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"Fran, it’s not Peri’s fault!" Silas shouted as he was shoved to the elevator

A security ed her to the carpeted stairs A frustrated anger was spilling through her, but she wasn’t ready to act She’d been ready to put herself at the alliance’sback to Opti wasn’t an option, but neither was the alliance

"It is over, Silas," Fran said as the elevator filled with Howard, Taf, Silas, and the bulk of the security "Either she just gave us to Opti, or they’re using her without her knowledge and will continue to do so within the alliance’s shadow Either way, she needs to be ended"

"I won’t ued with Fran as the doors slid shut to leave the tech guy panicking over his equipment

"Downstairs!" Brian demanded, his nice white shirt bloodied by his nose, his Glock pulled and pointing at her Peri turned, catching herself against the railing when he shoved her

The thu of the helicopters was a heavy pulse she could feel through the walls Tension pulled like a ribbon through her, shredding heron a new clarity with each step She was not going to an Opti cell, and she was not going to stay and be lobotouards and one of her Doable--even if she was cuffed

"Keep going!" Brian said "All the way to the garage," he added, shoving her a third tiht herself with a little hop Pissed, she put her back to the wall, staring at the twoup fro Opti had the house She had to get out of here Not without Silas

"Brian, push us," she said, inviting hi back into the wall, Peri kicked up and out Brian screa over to put his head conveniently within her reach Cuffed hands clenched around themselves, she slammed them down on the back of his head

"Hands up!" the firstdown the stairs in a pinwheel of arun went off, and plaster flaked down

Jaw clenched, Peri dropped to Brian, her cuffed hands searching for the key "Thank you," she sang outhis weapon before leaving hi on the second-floor landing "Now, aren’t you glad you weren’t shovingand took his weapon, too

"Don’t leavepain as another flurry of gunfire rang out It sounded like a war down there, and Peri watched through a narro as another of those big helicopters landed, its blades assaulting the air to make it beat like a heart about to explode Twelve people in assault gear got out and ran to the nearby barn

Frohter, you sons of bitches!" Fran screamed, and Peri went cold