Page 45 of The Second Deal

“Youprobably need stitches,”Zakmutters, peering at the wound through glasses he wasn’t wearing whenIpicked him up. “What’reall these other scratches from?”

“WhenBrandyandIwent to the approach.”

Hefrowns. “Yousaid y’all found a sacrificed deer, right?”

“Yeah.Gigiwent to check it out earlier.”Igrab my phone from the pocket of his gym shortsI’mwearing and tap untilIshowZakthe picture she sent. “Obviously, somebody’s acting the part as the devil and taking offerings.”

Hedoesn’t react to the photo, returning to dab ointment over my wound. “Mightactually be the devil himself doin’ it,”Zakmutters.

Iscoff, rolling my eyes. “Letme guess: you saw the devil on the bridge, too?”

Hestays silent, pinching the gash on my arm together and lining up a series of butterfly bandages over it.

“You’rethe one behind the ritual shit,”Isay in disbelief.

Zakglances up at me and shakes his head. “No.”

Scratchingat the door turns into tapping.

Igrimace, staring long and hard at the dark, oiled wood with black metal accents asIslowly set the crystal glass on the counter. “Doesn’tthe legend say la lechuza is a witch who made a deal with the devil?”

WhenZakdoesn’t answer,Iturn to find him watching the door, too.Eventually, he nods. “Yeah.”

Withhim distracted,Imake a run for the door.

“Stephani,no,” he growls.

Peeringout the small window,Icatch only the briefest glance of the darkened entryway beforeZaksnatches me away.

It’sher.

TheowlI’vebeen seeing is on the front porch, scratching at the door and crying like a baby.Ahuge, gigantic white owl, almost as big as me, but the face…

“IsthatKris?”Ihiss as he pushes me towards the kitchen. “Yourfucking sister is la lechuza?”

Chapter17

Rope

–40 Below Summer

Aheadache forms somewhereabove my teeth and behind my eyes after seeingKrisRamos-Dempsterat the doorstep of the twins’ place—la lechuza in the flesh.

“Wethought she had it under control.”Zakgingerly situates me by the bar. “Guessyou visiting put her over the edge.”

“Whatthe fuck do you mean, ‘we thought she had it under control?’Whenthe fuck did this happen?”

“Rememberwhen she went off the deep end and disappeared for a couple of months?Saidshe checked herself into psych?”

Myexpression turns severe, skin drawing taut.WhatIdid toZakmay have set her off today, but what she did toShannonis somethingI’venever forgiven her for.Shewasn’t the one distractingAndreawith every single puzzle available between the store and second-hand shop.Shewasn’t the one making sureShannondidn’t turn back to old vices and had a shoulder to sob on when he didn’t have to be strong forAndreaafter she went to bed.

“Yeah,”Ireply through gritted teeth. “Shesaid she was getting evaluated.”

Hepresses gauze against my arm. “Shewas visiting our tias down inMexico.Idon’t know what happened—she’s never said how or why.Ijust know that’s when the change happened and they knew how to help.”Heglances up at me. “Shannon’sforgiven her.Soshould you.”

“Shannon’sa sweetheart obsessed with a hot-headed bitch,”Ispit, glaring at him.

Zakis gentle as he traces the gauze, sealing tape onto my skin, despite me speaking ill of his older sister.

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