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know.”
    â€œYou’ve
got
to be kiddin’ me,” Derek moans.
    â€œDon’t worry, Derek. We’ll get you out in a jiffy,” Brandi cries out. “Ashtyn, where does Dad keep those big sharp cutters?”
    â€œIn the shed,” I answer weakly.
    Brandi picks up a rock and starts slamming it against the padlock, as if that will somehow magically unlock the thing.
    â€œI can break the door down if you want me to,” Derek yells through the door, “but I can’t guarantee the roof won’t collapse.”
    â€œNo!” I yell. I don’t want to be responsible for Brandi’s stepson being stabbed in the foot
and
the shed collapsing on him. He could get crushed. There are too many sharp tools inside, ones that could cut off really important body parts. I rack my brain, trying to think of where the key might be. That door hasn’t been locked in years.
    â€œWait!” I call out. Brandi stops her rock assault. “Let me think a minute.”
    I ignore the frustrated snort from inside the shed.
    I get an idea. “Derek, see if you can find a watering can in the shed. My dad used to hide a spare key in there. If you find it, you can push it through one of the slats. I know it’s dark, but—”
    â€œI’ll use my cell phone light.” I hear Derek rummaging through the shed. “Found it.”
    I never thought those words would make me so happy.
    Derek pushes the key through a gap in the slats. Brandi unlocks the padlock and opens the door as I peek around her at her stepson. Derek and his abs are leaning against the workbench. He looks relaxed and maybe a little irritated, but he’s definitely not bleeding to death.
    â€œDerek, this is my sister, Ashtyn,” Brandi says as she rushes up to the guy. “Your, um, step-aunt. Isn’t it funny that you guys are the same age?”
    â€œHilarious.” He shakes his head like he can’t believe he’s in this situation. He’s not the only one.
    Brandi glances down at the pitchfork lying next to him, then stares at his feet. There’s a hole in his left shoe.
    â€œO’migod,” she says, eyeing the hole. “You really did stab him!” She kneels down like a concerned mother hen and examines his shoe.
    â€œNot on purpose,” I say.
    â€œAt least she’s got bad aim,” Derek says in a sexy drawl. “It just grazed my toe.”
    Brandi gnaws on her lip. “What about lockjaw? Julian’s pediatrician said you could
die
if you’re cut from something rusty.”
    â€œDon’t worry, little guy,” Derek says to someone behind me. “I had a tetanus booster last year.”
    Little guy? I turn around to see who he’s talking to. An adorable little boy with blond hair has joined us, obviously my nephew, Julian. He stares at the hole in Derek’s shoe, then looks up at me with fear, as if I’m the Grim Reaper here to collect humans on earth and bring them back to Hell with me.
    Brandi pats her son’s head. “Ashtyn, this is Julian. Julian, meet your auntie Ashtyn.”
    Julian won’t even look in my direction. Instead, he looks up at Derek as if he’s his hero for life.
    â€œDon’t be afraid of her,” Derek tells Julian. “Your aunt’s not mean. She’s just crazy.”

Chapter 5

Derek
    I manage to stay away from Ashtyn the rest of the day, hoping to avoid the crazy warrior girl who locked me in the shed. Apparently she doesn’t feel the need to avoid me, though, because as I’m talking to my old roommate, Jack, on my cell and giving him props for managing to stuff my suitcase with random poker chips as a good-bye prank, she stomps into the den without knocking or an invitation. Her guardian watchdog tags along.
    â€œI have a bone to pick with you.” She crosses her arms on her chest. Her dog flops down on the floor next to her. I bet if he could cross his front legs