Page 103 of Lock

Wraith stood near the counter, his hands braced flat against it like he was holding himself in place by sheer will. His jaw was locked tight enough I could hear his teeth grinding

“What happened,” I said.

Ember opened her mouth.

Wraith spoke first.

“She was coming back from an appointment,” he said. “Just past the second tree line. Two bikes came out of nowhere. Boxed her in.”

My vision narrowed.

“They forced her off the road,” he continued, his voice deadly calm. “One clipped her back tire. Other one pulled up alongside. Tried to get the door.”

“They tried to take you?” I asked.

Ember nodded once. “I hit the gas. Then I hit a ditch.”

Wraith’s hands curled into fists.

“They didn’t expect resistance,” he said. “And they didn’t know we had prospects further out now.”

“They say anything?” I asked.

Ember’s mouth tightened. “Tell the Prez he’s running out of time.’”

The room went very still.

Wraith pushed off the counter then. Slowly. The way a man moved when he was holding on by sheer force of will.

“This is done,” he said.

I didn’t answer.

“No more back-and-forth,” Wraith continued. “No more waiting. No more time.”

“Wraith—” Grim started.

Wraith cut him a look sharp enough to shut him up mid-word.

“They crossed inside our perimeter,” he said. “They put hands on her. Tried to take her. They’re not clearly not holding up their end.”

I met his eyes.

“How would you feel,” Wraith said pointedly.

That landed exactly where it was meant to.

I looked back at her. “You okay?”

She nodded.

I stepped closer and lowered my voice. “You did good.”

Her mouth pressed into a thin line. “They fucked with the wrong one.”

I straightened and turned back to Wraith.

“Rowan has proved he can’t be trusted. He’s not playing by the rules, so why should we?”