Page 28 of Delinquents Turned Fugitives
“You really think?”
I kicked his leg. “You’re the one who just convinced me. Are you taking it back?”
“No,” Evan brushed a thoughtful finger over his chin. “I just don’t want to get it wrong. I mean, I suppose it could be mental … hardening your resolve … shit.”
We both stared at Andros for a long moment, our silence broken only by the chirp of crickets somewhere in the parking lot. My eyes roamed over Andros’ blue face. He looked like a gargoyle, his expression fierce and frozen in concentration.
I ground my teeth as I internally walked a tightrope trying to make a decision which way to fall. My hands got clammy. I’d never felt so utterly responsible for one person’s fate in my life. But we had to choose. We had to do something.
“We could let the spell wear off,” Evan suggested.
“Would he have to be hard like the moment of the spell? Or does it mean if he’s ever … you know.” I turned to Evan, my throat tight as a hangman’s noose. “He wrote it so I couldn’t get out. He knew we were going in somehow. He knew this was my thing. That I’d volunteer to go first. He wanted to do this to me. If you’re right, I’d never have gotten out.”
“We don’t know I’m right. And like I said, we can wait it out. There are so many possibilities.”
I shook my head. “No, if there’s one thing I’m sure about, it’s that Claude would use vampire blood to strengthen his spells. I don’t think this will justwear off.” My hand touched Andros’ cheek but then I pulled back. It felt weird to touch him like this when he couldn’t move or look at me. I hardened my resolve and went with my gut. “Do it. Your way. Now.”
Evan’s eyebrows shot up. “You sure?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure.” I took on the decision so that Evan wouldn’t have to carry it. This was my heist, my job, my problem. If something went permanently wrong, it was only fair that the blame lay with me. I met Evan’s steady gaze as I said, “I’m gonna head back inside so you can concentrate.”
He nodded and ran a hand over his dark hair one last time before he grabbed the notebook and started muttering to himself, trying to commit the unraveling spell to memory.
I slid out of the van and strode back through the parking lot, hoping like hell that two of my crew wouldn’t be permanently fucked after tonight.
