Page 31 of Death Deals

I ground my teeth, annoyance pinching. “I’m thinking.”

Rubbing Ricky’s shoulder, I thought about his father, Ricardo, and the store. I knew his motives for joining the Scarlet Knights—he’d wanted to keep his family out of bankruptcy, help them keep the corner bodega. But like I had said then, at what cost? His own life?

Looking down at him now, so sick and trembling all over as a fever raged, sorrow squeezed my lungs.

I leaned closer to him. “Ricky, I came back,” I whispered. “I’m okay.”

Honestly, I didn’t know why I was talking to him. I doubted he could hear anything I was saying, but for some reason, it made me feel better. It was a way to get the nerves out, I guessed.

“I need you to be okay, too. Okay? Can you wake up for me? I need you to wake up.”

His muscles continued to twitch, his eyes closed. Lost to the world in his drug-laced sleep.

“Your dad’s going to kill you for this, you know.” I let out a short laugh. “Hell, he’s going to killmefor this. Now I’m making you late for work.”

Tears pushed against the back of my eyes, so I closed them. Why did it feel like I was losing more than just a friend, but another piece of myself as well? Like, if he died, I’d lose the only part of memory I had left of my life.

I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t.

The thought of Dillion Leon Hendrickson sprang to mind, the small boy from the car crash I was meant to reap all that time ago. And how he’d awakened after I’d urged him to.

“Jade.” Andre’s voice came out sharp. “Your hand.”

My eyes snapped open to see my fingers on Ricky’s shoulder glowing white. The light left my fingers, sinking into his flesh, before disappearing somewhere inside him.

Panicked, I pulled back. Oh no. What had I done?

“What was that?” Andre asked.

“I-I didn’t mean to. I don’t know—”

My words were cut short by Ricky’s eyes flying open. As if he’d been holding his breath underwater for years, he gasped for air and jutted upright in bed.

Startled, I almost tumbled off the bed. Andre’s hand landed on my arm to keep me upright.

Chest heaving, Ricky’s wide-eyed gaze flickered around the room. When it rested on me, he said nothing. Just stared.

“Ricky?”

“J-Jade?”

Pain ricocheted through my head suddenly, making me cry out. My knees buckled from the force of it, and I went down. Andre grabbed me as thousands of needles stabbed into my skull.

“Shit!”

I heard the rustle of sheets, felt another hand touch me as Ricky jumped up, completely mobile now.

“What happened?” he asked.

“You tell me,” Andre said in a growl, which was enough to make him shrink back.

“Just give me a second,” I said through a stiff jaw. “It should pass.”

Since I had failed my Ascension, I guessed I was back to having pain whenever using my gift. Even unintentionally.

After a few more minutes, the stunning pain eased, leaving only a throbbing ache at my temples. Something I could deal with. With Andre’s help, I righted myself.

“What was that all about?” he asked me, worry etched into his features.

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