Alex’s role is actually very simple: stay close to Ericson. Yet it’s what’s being asked of him to endure that is the difficult part. After tonight, his part will be done and I’ll take it solo once again. Alex will return to his mundane life in a lab, and I’ll exact Lenora’s revenge.

Game over.

Alex doesn’t answer me this time, however. He just stares, arms crossed over his chest.

I shrug. “It’s not too late to back out, is all I’m saying.”

“Why can’t you just say thank you?” He closes his laptop. “You need me, Blakely.”

“I wouldn’t need you, had you never gotten in the way to begin with.” I traipse to the kitchen to grab a water, tossing over my shoulder, “But thanks for getting us access.” I can thank him for that much, at least.

“Why does this need to take place at the attic?” he asks suddenly.

“Because that’s where Ericson does his dirty deeds.” And I have a feeling, after his last experience, Ericson will be in rare form and looking to exact his own form of punishment on the weaker sex. Our whole plan depends on this.

“It’s just…”

I lower the water bottle from my mouth. “Say it now. We’re out of time.”

The mention of our shrinking deadline stirs a reaction. Alex rises to his feet. “No one should get hurt.”

I hold his gaze for a beat too long, then twist the cap off the bottle and take a swig of water. “We’re not avenging angels, or deities of fate, Alex. We don’t work for the justice department. In fact, we’re not anything.” I drop the water bottle on the counter. “This is my gig, not yours.”

“I know that,” he says, blue eyes wide and searching. “But don’t you feel the least bit responsible if this girl gets hurt?”

“No, I don’t. What do you think would happen tonight if we weren’t involved? Ericson’s choices are his own. If he chooses to hurt someone, it’s going to happen regardless of us. We’re just window dressing. There to observe.”

This was all new and exciting when it was simply a plan, theoretic. Now that we’re here, ready to put it into effect, Alex is suffering his conscience. That thing which holds most people back from doing what’s necessary.

He blows out a breath. “I should be the one to bring the mic in.”

We’ve gone over this scenario, too. It would be the easiest way to nail Ericson…and also the easiest way to get caught. “They’re going to search you,” I say. “Thoroughly. And what do you think will happen when they find it? You’re not walking out with a steak on your face this time. You wouldn’t be walking out at all.”