Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
From my spying, I learned that’s when Luke’s power is strongest—when they’re messing around. It’s why they were doing that the night I showed Matteo the Sinners’ meeting.
“Just like with Farras,” Cody says, “this thing is in a human body now, and it has human limitations. We tie him up, take the bracelet off, and do the same thing as before. If Seth can take care of the guys, then it’s four against one.”
“Six against one,” Matteo says.
“Yeah,” I add, “we’re not letting you guys do this on your own. We can help.”
Cody looks at Matteo before averting his gaze quickly. I noticed that same look during the commotion, when we were trying to figure out what was happening to Matteo. He looks like he’s afraid of Matteo, but why? There’s something he’s not telling us.
“I don’t think that’s a great idea,” Cody says. “We don’t understand why Matteo was able to connect with them, and, Alexei, you would be defenseless. We’ve been training for this. If they start using powers similar to ours, we can at least fight them off.”
He’s right, but I don’t like the idea of them handling this on their own. I want to help if I can. And I have a bargaining chip.
“I can get you guys into Alpha Alpha Mu without being detected,” I say, which gets everyone’s attention.
“How would you manage that?” Seth asks.
“I have a friend on the inside. I can convince him to help us sneak in through the basement. We go in there. We stay in his room until the guys are back. We can wait until Finnegan’s on his own so that we don’t have to take on all the guys together. And then we pounce.”
“That does sound like a much better plan,” Luke says.
“I can get us in there,” Seth insists. “We have friends there too. We can break into the basement and do the same thing without you.”
“But,” Luke says, “what if Matteo and Alexei go first, leave a window open or something in the basement for us. They hang out with their friend and keep an eye on the Saints until Finnegan’s alone. They make sure the coast is clear. We don’t have to worry about dealing with the other guys. Just get into his room and exorcise him.”
“If we go in and something goes wrong,” I add, “at least there’s still a chance you all can get to him. If you guys go in and something goes wrong, everyone’s fucked.”
“Fuck,” Seth says, grunting. He knows we’re right. They need our help.
Cody glances at Matteo uneasily again.
“Is there something you’re not telling us?” I press.
“Yeah,” Matteo says. “Why do you keep looking at me like that?”
“Like what?” Cody asks.
Clearly I’m not the only liar in the group.
“Like you think I’m about to whip out a switchblade and come for you,” Matteo says.
“I’m sorry, it was just a shock to wake up like I did, and then you were acting weird. I was disoriented.”
Another lie.
“Did you have a vision?” I ask. “Are you gonna wait till we’re gone and share it with the guys?”
Cody’s gaze shifts to the floor. I fucking knew it.
“What did you see?” Matteo asks, moving toward him.
Seth steps in front of Cody, his chest pushed forward, his hands balled into fists like if Matteo comes any closer, it’ll be a fight. “I think we should just make plans for tonight. We’ve got work to do. But first, Alexei, I’m taking you up on that offer to push about the truth.”
“Seth,” Cody snaps.
“We’re not letting these guys help us unless we’re certain they’re sincere. I won’t walk into a trap they set. Matteo, are you willing to do the same?”
Matteo nods.
It sucks that, even after everything we’ve shared, he’s still suspicious, but if this is what it takes to earn their trust, then it’s what we have to do.
As he approaches us, I say, “But don’t press for things we haven’t shared already.”
“I get that it’s a tough thing to submit to,” he says. “I promise I won’t take advantage.”
The sincerity in his voice takes me by surprise. And though I’d still rather not, I know this might be the only chance we all have to work together as a team.
*
After Seth runs his human lie detector on us, Matteo and I head outside and wait for him. Seth honored his word and allowed us each to watch the other as he pushed, to ensure he wouldn’t do anything shady, a fairly reasonable solution from a fairly unreasonable guy.
The guys wanted to talk without us, but they don’t want us going back to the dorms without an escort, in case the Saints are there waiting for us. We don’t know the extent of the connection Matteo made with Syphor—if it will allow Syphor to know it was Matteo or even be able to figure out where we’re at, so the plan is to grab our things, then lie low at the bottle factory for a few hours. I’ll reach out to Malcom and make plans for Matteo and me to come over and game with him, then go from there.