“Uh,” Corrigan started, jerking forward in his seat.

Bryce’s eyes narrowed to slits, but both were quiet.

They were thinking it over. Finally, after another moment of silence, Bryce glanced to Corrigan and their gazes locked for a few seconds. Then he started, “Sheldon, I don’t think letting you near explosives is a good idea.”

“Yeah.” Corrigan laughed abruptly. “Imagine if the police caught you. Talk about making yourself look even guiltier.”

I scowled. “Not me. You two would have to do it or one of you would have to sneak out to do it.”

“Wait.” Bryce held up a hand.

Corrigan looked ready to argue, but he silenced and leaned back in his chair again.

Bryce added, “What are you talking about, exactly?”

“My dad won’t leave, not unless the police order him. The only other way he’d leave is if he’s forced, like if we’re under attack.”

“Meaning?”

“’Meaning.’” I held my hands out. It wasn’t that hard to figure out. Was it? “Get some big ass fireworks and set them off next to the house. It’ll be awesome. They’ll think we’re under attack, and off we go, being carted right back to the city.” I loved the plan. It would work. I knew it. I was getting buzzed just thinking about it. Gazing at the other two, still silent, and showing no reactions, I asked, “What do you think?” They looked at each other for the fourth time. “Come on, you guys. It’s a good plan.” I was pleading here. Almost. “No one gets hurt. There’s nothing illegal about it. Just . . . make sure to get the biggest fireworks that go kaboom. That’s it.” I waited another second, then added, “It’ll work.”

It’d be awesome. I knew it.

The corner of Bryce’s mouth curved up into a half-grin. He said to Corrigan, “You or me?”

Corrigan’s eyes got big. “Me. Definitely me.”

“What are you guys talking about?” I looked between them.

“Who’s getting the fireworks?”

Corrigan placed his elbows onto the table and nodded, one firm movement. “Me. I’ll get ’em. I’ll make it be awesome.”

I wanted to purr like a cat being petted. I was loving this. “Good. Then we get back into the city and figure out who killed Grace.” I had my own explosive plan for when we figured out who that was. “This is going to be amazing.”

Corrigan was excited. I could tell, but Bryce still seemed hesitant. He shot Corrigan a warning look. “Just don’t get something that’ll actually leave a crater-sized hole in the ground.”

Corrigan nodded. “Got it. No crater-forming fireworks. I can do that.”

Bryce said further, “And don’t set fire to anything.”

“No fire-starting fireworks. Got that, too.”

“I suppose we can’t test it out?” Corrigan and I shared a look. What was he talking about?

I snorted. “Right. He can go to a gun range and set one off . . .” I trailed off. “You could do that.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Corrigan was all business now. I saw the anticipation and excitement building. He grinned. “It’s been a long time since we caused havoc. It feels good.”

“Good?” I shook my head. “It feels right.” We were both grinning at each other.

Bryce groaned. He said, “Why do I have a feeling this isn’t going to go how it’s planned?”

I frowned at him. “Hush it, Superstar. Let us deviants do what we do best.”

Corrigan added, his grin now stretched from ear to ear, “Causing chaos and kicking a little ass.” He gestured to me and back to him. “That’s what we do best.”

I nodded. This would work. I knew it.

*

The plan started without a hitch.

Corrigan feigned he needed to go to town the next day at lunch. He said a professor was arguing his online courses so he needed to go in to deal with it.

Neil hadn’t been happy. He said, “Do you realize the trouble it took to get you here? There are people who are going to be following you. They know you’re close to my daughter, and a lot of people want to kill her.”

I grimaced. “Don’t sugarcoat it or anything.”

Neil turned on me with a scowl.

That was how I must’ve looked whenever I glared. He looked scary and ominous. I made a mental note to try not to scowl so much. I’d have to figure out something else, maybe a half-glare?

He snapped at me, “Why? Isn’t that how you are with everyone else? And no, I’m not going to sugarcoat it. People want to kill you, Sheldon. They hate you. When are you going to start figuring this out?”

I shrugged. “People have hated me since high school. It’s because of my sweet disposition. I’m so damn cheery.”

“You’re joking?” His scowl kicked up another notch. He was becoming even more intimidating. He asked again, “You’re joking?”

“What else can I do? Welcome to my life, Daddy Dearest. I’ve been stalked long before this. I killed a guy. He tried to kill Corrigan. I’ve been shoved into a glass table. This. Is. My. Life. I should’ve been expecting this, to be honest.”

He started laughing, shaking his head. “My daughter.” He shoved a hand at me, pointing. “So beloved. Yeah, right. You’ve had this fuck-you attitude since you were born.”

I felt a burning at the corners of my eyes. I flinched, refusing to let anything he said get to me.

He continued, “Your mother and I tried to be there for you. We did. In the beginning. Then you started sneaking out, skipping school, doing only God knows what. Drinking. Did you ever do drugs? I’d be surprised if you hadn’t. You were having sex—I don’t even want to know when.” He turned to Bryce. “I know it was you. You were the main guy with her, and I don’t want to think about all the others that must’ve been between her legs—”

Bryce punched him. It happened so fast.

Neil was spilling those hateful words, each one of them was a blow to me, and I was struggling to keep my composure and then BAM!—he was down. Bryce stood above him. His hand still in a fist, and he was shaking, staring down. A vein bulged out from the side of his neck.

My dad looked bewildered. He cradled a hand to the side of his face and looked up. “Bryce?” It was like his best friend had stabbed him in the back.