Page 7 of Hooked on a Witch
She regarded his offer of help, reluctant. He wanted something. Everything about her here at his work after she’d been poisoned was suspicious. Even if he hadn’t hurt her so far, he had just tried to grill her, and he had ill-defined magical powers. Right now, she trusted no one who wasn’t family.
Before she could decide one way or another on accepting his assistance, his hand closed around hers. The calluses at the base of his fingers rubbed against her palm. She liked his large hand around hers, warm and secure.
No, you can’t like it. Snap out of it.As soon as she was on her feet, she pulled free of his grasp. She skirted a few steps out of his reach. “I can take myself home, thank you. I’ll get my car from the bar parking lot.”
“I had a friend drop the car off at your place. I’ll drive you home. Come on.” He led her down the hallway of what turned out to be a generic small office building. The rest of the place was better lit and less cluttered, but didn’t look to house any other businesses. There was a room full of books and another with a bevy of security monitors flashing images of all angles of the building.
She wanted to trust him, but the desire lay in memories of the kid she always felt got a bad rap from adults, a guy whose mother hated him and who always seemed alone. As an adult, like her, he’d become a different person.
She retrieved her cell phone from her bra while he wasn’t looking, the only personal item still on her. Why had he left her cell phone?
It had charge and signal. Notification she had twenty-six voicemail messages flashed on the screen. She thrust it back into her bra moments before Merck glanced over his shoulder at her.
As they passed by an office with an open door, a man yelled in a thick Hispanic accent, “Did Sleeping Beauty wake up yet?”
“I thought you went out, Danny,” Merck replied.
“Already back. Just grabbed the mail. You wouldn’t believe my last phone call. You’ve been gazing at Sleeping Beauty so long…” Danny’s hazel eyes widened when she stepped into the doorway. His mouth closed against finishing the sentence. “You’d be Shannon Randolph?”
She nodded. The roomy office with two wooden desks reminded her of an off-exhibit storage room at a museum. Countless busts, partial sculptures, pots, and ancient vases had been shoved haphazardly onto crowded shelves. Perhaps, Merck sold artifacts in addition to finding people. If he wasn’t after the relic, maybe she could hire him to find it.
Three gigantic, gold-gilded, framed paintings of deities dominated the walls. They weren’t prints and she was pretty sure they featured Greek or Roman gods. A chill slithered down her spine. Too much Greek stuff in here. With her of Greek goddess ancestry and in need of finding a Greek God’s Trident, Merck was definitely in thedon’t-trustcategory.
“Shannon, this is Danny Velez,” Merck introduced.
Danny stood, coming to an inch or two taller than her five-eight. His muscles bulged, suggesting gym rat, but his carriage and confidence hinted at a history with advanced combat training, only too familiar to her from years of druid bodyguards with such skills. He’d be handsome if it wasn’t for his aura of broody isolation. Something tortured this man. A prickle slid between her shoulders. Danny had some magical ability. Not strong like Merck’s power, but it was there. Maybe Danny was a dormant druid.
Shannon threw Danny her best smile, the one that could charm any man. Well, except Merck. She’d tried it on him and failed so many times years ago that she’d given up.
She shook Danny’s hand.
“You truly are Sleeping Beauty.” A flush settled high on Danny’s cheeks as his eyes darted down to her chest.
“Thanks. Good to meet you, Danny. This is quite an office you have here.”
Danny still stared at her shirt, which was designed to draw attention to her breasts. She didn’t think of herself as a flirt, but she enjoyed appreciation from a handsome man.
Merck cleared his throat. He’d crossed his arms and looked pissed. Over harmless flirting with Danny? Maybe it’d been her office comment?
Danny glanced around. “Yeah, we’ve picked up a few things over the years.” He faced Merck. His cheeks flushed a darker red. “Shit’s getting real on the water, Merck. Two more bodies washed up down in Savannah this morning. It’s all over the news. That makes six. The girls were about…” He cleared his throat. His eyes darted to her and then back to Merck. “Her age.”
“A serial killer?” Chills tickled her arms. She might’ve been the next dead body if not for Merck. Did that mean she trusted him now? No.
“I’m not sure if it’s a serial thing.” Merck scratched his chin. His gaze was guarded. He addressed Danny, “I’m going to run her home. Call me if you get any new leads on the unusual happenings.”
He wrapped his hand around her upper arm and propelled her out the front door.
“What’s Danny’s job?” she asked.
“He’s my assistant.”
“Whatunusual happeningsis he to be on the lookout for? Serial killers?”
“There’ve been a some murders in the past few days. ’Round here people don’t die unless it’s an accident or domestic dispute. Those deaths were strange. They occurred since you’ve been back, actually.”
Was he accusing her of killing? She yanked her arm out of his grasp. “I can get home on my own.”
“Get in the damned car so I can take you home.” He hooked her arm before she took more than a step away.
