I drive the car through the snow, up into the administration building parking lot.
“Okay. Roman, can you help me get Sev’s chair out of the trunk?” I ask.
We’re outside a moment later. Roman is even faster than me, and he’s also well-versed in doing bad things.
The two of us set the wheelchair up and help Sev into it.
Niko’s still looking up at me from the car like he’s sick. His door is open, but he’s not outside, yet.
“I don’t want you to do this for me,” he says again. “But I know you’re going to.”
I lean over and kiss him. “Damn right, I am.”
We get Sev wheeled up to the front of the building within another minute. I keep my head on a swivel as he works to pick the lock of the building door.
Every time I see any movement, I panic a little.
I see a leaf falling off a goddamn tree and I think it’s someone coming.
I see a squirrel dart across the edge of the parking lot and I watch Niko jump behind me, too.
But we’re safe.
Miraculously.
For now.
Sevan has a few little tools he apparently uses for lockpicking, and he’s got a few thin pieces of metal out on his lap, now.
We’re under a small roofed entryway that leads up to the administration building, and no snow is actively falling on us, but I can still tell that Sev’s fingers must be cold.
For a moment, he fumbles.
He works one of the metal pieces into a portion of the lock and jiggles it a bit, then it just falls out.
And then it happens again.
Each time I see the piece fall down and the door remain locked, my heart lodges up somewhere closer toward my throat.
“How’s it looking, Sevan?” Roman asks.
“Just need a little more wiggle room to make it latch,” Sevan says, focusing hard on the little lock.
I don’t think it’s going to work.
But I don’t dare to say that out loud.
And when I hear a voice coming from around the corner of the building, I nearly drop down to my knees in fear.
“Hey!” a curt voice comes from around the corner and I swallow hard, putting my body in between Niko and whoever it is.
When I see Noah’s face come around the side of the building I swear I might pass out from relief.
“Noah,” I say.
“Yo, boys! You guys are doing risky things and you didn’t invite me? I’m offended, honestly?—”
“Shh,” Roman quiets him. “Let Sev focus.”