Page 15 of The Final Deal

The devil came after the people I love the most to get tome. Adrian and Shannon becoming devils, Kris turning into la lechuza, Zak turning into a vampire, me dying…

All for the devil to take what he’s been owed this entire time.

Robbie shoots up from kneeling beside me on the floor. “How could you do this? This is why Timeless is in such deep shit, because you’re so fucking selfish!”

Dad repeats, “What did y’all do?”

“I’m not tellin’ you shit,” Robbie spits. He grabs my arm and gently shakes me until my eyes meet his. “C’mon. We need to get you outta here.”

My torso trembles from all the tension I hold. “W-where? Where am I gonna go?”

He peers over his shoulder at Mom and Dad. “You said the twins’ mom did stuff to protect the house, right?”

They both nod, and Mom says, “Lupe was the best at what she did. She probably has all sorts of protection still up and working around their property.”

“So it must be safest at their place.”

Dad studies us for a long, silent moment. “Take her there.”

Robbie grips my arm and helps me up, escorting me down the hall to my room as Mom begins sobbing again.

I’ve barely unpacked my bags from Atlanta since arriving three weeks ago. Two boxes are opened from my rummaging around for packages Shannon sent me, and shirts spill out of a suitcase from searching for my favorite Tool tank top. I wonder what was going through my head as I’ve actively avoidedunpacking; I’m not sure if I was planning on moving shortly after returning.

Or maybe I’ve been too busy fighting for my life since the second I stepped into San Antonio.

“Pack everything,” Robbie says, tearing me out of thought. “I don’t want you comin’ back here.”

I take a mental survey of what I remember being in my closet or under my bed. “I don’t think I can fit everything in my car?—”

“Just tell me what you’re taking and I’ll put the rest in my truck, okay? You need to get the fuck outta here.”

Robbie gets to work folding box flaps to close them without tape. I stuff clothes into my bags and set them by the door. My motions are a mechanical blur until someone grabs my shoulders.

“I’m so sorry, baby,” my mother whispers. Fat tears fall down her reddened cheeks, and she pulls me in for a hug.

I shove her back. I don’t know who she is anymore, and I have no words left for her, either.

She blubbers and runs down the hall.

Robbie reenters my room. “That all?”

I give a half-hearted shrug, but he doesn’t let that slide. My brother catches me; his septum piercing has healed from the multiple fights he’s had with the twins since I came home, but there are bruises under his eyes I don’t think are from any of the recent brawls.

“I’m getting you outta here, Steph,” he assures gently. “Somewhere where you’ll be safe from the cause of all the bullshit we’re in. So help me help you and make sure we got everything, huh?”

My vision blurs. Robbie and I might fight like siblings, but he’s always been my bulldog big brother when I needed him to be.

I nod and give my room one last sweep, checking underneath the bed, in the closet, and in the bathroom for any missed leftovers. Robbie escorts me to the office and helps me pack a computer bag with my laptop and the files I’ll need.

The sight of a contract with NYB’s header on Dad’s desk singes the blood in my veins. This is a later problem—for now, I need to get the fuck out.

Computer bag in hand and Robbie leading the way, I follow him out the front door and find our parents waiting by my car. Evening has set in, and the sun falling behind the trees has allowed the air to cool, but my anger could singe flesh off bone in an instant.

“Look after your sister,” Dad tells Robbie in a hushed tone.

He slams the tailgate of his pickup and glares at Dad. “Unlike y’all, Ialwayshave.”

They argue between themselves in low voices that disappear into the drone of cicadas as Mom blocks my way and tries to hug me again.

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