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Then—a yell.

A shadow lunged in the wing mirror?—

The driver. Sprinting up from the blind angle by the dock wall, already grabbing the cab rail, hauling himself up.

“Leonid!”

Leo jammed his boot against his door. It burst open, fast?—

The edge caught the driver across the temple. His head snapped sideways with a sickening crunch.

He crumpled with a whimper, falling back onto the concrete.

Leo vaulted down, checked his pulse. “Still breathing.”

She nodded. “Let’s go.”

Back in the seat, he dropped the gearstick.

Crack-crack-crack!

Gunfire.

Gouging the concrete in bursts. The passenger mirror exploded into crystalline shards that rained across her lap.

Kat ducked low. “Go!”

Leo slammed the accelerator. The truck lurched forward, throwing her against the seat as they careened toward the freight gate. Her knuckles whitened against the dashboard.

They hit the gate at speed, bulldozing it open with a metallic scream.

Daylight flooded the cab, buildings merging into a blur as they rocketed down an alley. The wail of sirens echoed between buildings, the sound bouncing closer with each turn.

The stolen security badge was still clutched in her fist.

Evidence.

Proof of the unthinkable.

33

Leo navigatedthe stolen delivery van through a warren of side streets, tires hissing through puddles that shimmered with oily reflections of the dying afternoon light. He kept it deliberately erratic.

Nothing direct. Nothing trackable.

He turned into a derelict multi-story car park. Concrete pillars loomed, patchy with mildew and graffiti. He spiraled the van downward, headlights carving through the gloom.

When they reached the sub-level, he killed the engine. The sudden absence of noise pressed against his eardrums.

He released a ragged breath and sagged against the seat.

“Holy fuck,” he muttered, dragging both hands down his face. His heart finally slowed.

Beside him, Kat stared straight ahead. “This isn’t just about me, is it?” She turned to him. “I mean, I fit in somewhere, but this…” Her hand made a vague arc. “It’s bigger than I thought. Worse than I imagined.”

Leo nodded once. The puzzle pieces were sliding into place—and what they formed was horrifying. “Raptor’s tech.”

“Leveled up.” She rubbed her eyes with trembling fingertips.