I hesitated, fiddling with the hem of my shirt. Will didn’t know about the project. Hell, no one did. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust him—it was more that I didn’t trust myself. The idea still felt fragile, like saying it out loud might shatter it into a million pieces.
“It’s nothing. Just some stuff I’ve been messing with.”
Will raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “You’ve beenmessing with stufffor weeks. What’s going on, Viv?”
I sighed and leaned back against the counter. “It’s… complicated. I’ve been trying to build a program that can bridge human technology and magic. Like, make them compatible. It’s probably a pipe dream, but?—”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Will held up his hand. “Are you serious? That sounds insane. But also kind of awesome.”
I shrugged, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. “It’s just an idea. I haven’t gotten anywhere with it yet.”
Will’s eyes lit up, his sleepiness vanishing as he leaned closer. “It sounds promising. You’re building some kind of magic-computer hybrid thing. That’s so cool. Can I help?”
“You don’t even know what it is,” I said, laughing despite myself.
“Okay, okay. Just promise that when you get it up and running, I get to try it out. Maybe I can be your guinea pig.”
I rolled my eyes. “Sure. Sounds like a plan. Just keep in mind that I mayneverget it to work.”
He stepped closer, rubbing the back of his neck, his smile melting into a worried scowl. “I know you’re in the zone, Viv, but I need to ask for a favor.”
Shit, I knew that look.
“I need you to get dressed. We’re going to The Below.”
I straightened and crossed my arms. “What do you meanwe’regoing to The Below? And since when do you dictate my plans?”
He chuckled, but it was tight and nervous. “Okay, look, I need a date for an event tonight. And who better than my favorite partner in crime?”
I narrowed my eyes, my instincts prickling. “What kind of event, Will?”
He hesitated and averted his gaze. “The annual lunar convention. You know, the one where all the big players come to watch the fights, bet on who’ll die first. It’s sort of like a blood-sport gala.”
“Uh-huh.” I raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to get to the real reason. Will wasn’t the type to drag me into The Below’s underbelly just for a night of entertainment. “And?”
Will sighed. “I, uh... I entered the contest that happens after the fights.”
I blinked. “Thewhat?”
“The contest. It’s the one they hold every year. High stakes, high rewards.” He rubbed his hands together, as if trying to warm them. “You pay to enter, then they give you a riddle. If you answer it correctly, you get the prize money and?—”
“Where the hell did you get the entry fee? Last I checked, we were living on canned soup and discount ramen.”
Will’s eyes darted away from mine, just for a second. But it was long enough to confirm the gnawing suspicion in my gut. “You didn’t,” I whispered, dread pooling in my stomach.
“Okay, so... I might haveborrowedfrom our account from Vincenzo,” he admitted, offering me a sheepish grin. “Just a small withdrawal.”
“A small withdrawal?” I balled my hands into fists. “Will, that money was supposed to keep us afloat. I trusted you with it.”
“Relax, Viv. I’ve got it covered,” he said, throwing his hands up defensively. “I’ve coded a program to crack the riddle. It’s foolproof. I’ve been working on this for months.”
“You drained our entire account without even consulting me,” I said. The betrayal cracked my heart. “What the fuck were you thinking?”
Will’s grin slipped, and determination took its place. “I was thinking it’s time I made something of myself. Time I stopped being the sidekick and started pulling my weight. This contest is my shot, Viv. The winner not only gets a huge payday, but also gets to work directly underneath a mafia lord, almost like an internship. And that comes with all the bells and whistles you’d expect for someone living with and working directly under someone with that much power.”
I pressed a hand to my temple and shook my head. “You idiot. What happens if you lose?”
He hesitated. “Well, that’s the kicker. If you lose... they, uh... they kill you.”
