Page 164 of Primal

Payton’s nails dig into my wrist. ”His name? Birthday?”

“No. He’s—” I cough, metallic and wet. ”Vain. Not stupid.”

Second attempt:

PREDATOR

The screen flashes red.

86%.

The chapel air hums—or maybe that’s just my ears failing. The answer’s right there—in the way Derek smiled when Lana preened. Every frame staged.

My eyes flick to Payton’s tag. “Lana’s number. Do you know?”

“One.”

I type it in—

—or try to.

My fingers don’t listen. The keys blur, swim. I hit D twice. Miss the O. Backspace. Miss that too.

“Kade—”

“Dollface. All caps. Then zero one.”

She shifts closer, shoulder pressed to mine. One hand braces my wrist. The other takes the keyboard.

D

O

L

L

I watch her. If I look away, I’m gone.

F

A

C

E

0

1

Her finger hovers over ENTER.

“Hit it.”

The screen dissolves into code.

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