Page 63 of Dead Set on You
Rafael halts. I keep walking until I’m beside him. “No lies needed if we go,” I whisper, sensing things are about to take a bad turn if we don’t.
“Who were you talking to?” Lupe asks.
“Youcanlie,” I tell him. Because the alternative is telling the truth, and I’d rather spend a month in my former basement apartment than have another Vela involved. “So lie.”
“I was reacting to the skeleton—the logo.” Rafael gestures to the wall behind Lupe. “It seems off-center. Which is why I was likefuck no!”
Lupe doesn’t even bother turning. “Skully is perfectly centered.” Her tone is almost predatory. Even her lips press into the same firm line I’ve seen Rafael wear countless times. “The truth?”
“Let’s go,” I instruct, my tone edged with warning. Rafael’s eyes flick to mine.
“Raffi?” Lupe hedges.
His gaze asks for something that makes my stomach twist. “Rafael,” I warn. His jaw works. “Donotbring her into this.”
“I can’t lie to her, E.” His shoulders sag.
“No, no, no.” I whip around him, into his line of sight. “You can certainly lie!”
“It’s too late,” he says. “She’s like a CIA-trained hound.”
Lupe gasps. “Oh, chingado—are you on drugs? Because you know what happened when Abuela found out Mateo got—”
“No! No drugs.”
“It could be,” I interject. “Blame it on your pills or early-onset Alzheimer’s. Even aliens, but stop this while you still can.”
“It’s too late,” he says, sidestepping around me.
I follow, blocking his view again. “I’m not kidding about the haunting for eternity. Think of the mini-Rafaels. Do you want me around forever?”
There’s a shift in his demeanor—another part of Rafael I don’t have time to examine—and his lips press together. Hopesparks. Maybe I’m getting through. Maybe he can see how completely absurd it would be to bring his cousin into all this.
“What is it, Raffi?” Lupe’s voice coaxes. “You can tell me.”
I glance over my shoulder. She’s so close … predatory.
“Don’t do it,” I warn again, holding my breath. His gaze drops to my face, lingers on each inch of my skin. I fight the warmth heating my cheeks and shake my head no.
“The thing is … I don’t know how I can see her. I don’t know if she’s a spirit or something else, but it started a couple days ago. I thought I was hallucinating, but now I … I’m not sure. I don’t know what the fuck is happening, but she’s here. Right in front of me.” He sighs deeply. “And she needs my help.”
“Youwill need help when I’m done with you. The kind that requires years of exorcisms,” I hiss, a rush of fury replacing the heat, making me want to dig my fingers into his hair and give him a shake. His eyes are far from fearful, like he’s up to the challenge. Which only makes it worse—because he’s clearly determined to bring Lupe into it. And yes, I’m tethered to the one guy I trust least, but looping in his cousin? That feels like a kind of surrender. Like I’m accepting I’m helpless on my own.
Lupe clears her throat, drawing our attention. “That’s …”
“I know it sounds crazy,” Rafael continues.
“Crazy is that night we ate shrooms and slept in Pepo’s doghouse, but this is next-level shit.” Lupe whistles low, then curses in Spanish. “I’m a spiritual person, Raffi. You know I believe in the spirit world, but—” She stills, hand going to her mouth. “Hang on. If she’s a ghost, does that mean she’s dead?” Her features soften. “Raffi, I’m—”
“No,” he says. “She’s not dead. Nothing’s changed since the last time. Nothing but her being here, right now.” His thumb points in my direction. She follows the movement to where I’m glowering. Her gaze is two feet to my left. “And I need to figure out how to get her back into her body.”
Lupe’s features contort from puzzled to concerned to curious. “Right there?”
Rafael nods. “She’s not too thrilled about me sharing this, but I think we’re past that point.” Yep, and we’ve moved directly to my breaking point. “Like I said, it’s crazy, and we’re trying to figure it out. Why she’s here … and how we can get her back into her body before …” His tone dips. My throat closes up. “It’s why I went to see Abuela and why I want to know about that medium. We have to figure this out. Soon.”
“And your extended family is going to help how?” I snap.
“I’m sorry.” His attention turns to me, pleading. “But she might think of something I can’t. One Vela is good, but two—that’s basically a superpower.”
