Page 6 of Rafael

“Have you ever had a potion fail to make someone fall in love?”

“Sadly, more often than you’d think,” Gisele said. “And usually, it’s because the person the purchaser is targeting isn’t the least bit interested. They have no common ground on which to build a lasting relationship.”

Bianca’s pretty brow furrowed. “Then what good is a potion?”

“Exactly,” Gisele said with a grin. “But don’t tell my customers. That’s where I make most of my money at the shop. People come in all the time for elixirs to improve their sex lives or make a boyfriend confess his love. I tell them that the potions don’t always work, and there are no money-back guarantees.”

Bianca brushed away her tears. “Without a potion, how can I get Romeo to fall in love with me?”

“You don’t,” Gisele said. “He was clear that he’s not interested.”

Her cousin cocked a brow. “Then how will you make him fall in love with you so you can dump him?”

“I’m not sure, but leave it to me. The man shouldn’t get away with trampling on your or any other woman’s feelings. He’ll think twice before he treats a woman so cavalierly.”

“I almost feel like I should warn him,” Bianca said.

“If you do, how will I teach him that lesson?”

“It just doesn’t feel right setting him up for a big fall.”

“Isn’t that what he did to you?” Gisele asked.

Bianca chewed on her bottom lip. “Well, yes...sort of.”

Gisele gave her cousin a brief hug, “Then hedeserves the same.” She slipped an arm around Bianca. “Do you need me to drive you home?”

Bianca shook her head. “No. I came with some of my girlfriends. I’ll catch a ride with them.”

“Then let me help you find them,” Gisele hooked her cousin’s arm. “I’d like to know you’re safe before I leave.”

“You’re too good to me.” Bianca leaned into Gisele. “I know you’ll always look out for me.”

“Yes, I will.” Ever since Bianca’s mother had committed suicide, Gisele had looked out for her younger cousin when her father had been unable to provide the feminine support the girl needed.

Bianca had an overwhelming need to be loved to the point of obsession. Gisele recognized it even if Bianca didn’t. She’d tried to shield her from making huge mistakes with the wrong men.

Perhaps she’d done too good of a job at shielding to the detriment of Bianca’s growth and maturity. Maybe it was time to just let the girl fall for the wrong guy and suffer the pain of rejection to its full extent.

Gisele couldn’t. She was afraid her cousin would follow the same path as her mother and commit suicide rather than work through the pain.

She walked her younger cousin over to where her friends stood in a small group, talking and drinking beer while swaying to the zydeco music. After ensuring they would look out for Bianca, Gisele leftthe festival, walked back to her little shop on Main Street and started to climb the stairs up to the apartment over the shop only to stop, her brow furrowing.

The light over the back door wasn’t shining as usual. She relied on that light to shed just enough light for her tosee the steps up to her apartment. Had it burned out?

Gisele reached into her purse for the little can of mace she carried. Just because she lived in a small town didn’t mean she was completely safe. Not a single woman alone at night. And the bayou was a great place to hide bad guys and bodies.

She shook her head at how quickly her thoughts turned morbid.

Holding the mace can out in front of her, her other hand went to the tiny ornamental gris-gris she wore around her neck. Her grand-mère, Bayou Mambaloa’s resident Voodoo Queen, Madam Gautier, had fashioned the amulet of soft, colorful cloth and filled it with bits and pieces of items intended to protect her granddaughter. Gisele hoped it did the job.

As she inched toward the back door, she noticed it was slightly ajar.

The hairs on the back of her neck spiked. She started to back away when she heard a voice squawk,Reach for the sky!

A loud crash sounded inside the shop, immediatelyfollowed by the same squawking voice,You break it, you buy it, asshole.

Gisele gasped. “Johnny.” She ran toward the slightly open door. As she reached out to push it open, a figure dressed all in black from the top of his head to his toes burst through it.

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