Page 13 of Hooked on a Witch
“An abandoned property north of town on the edge of a cemetery. I’ll text you the address.”
“I’m still on the way home with Shannon.”
“There’s a problem, which makes this a can’t-wait situation. Sleeping Beauty can stay in the car.”
“What kind of problem?”
“I think he took Chad’s little girl.”
Merck’s visual field blurred. “What? His daughter is missing? You’re just telling me this now?”
“I found out a few minutes ago when Chad stormed in here. His daughter went missing from school earlier today. No one even knows how it’s possible, but they didn’t notice she was gone until lunch. Chad went to the school and the bespelled Hexenspiegel you gave him went nuts vibrating when it picked up bad-juju magic. Based on the information you gave me to find the master of the bastard who tried to take Shannon, I looked for somewhere abandoned and found it.”
“Keep Chad there. I’ll find his daughter and bring her back to the office. Text me the address.” He clicked off the phone. A text appeared seconds later. The address was in a familiar area just north of here.
“Damn it. We’re going on a detour.” He couldn’t take Shannon with him, but if Danny was right then there wasn’t time to run her home.
“Everything okay? Chad’s daughter is missing?” Her eyes filled with worry. He’d forgotten this about her. Shannon could go from spitting fire to hugging in a split second, always concerned for the welfare of those around her. Big heart, big emotions. It was why people gravitated toward her. How could he have believed her an evil magic dabbler?
“I’m going to make it as okay as it can get.”
“Can I help?”
He didn’t reply since his answer wasno.
Minutes later he pulled into a rundown convenience store whose only indication of its open status was a flashing neon lottery sign. A nineties black Ford Taurus with a dented bumper was parked on one side. The old gas pumps were almost rusted out and obviously nonfunctional. “I need you to wait here until I’m done.”
“What? Here?” She rotated to look out the window. “I want to go with you. I can help.”
He got out of the car and rounded to her side, opening her door. “Go on inside. Matt’s a bit grumpy, but he’s a good guy with a big gun. Just tell him I dropped you off for a few minutes. He can keep you safe until I get back. Where I’m going will be way beyond anything you’ve ever dealt with. Trust me on that.”
“Here’s safer? This is the bumfuck middle of nowhere.”
He scanned up the road. “I’m sorry I can’t get you home right now. Maybe you should call one of your people to pick you up.”
“This sounds risky for you too. I can call for help.” Her forehead creased.
“This is what I do, darlin’.”
“What is it you’re going to do exactly? At least tell me what you’re about to deal with since you’re dumping me here.”
“A warlock.”
“What’re they like?”
I don’t want you to know.“The best plan is for you to get a ride home and text me when you get there. I don’t know how long I’ll be.”Or if I’ll be coming back.As he shifted to give her space to get out of the car, she caught his hand in hers, holding it there.
“Jason…Merck, be careful,” she whispered, her gaze darting up the paved two-lane in the direction of the dirt road and abandoned house. “This feels really dangerous.”
Her soft touch trapped him, like a caught wild animal. He shouldn’t imagine kissing her, not right now. Shouldn’t even go there. Something about her concern melted every ounce of his resistance to her. He wanted. Christ, he wanted. He hadn’t felt this kind of all-consuming desire since the last time he ignored his rules to kiss her.
Her eyes widened and she withdrew her touch. “I’m sure you’ll be careful.”
“Always am.” Tempted beyond endurance, he captured the back of her head and put his lips to hers. He coaxed her mouth open with his tongue. She deepened the kiss with a groan of surrender and gripped his arms.
She wanted him. The knowledge was more intoxicating than any high-inducing drug or enticement spell. This was what he’d remembered about her, but had convinced himself was no more than the product of fantasy. Kissing her wasn’t just a kiss. It was a full-body, mind-altering experience. It blocked out the rest of the world and all of reality.
His brain nudged him about the warlock. Yet, this…thiswas so much better than whatever sickfest he’d find inside the house. He wanted her, this, and everything that came next. Hell, he’d wanted it, dreamed of it, and run away from it for over a decade.
