“Maybe Kurosaki’s just waiting to break us before he lists his demands.”
“Then let him,” Dutch blurts. “Zane and I would do anything—giveanything…”
His voice cracks again.
My brother’s losing his mind and it’s painful to hear.
I speak firmly. “I’ll get answers. I swear.”
“How do you plan to do that?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
The computer beeps.
100%.
The update is complete.
“Finn,” Dutch says.
I stop in my tracks.
“You call and we’ll come. You say the word and we’ll fight. I don’t care who your real father is. I don’t care what anyone says. You’re my brother.”
Another emotion spurs from his speech. It’s warm. It expands.
But it’s distracting too.
I stuff it down. “Try to get some sleep. And keep Zane away from alcohol.”
That’s an empty warning. Zane works in extremes. He’s either going to make really smart decisions in this critical time or really stupid ones.
No in between.
“Stay in one piece over there,” Dutch responds.
I grunt in a way that means “no promises” and hang up.
The stillness of the room creeps over me, and I pop the wires out of my laptop, letting them hang against the control panel.
I shouldn’t be judging Zane for stupid decisions when I’m about to make a few of my own.
My heart picks up speed. My blood pumps faster.
This feeling, I can identify—anticipation.
For what?
I don’t know.
Death, maybe?
It’s certainly possible I won’t see tomorrow. And maybe that’s for the best.
Maybe I’ll finally know what it means to feel alive when I’m dead.
Jinx:Curiosity looks good on you, Finn—pity it’s going to get you burned.
