember me, don't you, Zero?" The man's hand was already around Kane's throat and slamming him into the brick.

Kane's boots left the ground. Air cut off. His vision sparked.

"Get your hands off him!" Lyra shouted.

The man didn't even look at her. He stared into Kane's face like he was checking a serial number. Same jaw. Same scar under the left eye. Like looking in a cracked mirror.

"No," Kane choked out. "I don't — I don't know you."

"Sure you do." The man smiled. It was worse than if he'd snarled. "I'm the one who taught you how to kill without blinking. I'm the one who pulled you out of the tank the first time you woke up screaming."

Lyra had her pistol up. Both hands. Shaking, but aimed dead center.

"I said let him go," she snapped. "Now."

The man finally glanced at her. Slow. Dismissive.

"Lyra Kade. Rogue tech. Warrant still active. Empire wants you alive, you know. Barely." He tilted his head. "Put that toy down before you hurt yourself."

"Try me," she said.

"Lyra — don't," Kane rasped. His hands clawed at the grip on his throat. The skin there was hot.