Nessa's smallest finger bent against her palm.
Jade noticed because it was the only hand in the intersection that moved before hers.
Jade's white hand copied it around Ty's neck.
The copied grip lasted half a beat before Jade forced her wrist against the ceramic bolt. Ty turned inside her arm, caught the bone heel of her hand against his jaw, and kept the burning fingers from closing.
Nessa pulled on the cage fiber with her teeth clenched around the molar speaker. The cord beneath her upper arm tightened. Her remaining Vale armor drew close to her skin as if bracing for a strike.
Commander Vey watched from the roof with his rifle fixed on Jade's right shoulder.
"Captain Cord, release the shared line before it reaches your spine and takes the rest of your suit."
"Releasing it gives that arm back to the collector."
"Then we remove the arm before the collector receives it."
Jade drove her heel against the desk and stopped the Reaper from pulling her another inch.
