Page 14 of Hooked on a Witch
He pulled away and forced his brain back on the job at hand. The drive to finish what he’d started with Shannon warred with responsibility.
This was about a little girl. She wasn’t just any little girl, but Chad’s princess. He had to hurry.
Hoarsely, he rasped out, “I gotta go.”
Her already flushed face turned a deeper shade of pink. “I didn’t mean to distract you. I’m so sorry. You need to get to Chad’s daughter. Go.”
His smile was hard to smother, but she’d probably slap him if he showed an ounce of humor. “I don’t think you’re entirely to blame.”
He grabbed his tactical vest out of the backseat and zipped it into place, removing an amulet from the front pocket. “Take this. It’s a crystal talisman from Colombia that’s enchanted to provide protection. Wear it around your neck. There’s foul magic at work up the road. If for any reason it strays here before your ride arrives, this should help.”
She accepted the talisman and followed him to the driver’s side. “If you’re in trouble, call me. I can help.”
He wanted to sayokay,but he wouldn’t allow her anywhere near the vile creature he expected to face. If he didn’t agree to her, though, he had a bad feeling she’d follow him. “Give me your cell phone number.”
She rattled it off while he plugged it into his phone.
The air temperature dropped a few degrees. He hoped he wasn’t too late. Temperature drops happened when a death ritual was close to completion.
No time for more delay. “Put it around your neck. Stay put or get a ride home.”
He hopped in and left. Her reflection in the rearview mirror watched him as he drove away.
He shouldn’t have left her alone with a measly talisman as her only protection.
***
The SUV disappeared down a dirt road less than a quarter mile away. Him alone bothered her. No one should go up against evil by himself.
Shannon’s gut urged her to follow Merck. Everyone could use backup, but the evil emanating from up the road scared her. She didn’t have the skills to face off with a warlock. She didn’t even know the capabilities of a warlock who used black magic.
The warlock was probably here for the Trident. If Merck failed or got himself killed and she followed without her bodyguard, then she’d be in the same situation she’d almost been in last night. Dead.
Her safest bet was to call for a ride. She pulled out her cell. No signal. Crap. How was Merck supposed to call if she had no signal? Maybe there was a payphone inside and she could call for a ride.
A blue sedan circa 1980-something roared down the road. It screeched to a halt just as it passed her, backed up, and pulled into the old gas station. The car was as large as a mid-size boat. It could probably run over a high curb with the driver feeling little more than a slight rocking motion. A Smart car would fit on the hood of the giant vehicle.
The driver hand-cranked to roll down his window. He said something, but she couldn’t hear over the roar of the car’s screechy motor belt.
She shook her head and pointed at her ears. She walked closer. “Can’t hear you.”
He cut off the car. “Where the hell’s Merck? I know he didn’t take you home last night after we were at the bar. So he must’ve dumped you here to wait while he...” He stopped as if realizing she might not know what Merck did.
This had to be the grownup version of the lovable-but-obnoxious, rotund blond who as a kid she used to trade homemade pie for his Little Debbie cakes in elementary school. “Heavens to Betsy. Chad, is that you?”
“Yeah, that’s me.”
“It’s been ages since I’ve seen you. High school. God, you look just like I remember. I heard the guy Merck went after might have your daughter. I’m so sorry. I mean, Merck will get her out. He has to.” She rubbed her arms against an unseasonably cold breeze. It felt like fifty-something out here when a typical July midafternoon should be uncomfortably hot and humid.
“Where’d Merck go?”
“I think you should let him do his thing. Sounds like whatever he’s going up against isn’t something we can help him fight.”
“Not when they’ve got my daughter. Now which road did he take?” He scowled. “If you won’t tell me, I’ll drive down every road until I find him. He can’t be far. This was the general location I saw on Danny’s map before he shut down his computer.”
“Let me hop in, and we’ll go together.”Distract him. Give Merck time to rescue his daughter.
“He wouldn’t want you there.”
