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Scoffing,Iroll my eyes and watch headlights run past. “Right, ’causeItotally need to worry about el cucuy, too.”

“What’sthat?”

“Mexicanboogeyman.”

“Man, they really do have somethin’ for everything out here, huh.”

“Unfortunately.”

Silencestretches out between us asTydrives on, wandering the streets ofSanAntoniothat switch between well-lit and totally dark.WepassMissionSanJoseandIstart breathing a little easier—he’s heading south, which means we’re inching closer to home whether he intends to or not.

JustwhenIrelax in my seat,Tyexclaims, “Oh, shit,” and suddenly jerks to the left.

“Whatthe hell,Ty!”

“Sorry!IsawAshleyRoad.Thisis the roadDevil’sBridgeis on, right?”

Oh, no.

Oh,God.

“Ty, turn around,”Idemand.

“Steph, please?” he begs, continuing downAshleyRoadand bringing me closer to the realDevil’sBridgeofSanAntonio. “Ifanything creepy happens, we’ll leave.Iswear.”

Myhead shakes vehemently. “I’mnot fucking around.Turnaround and take me home.”

AshleyRoadhas streetlights, but they are few and far between—darkness stretches long and wide here with plenty of trees for shadows to jump through and hide a certain cowboy hat-wearing stalker.

“Babe,I’mnot gonna let anything get to you.”

“Howmany fucking times doIhave to tell younotto call me that?”Isnap.

Typurses his lips at the road, searching for the bridge thatIknow is down the way past two slight curves. “Thentell me what to call you.”

Idon’t speak;Ican’t withDevil’sBridgefast approaching.

Headlightsshine on a long stretch of white metal fencing lining each side of the road.

“Ooh.”Tyslows to a crawl until he comes to a stop right next to the entrance where the supposedDevil’sHouseis. “Thismust be it.Right?”

Mythroat is too dry to swallow the growing unsurety. “Yeah.”

Tymoves to open the door, butIgrab his arm, nails clawing into meat. “Ow!Thathurts.”

“Don’tgo,”Ibeg softly.

“What, ’fraidI’llmake a deal with the devil?”

Myjaw clenches. “That’snot funny.”

“Stayin theJeep, then,” he says, shaking my claws out of his arm and dropping down to the asphalt below. “I’mgonna go check it out.”

Isit there, gaping at his back illuminated by headlights as he walks toward the bridge.Tywas supposed to be the one non-asshole in my life, now he’s just abandoning me onDevil’sfreakingBridge!

Wheelsturn in my head.Adrianis the devil, and he promised to protect me; even ifTythinks me being terrified is funny, at leastAdrianwill come to my rescue if shit goes down.

Ihope, anyway.