Page 53 of Hooked on a Witch
Chapter Twelve
Shannon faked confidence as she walked to the porch, hyperaware of the druids staring her down. Her mother’s words about these men echoed in her brain, “They’re woven into the fabric of our lives, dedicated to be Pleiades protectors. Yet they’re not just guardians. They’re people. Each and every stubborn butthead. Details, honey. Never forget the details.”
She smiled at the men who would die for her in a heartbeat. Committed, trained, and compassionate. To deny them their job, even if they suffocated her with theirprotection, wasn’t fair. She hugged the one closest. “God, I’ve missed you guys. We should’ve organized more get-togethers since Mom died. How’s your wife?”
“She’s good.” The tall blond stepped away, but his eyes misted over.
Shannon forced a bright smile. “She must miss you. I’m sorry you have to be down here.”
“It’s what we do. You know I’d do anything for you ladies.”
She gazed up at him, realizing she wasn’t the only one grieving her mother’s death. “I know. Thank you. All of you.”
She greeted the others, asking about their lives, remembering how grounded each man was, how many birthdays they’d celebrated together, how many funerals, and all the weddings they’d attended. This was her family. This is what was important. She couldn’t let them down by getting herself and all their other wards killed.
She glanced around at the guys smoking on the porch. “There’s been a lot going on, a lot to figure out.” She forced another brave smile. “Give me a few minutes to change and I’ll whip us up some food.”
Air-condition-cooled air bathed her body, raising goose bumps on her arms and legs at the stark change from humidity to dry air.
Her father was nowhere in sight. Right now, she didn’t have the energy for a renewed fight about Merck. She hadn’t fully processed everything that had to do with Merck for herself.
She needed time alone to get her thoughts organized on Merck.
There was no sense of calm as she ascended the curved staircase toward her room, past the familiar oil paintings. She moved fast. The thought of Eli or her father appearing drove her speed.
She sat hard on her mattress and stared sightlessly at the framed photo of her and the Quarter Horse she’d had years ago. The room needed upgrading. She’d grown out of four-poster beds and sparkly purple throw pillows long ago.
Her mind whirled. Merck wasn’t all she thought about, but there was a lot of him in her head.
“When everything is bad, it’s time to cook. Pie helps everything.”Her mother’s words popped into her head. Maybe her mother’s ghost was speaking to her, giving her nudges.
Pie. But Pie wasn’t just pie. It was always cooked for someone. Merck. He deserved pie for everything he’d done to help her.
***
“Reevo’s in town,” Danny announced as Merck walked into the office. “He’s keeping his distance, but I heard he’s in Savannah recruiting.”
Merck dropped the heavy tactical vest he’d slung over his shoulder to the floor and massaged his pounding temples.Great. Another demented warlock to deal with before Friday.“We’ll be hearing about more dead people in the news if I don’t get to him first.”
“I guess he figured he’d join the party and wasn’t too concerned about your threat to deep-six his ass the next time you saw him.” Danny clicked through a few screens on his laptop. “There was another girl who washed up.”
All the Pleiades goddesses were now dead. Not good.
Merck collapsed into a chair. “How’re Chad and his daughter?”
“Fine. There’s more bad news.”
“Let’s hear it.” He grabbed a box of ammo off his desk, removed empty mags from his vest, and started loading.
“Owen Campbell boarded a private jet out of L.A. a few hours ago with an itinerary for Savannah. Maybe just coincidence, but I don’t think so.”
Merck paused, reloading for a moment, but then resumed.
Bad. But not unexpected. “Anaïs will be with him.”
Danny leaned way back in his desk chair and covered his face with his hands. “Why is Armageddon kicking off right here?”
“I’m working on the answer to that. You’re going to research something while I go deal with Reevo.”And talk to a Wiccan for Shannon.
