Page 78 of Heal Me

“Have you ever found someone whose mind you couldn’t bend?” I ask as we step outside and make our way to Dad’s house.

“No human. But there’s always tomorrow.”

“You’re such a glass half-full kind of angel.”

“Gloom and doom is Sam’s vibe, not mine.”

“Because of Gabby?”

He stops walking and looks at me, all playfulness gone. “Some wounds run deep. If I were you, I’d never mention that name anywhere near Sam, or any of the Watchers.”

“Okay.” I hold up my hands in a surrender motion. We start walking again. “You don’t think that wound also runs deep with Gabe?”

“Charlotte, I like you, so let me give you some friendly advice. Humans that meddle in Watchers’ business don’t fare well.”

“Is that a threat from Sam?”

“Not a threat from anyone. Just friendly advice from yours truly. But here’s more friendly advice you’d be wise to remember. A threat from one of us is a threat from all of us. So don’t cross one, and you won’t get the wrath of the Watchers.”

“I’m not planning on crossing anyone. But why does Sam have such a strong dislike for me? He doesn’t know me.”

“He knows you better than you think. Your therapist should really ward her office.”

I stop dead in my tracks. Turek’s eyes go wide, realizing his mistake. I’m so enraged, I can’t speak. Finally, I take a deep breath and say, “I want to talk to Sam. Take me to him.”

“Charlotte, that’s a terrible idea.” His eyes begin to glow.

Knowing what’s about to happen, I take off in a dead sprint.

Chapter 32

Charlotte

“Charlotte, wait!” Turek cries. The street’s crowded, so he can’t risk teleporting to stop me, and I use that to my advantage, sprinting faster than I ever have in my entire life. I dart around a couple out for a leisurely stroll and reach a crosswalk. Damn! I don’t catch the light, and I can’t run it because if I did, I’d get flattened by the onslaught of traffic.

Shoving my way to the front of the crowd, I cut in front of a group of three gruff-looking older construction workers. “Hey, watch it!” one of the men barks at me in a strong townie accent.

“Sorry. That creep back there in the Hawaiian shirt is following me,” I say a little winded as I point over their shoulders. “Please don’t let him get near me.”

All three of the men turn and face Turek. “You bothering the lady?” one of the men asks Turek. Turning to face the street, I don’t dare look back. The light turns green and I take off again.

I make it to the front door of Dad’s, and with fumbling hands, somehow manage to unlock the door with my key. Lunging inside, I slam the door and lock it behind me, just in the nick of time.

“Charlotte!” Turek yells as he bangs on the door. There’s no way I’m letting him mind bend me on this one. Sam has crossed the line and he needs to know it! But more importantly, he needs to know I’m in Gabe’s life for the long haul, and he’s going to have to respect boundaries from here on out. Or what? Well, I’m not quite sure about the or what part.

Doubling over with my hands on my thighs, I catch my breath, and then go to the kitchen and down a glass of water. Walking to my room, I find Gabe’s already sent my bag, along with a vase of jasmine. I think back to the first time that he gave me the flowers. Jasmine’s my middle name, and I loved the serendipity. But was it serendipity, or did Gabe already know everything about me?

Feeling sick to my stomach, I grab my phone and call Gabe. It goes to voicemail. I hang up without leaving a message and call Aubry.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“If I forget, will you please remind me a Watcher named Sam violated my privacy by breaking into my therapist’s office and stealing my file, and that I’m really pissed off about it?”

“Oh my Goddess, that’s messed up.”

“It is. Hey, thanks for looking after Doogie.”

“No problem. I don’t mind watching him.”

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