Page 157 of Wicked Brutal

“What if they still can’t do anything?”

The question lands hard because last night I couldn’t give her a date. This morning, I still can’t. And Switzerland doesn’t magically fix the Tobias problem. I refuse to pretend it does.

“Then we find out what it gives us.”

I forward the photographs to Dad. Then Arthur.

Roman signed these at Edgewood this morning. Ally was not told. He does not know we have copies.

Dad calls before I can even put the phone down. I answer. “Hey.”

“What the fuck am I looking at?”

“Roman came to school this morning. Signed a transfer request.”

“For Switzerland.”

“Apparently.”

“Does Ally know?”

I look directly at her. “She’s with me.”

“Ryan, how did you get these?”

“Do you actually want that answer?”

“No.”

“Great.”

A second voice comes through in the background. Arthur. Of course. Dad must already have him. “Ryan?”

“Hey, Arthur.”

“I’m looking at the transfer authorization. I need time to go through every page. Give me the afternoon.”

“And then?”

“Then we talk about Switzerland.”

The call ends. For a few seconds, the room is quiet.

Becca is the first one to speak. “I fucking hate Switzerland.”

Ally looks at her. “You’ve been to Switzerland.”

“Several times.”

“And you liked it.”

“Not anymore.” A tiny laugh slips out of Ally.

Becca folds her arms. “I’m serious. Fuck Switzerland.” Becca points at her. “And fuck their chocolate too.”

That does it. Ally laughs. A real one. “Okay, now you’ve gone too far.”

“I am prepared to make sacrifices.”