Page 64 of Boss Witch

“I’m also trying to be a good daughter, but Mother doesn’t make it easy,” Allegra added in a cranky tone.

Clem raised her gaze to the ceiling. They’d just confronted a witch hunter, but Allegra planned to spend the night complaining about Gram and Barnabas.Really?She couldn’t swallow the reluctant amusement.Nothing fazes you, huh, Mom?

Next, Ethel brought out a cup of milk, possibly for dunking, and plopped on the couch, her floaty lavender dress falling around her like a bridal train. “Hell. We’re in it now, aren’t we? How long before he calls the enforcers? How much does he know about us?”

Fuck. I didn’t ask. I should have.

“What’s an enforcer?”

“They’re the ones who handle the dirty work,” Allegra said, surprising Clem.

Mentally she scolded herself.Way to go, genius. Remember how you promised to handle everything?Somehow she’d fixated more on discussing their fake relationship than on acquiring critical info. Clem muttered a curse at her own grim thoughts, loudly repeated by Percy.

Ethel laughed as she ate another cookie, then she said, “Doesn’t answer the question.”

“True,” Allegra said.

Finally Clem muttered, “I’m not sure. I…may have focused more on posturing than on fact-­finding. My bad.”

It was a good thing Ethel was the only one from their coven here because otherwise she’d never hear the end of this. Likewise, Allegra wasn’t the type to focus on details. In fact, she didn’t seem to realize how much of an emergency this was, and she was texting D-­Pop with a big smile on her face. Clem and Ethel both watched her in amazement for a few seconds.

“What medicine do I take to be as carefree as she is?” Ethel asked softly.

Clem shook her head. “I’ve been asking myself that for years.”

Seeming to set that aside, Ethel stared balefully at her phone. “It’s late, but this won’t wait. You want to pull the fire alarm in the group chat, or shall I?”

Since Ethel hated texting, though she read all the messages, Clem said, “I’ll handle it.”

“That’s what you said before,” Ethel muttered.

“That’s what she said,” Percy shouted.

Raising her eyes from her phone, Clem lifted an eyebrow that silently threatened all sorts of retaliation. Really, it was toothless because what could she do to Ethel anyway? The woman was everyone’s favorite auntie.

“Are we not leaving yet?” Mom asked, glancing up from her screen.

“D-­Pop can wait an hour longer,” Clem said gently.

With a sigh, she sent:911.. All hands to Ethel’s place.

Soon confirmations and questions popped into the chat.

Vanessa:Shit, what’s up?

Margie:Oh no. I’m on the way.

Danica:What the hell, you abandoned me at Heart of Artichoke with Gram and Uncle Barney! Also, OMW

Leanne:I was literally on Trevor’s dick. This better be important.

Ethel:What did I tell you about that?

Leanne:Not to post TMI unless I’m prepared to send pics or videos.

Priya:Kerry’s in the shower. We’ll be there as soon she gets her pants on.

Half an hour later, the whole coven was in Ethel’s front room. The older witch hadn’t planned for company, so Clem had helped her set out an impromptu, eclectic assortment of snacks: Nutter Butter, grapes, cheese cubes, melba toast, almond butter, and Chex Mix. Not all in the same containers. There were also random drinks because Ethel couldn’t host a quick gathering without turning it into a party. The coven helped themselves to snacks and then turned their collective gazes to Clem.

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