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"Doesn’t ring a bell But I’ll keep ht?"

"Positive In other news, Marcie’s throwing a Halloween party here at the farmhouse"

Patch smiled "Grey-Millar family dramar?"

"The theinal? Worse, she’s ropedfor decorations today For three whole hours It’s like they’re suddenly best friends" I picked up another apple slice andI wanted Scott to go with Vee, but Marcie already convinced hio with her"

Patch’s smile widened

I aimed my best sulky look at hi my life Whose side are you on anyway?"

Patch raised his hands in surrender "I’ out of this"

"I need a date for the stupid thing I need to upstage Marcie," I added on a spark of inspiration "I want a hotter guy onto co a azed at Patch hopefully

He ether"

"You’d be in costue to be really sneaky You have to ad around is kind of hot"

"I don’t do costume parties"

"Pretty please with a cherry on top?" I battedthan Scott" I let the idea te to let un she keeps on the top shelf of the pantry"

"Again, you’ll be in disguise, silly She won’t know it’s you"

"You aren’t going to let this go, are you?"

"Nope What do you think of John Lennon and Yoko Ono? Or Samson and Delilah? Robin Hood and Maid Marian?"

He lifted an eyebrow "Ever consider Patch and Nora?"

I laceddeviously "Marcie is going down"

Patch’s cell phone rang, and he looked at the readout "Unknown number," he murmured, and my blood chilled

"Do you think it’s Blakely?"

"One way to find out" He answered the phone, his voice calht away, I felt Patch’s body tense beside mine, and I knew it had to be Blakely The call lasted only a handful of seconds

"It’s our guy," Patch told me "He wants to meet Now"

"That’s it? It almost feels too easy"

Patch locked eyes with me, and I knew there was more I couldn’t quite interpret his expression, but the way he watched ive hiive us the antide

"What antidote?" I asked

"When he stabbed you, he infected you He didn’t say hat He only said if you don’t get the antidote soon--" He broke off, sing "He said you’re going to regret it We both are"

Chapter 17

HE’S BLUFFING IT’S A TRAP HE’S TRYING TOon whatever fictitious disease he put inside me to play this sood Real good I say we call hiet the knife after he swears an oath to stop using devilcraft That’s a trade I’ll agree to"