Done. Finished.
Yet her fingers wouldn’t release the glass, as if letting go might shatter the fragile balance.
Then—beep. The lock on the door.
Lucia’s breath caught, heart battering against her rib cage.
The door creaked open.
Light flared.
And there, framed in the doorway, stood Penelope—stone-faced, unreadable.
Lucia’s mind went white; she stood rooted in place, pulse roaring in her ears.
Chapter 24
Entropic Decay
“You need to hurry!” Penelope closed the door before her gaze drifted downward. “You’re not wearing any shoes.”
Lucia blinked. “What?”
Penelope studied her, expression unreadable. “Why aren’t you?”
Lucia stared at her, her brain still short-circuiting. She needed to get out of here, not explain her lack of footwear, though she understood Penelope’s confusion—the sight she must give.
“Why are you here?”
“Right. Montgomery will be here soon to show Ms.Lewis, an obnoxious but super-rich donor, theMadonna. She attended the gala specifically for her and was apparently disappointed it’s no longer on display.”
“Shit. Let me just…” She stored the originalMadonnain the carrier, sliding her tools in their pockets, and focused on Penelope again. “Could you run interference? That way I can get out. I mean, if you don’t mind.”
“Yes, of course.”
“Jules, are we clear?”
“Yes, but not for long. Montgomery is heading your way with an entourage.”
“Now, Pen. Go.”
Penelope cast one last glance at Lucia before heading back outside.
“You need to take a right when you get out, head through the archival hallway and exit via the north service door,” Jules said.
“Thanks.” Lucia slipped out of the lab. She hurried down the suggested path, her heart pounding in her throat.
“Skye just got to the van. Do you need her to meet you?”
“No.”
Lucia flung the exit door open and burst into the humid night, her soles slapping against the rough pavement. The van waited across the loading zone, headlights off, rear door cracked.
“Skye!” she called, breath ragged.
The door flew open. Skye reached out and yanked her inside.
Lucia barely had time to gasp before—
