Page 86 of Peak’s Code

Maeve looked at the countdown flashing across the nearest screen.

04:47

“Wren, that doesn’t give us much time.”

“I know,” Wren said.

“You just said you repurposed the fire suppression system,” Maeve said.

“I did,” Wren admitted.

“What exactly happens when that clock reaches zero?” Maeve asked.

Wren grabbed her arm. “You really don't want to be here to find out.” That was enough for Maeve. The server room doors had unlocked when Wren triggered the purge, but the corridor beyond them looked nothing like it had when Maeve entered. Red emergency lights flashed overhead. Smoke drifted through the hallway. Somewhere deeper inside the facility, an alarm screamed continuously. Maeve kept one hand wrapped around Wren’s wrist. She’d spent eighteen months searching for her sister. There was no chance in hell she was losing her now.

“Which way?” Wren asked.

“Left,” Maeve said, trying to remember the path that they took to get into the server room. They turned the corner and then stopped. Gunfire erupted somewhere ahead. Maeve shoved Wren against the wall and raised her weapon as footsteps pounded toward them. Maeve positioned herself between Wren and the approaching sound, and a shadow appeared around the corner.

She raised the pistol. “Maeve!” Peak shouted.

Relief hit her so hard her knees nearly buckled. “Peak.” He rounded the corner at a run. Warden followed several steps behind him, shotgun in hand, and blood streaked across one side of his shirt. Maeve didn't know whether it belonged to him, but it didn’t matter right now. All that mattered was that Peak was alive.

She crossed the distance between them before she could stop herself. His arms closed around her, and for one second, Maeve allowed herself to bury her face against his chest before Peak pulled back. “You okay?”

“Yes,” she breathed.

“Is Wren okay?” Maeve turned. Her sister stood behind her, looking between Peak and Warden.

“I’m good,” Wren insisted.

Warden stared at Wren. “So you're the hacker.”

Wren frowned. “So are you the one with the beard?”

Warden looked offended. “What the hell is wrong with my beard?” Maeve almost laughed, and Peak actually did. Another alarm began sounding, and the moment disappeared.

“We have to get out,” Wren said.

Peak nodded. “Working on it.”

“No, I mean now.” She pointed toward one of the red emergency displays. “We have less than five minutes.”

Warden's eyebrows rose. “Until what?”

“Until the servers are destroyed,” she said.

“That doesn't answer my question,” Warden said.

“It's probably better if you don't know,” Wren said.

Warden looked at Peak. “Why are all the hackers insane?”

Peak shrugged. “Occupational hazard.”

Maeve grabbed Peak's arm. “Where's Captain?”

His expression changed. “We haven't found him yet.”