Page 153 of The Sidekick

My body sags as I give in to a reluctant giggle.

“Why the sudden rush, though? Is something wrong?”

“Yeah,” the reluctant agreement is pulled out of me as I turn my face up to him. “Shade just got his heart mulched, and I’m out for blood.”

“Seriously?” Max asks in surprise. “Who has the balls to piss that guy off?”

“Idiots.” It’s the only logical reply I can give.

“No shit,” Max agrees.

“You’re going to use your computer to avenge his honor?” Satan asks thoughtfully. The chair creaks as he leans back.

“Yes.”

I spoke to him. That wasn’t so hard, was it? Now I have to look at him too. In a minute.

“Is this going to be a legal vengeance or a law-breaking vengeance?” His voice is calm as he asks, but the question reminds me of the promise I made to him before I ran away.

I’m supposed to come to him if anyone asks me to break the law. Shade didn’t ask me to any more than Andi asked me to when things were falling apart for her. I consider this a benefit to having me as a sidekick, a perk if you will. I have a few skills that come in handy.

Something tells me that Satan won’t agree with the ‘They didn’t ask, so it doesn’t count’ argument.

That aside, what do I do? I made that promise before Asher crashed into my life like a meteor. Who do I listen to? Which command takes priority? Will I get punished if I fulfill my promise?

“P-please hold,” I squeak out in a panic and pull my phone from my purse. It’s still dangling off my arm as I clutch at Max.

Me: I made a promise to Satan before I ran away. I have to have his permission before I do anything he thinks is shady. I don’t need his permission anymore, right?

Max starts to chuckle as he reads the text, and I regret having my phone autocorrect that name to Satan for a brief flash of time. It passes quickly as I chew my nail, waiting for a response.

Asher: You made a promise.

“That’s not an answer,” Max shakes his head.

Maybe not to him, but it is an answer to me. I gave my word and that’s the end of it.

Me: Ok.

I turn in Max’s lap, clutching the phone in my hands as I face Satan. It feels like Asher is in the phone and can shield me from whatever anger is about to come my way.

“Most of it is legal,” I confess and burrow back against Max for extra support. “All of it is mean.”

“Most of it,” Satan raises a brow as he frowns.

I roll my lips in as I wait for his verdict. If he says no, what should I do? I can’t just abandon my plans. They’re epic plans! Can I get Asher to void any decisions he makes? Tag him in? I can’t use Shade’s computers. They can trace it back and blame him.

“Which parts are illegal?” He rocks back and braces his ankle on his knee. The pose is relaxed, but it fills me with dread. He’s never going to give me permission. I should just drop it and think of something else.

“Stop keeping me in suspense! It’s just cruel at this point,” Max blows a hot breath in my ear. It jolts me out of my thoughts.

“Phone cloning, use of video evidence taken without permission, utility site hacking, and breaking and entering.” The words come tumbling out, and it feels like time has frozen.

I can’t tell if they’re stunned silent, or just outraged at the list. I can’t take it back now, though. Maybe I should go home.

“What are the odds of you getting caught?” Satan asks.

“With my baby? Very slim. The sites that will be affected? Zero. Breaking and entering, fifty/fifty. I need to see what upgrades they’ve done to their security before that one is a go.”

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