My tennis shoes hit the grass, and I grunt at the impact. Sweet relief floods my system, making me a little giddy.
“Who’s the pussy now?” I ask Raven.
“Not my Watson. Now, let’s go.”
I glance up at the formidable structure of the castle, a monolith of strength and masculinity. As we get closer, the detailed stonework and peaked roofs come into view. Ivy clings possessively to the sides of the building in tangled vines. It’s eerie and beautiful.
My footsteps falter at my brief distraction, and Raven glances at me over her shoulder. “I’ll buy you the audio tour later, nerd. Focus.”
With June behind me, we follow my deranged roommate to a darkened window on the far east side of the property. I plaster myself against the brick wall and frantically scan the area. There are still no signs of alarm or any indication we’ve been spotted.
Raven grips the edge of the window with a grunt, pushing her shoulder against the flat surface. She blows out a breath of frustration. It fogs up the glass she’s been unsuccessfully trying to raise for several seconds.
“Ugh, this thing won’t budge,” Raven says. Several profane but creative words flow from her after that.
I shift from one foot to the other. I’m not sure what my friend’s plan was supposed to be. Did she really think a window would just magically open for us? I guess I’ll have to question her methods beforehand next time.
Oh, my fuck. Do I really think I’ll do this again?
“The window is either painted or nailed shut,” Raven says. “We need something to pry it open. Any ideas, Watson?”
I open my mouth to inform her that she should’ve thought of thatbeforewe attempted to commit a crime, but June steps between us. She reaches into her coat and holds out a slim metal tool. My eyes widen when the moonlight catches it.
“Is that a mini-crowbar?” I ask.
June nods. “How else did you think we were going to get inside? Witchcraft?”
I give Raven a pointed look. “Someone did.” After turning back to look at June, I scrunch my face. “Where was that thing hiding? I never saw the outline in the material of your clothing.”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Raven lets out a cackle and swipes the object from June’s hand. Twirling the metal rod, my roommate wedges it under the widow seam with a confidence I find disturbing. For a rich girl, she’s familiar with shady shit.
Or maybe that’s why.
After a few seconds of strained prying, the pane gives way with a loud crack, the sound like a gunshot in the quiet. Raven straightens with a manic grin while I stand there with my heart beating so hard my chest starts to ache.
“Huzzah!” she whisper-shouts. “We’re in.”
“There’s no way someone didn’t hear that,” I say.
June nods, her gaze wide as it zips from side to side. “We better hurry. Raven, move your ass.”
My roommate hands the crowbar back to June and retrieves her phone from her pocket. After turning on the flashlight feature, she inspects the dark opening.
“Damn. It’s a long drop, and there’s nothing to climb down on.” She hoists herself onto the window ledge, wiggles a little and leans forward. “Like, how committed are we, guys?”
“Committed enough to risk a misdemeanor.” The deep masculine voice has all of us gasping. “Or maybe you’re just taking the scenic route?”
Chapter 17
DELILAH
I’m going into fucking cardiac arrest.
My crazy imagination convinces me that my heart is about to jump out of my body. I slap a hand to my chest while sucking in gulps of air. The organ beats rapidly against my palm like a cry for freedom.
Raven freezes on the window ledge, her face pale and eyes widening as the flashlight from her phone illuminates her features. “Where the fuck did you come from?”
