Page 13 of The Devil's Dilemma

“I thinkyoucan win. There’s a difference.”

“You put far too much faith in my abilities. I could lose every penny I win.”

“It’s never happened, so why should it this time?”

He had a point, but something didn’t sit right. I knew this was wrong, but how could I let my friends down? When we were much younger, we’d made a blood pact.

We weren’t the four musketeers, none of this all for one, one for all bullshit.

But we’d grown up together. Faced the same problems many had, but we’d chosen to stick together.

They’d never forgive me if I bowed out now, and I was no coward.

“Okay, then I’m still in.” I squeezed my eyes shut. God, hopefully, I didn’t come to regret my decision.

“Good man, good man. I knew you wouldn’t let us down.”

Despite having each other’s backs, I knew Joel couldn’t possibly be the mastermind behind these jobs, as much as he thought he was.

Someone higher must have been pulling his strings. I just didn’t know who. Joel came from a long line of criminals, unlike me.

Grandpa had always been an upstanding citizen, and so had Dad until he’d fucked off and abandoned me.

We’d never known Momma’s family.

The other thing was, I didn’t know what the effects would be of the chip The Magic Shop owner had given me. He’d said nothing other than it could help me.

And what had he meant about paying when the time was right?

When in fuck’s name would I know the right time?

The chip buzzed, a faint throb in my pocket.

“Austin?” Joel’s voice brought me back to the present.

“Huh? Oh, yeah. Let me know when it’s going down. I’m on my way to work now. I’m in until late, so I won’t be around until midday tomorrow. We need to do this one sooner rather than later.”

“I get ya. Gotta go.”

And with that, he was gone.

I hurried to work, cutting it close. I usually arrived a good fifteen minutes before my shift started. Not today, though. I’d be lucky to get there on time. I rushed through the door and removed my coat.

“You’re late today,” Amber said.

“Yeah, had to make a quick pit stop. Took longer than I thought.”

“Well, you’d best get to it. Patrick’s not in the best of moods today.”

I didn’t need telling twice, and nodded to my boss, who glared at me.

The day passed without incident, but the chip in my coat pocket kept calling me, an invisible bond forged, a constant reminder of where I’d been this morning and what was on the horizon.

Several times, Amber had to raise her voice or nudge me to get my attention. I was too preoccupied with the whys and wherefores of what was coming. Like a storm brewing in the distance, a sense of dread filled me, and for the first time in forever, doubts crept in.

I didn’t want to let my friends down, but the thought this could all go tits up sat heavily in my gut.

And what would happen to Grandpa if I got caught? He’d have no one. Who’d look after him if I couldn’t take care of it before the job went down?

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