Page 71

Curiositygets the best of me—this is how the cat dies, you know—soIquietly shut the door behind me.Tyambles toward the bridge, andIhang back, watching, waiting, listening.

Then,Iput one foot in front of the other, heading towardDevil’sBridge.

Typauses and twists, looking at me over his shoulder as my shadow creeps up the asphalt toward him.Hesmirks. “Hey, scaredy cat.”

WhenI’mclose enough, he holds out his hand.Igrab it and hold on tight.

“Thisain’t so bad, huh?”

Iglance around the darkness where shadows of trees sway in the light breeze.Iwonder if it’s like any regular ol’ job where they show up for their scheduled shift to make deals and wreak havoc on people’s lives.Orif they simply appear when summoned by someone looking for the devil.

Nearingthe middle of the bridge,Tystops to peer over the ditch.Themoon is hardly a sliver in the sky; only light pollution from the city gives the water below any chance of a glimmer, if there’s even any standing water.

“What’dyour friend say?Tossa rock over the bridge and it won’t land?Someonecatches it?”

Isqueeze his hand tighter as he leans over, closer to the ground. “Iswear to fuckingJesusChrist, if you let go,”Igrowl.

Tysnickers, squeezing my hand in return as he straightens.Heholds up a rock. “Let’ssee if the rumors are true.”

Hetosses the rock over the railing, andIwait expectantly for the splash of water, clattering of rocks against one another, or even a softthumpof a hard object landing on soil.

Cricketsstop chirping.

Idrop his hand and turn to speed off. “Fuckno,I’mout.Let’sgo.”

“Oh, come on,Steph,”Tysays in a hushed tone. “Rightwhen we get to the good part!”

Mybreath is ragged, nearly hyperventilating by the timeIpass the entrance of theDevil’sHouse.WhenIturn around,Ty’sbarely-lit silhouette moves in the darkness, peering over the edge of the bridge.Igrab the door handle to yank the door open, but it slams down with a loudsmack.

Locked.

Iturn to yell forTy, but arms surround me.

Ahand clamps over my mouth.

Abody presses against my back, and their mouth comes to my ear. “Well, well, well, what do we have here?”

Chapter25

“Relapse”

–Wage War

Thrashinghardand screaming as loudly asIcan, the man drags me onto the property where theDevil’sHouseused to stand—andTydoesn’t see or hear any of it.

“Figuredyou’d know better than hang out around the realDevil’sBridge, princesa.”

Despitemy relief, my heart pounds in my chest.IelbowAdrianin the ribs and trip over my feet as he lugs me farther onto the property.

Heconfines my arms behind my back. “What’reyou doin’ out here, huh?Withhim?”

“Ibegged him to turn around and he wouldn’t listen,”Ihiss.

Adriantuts. “Dumbassdoesn’t even know he brought the devil exactly what he wants.”

Strainingto free myself,Adrianclamps down harder on my wrists as he pulls me down a gravel path.

“Whatthe fuck are you doing?Letme go!”