“What’s the plan?” I chomped on a nail. “Because we don’t have much time. Roman has men heading to the Catskills. Our daughters are in danger.” I would die if Ellie and Rorie were taken.
“Where’s Dane?” Sam asked. “He can call Cooper.”
Tripp’s jaw came unhinged. “Fuck. Unfortunately, Dane is hurt. The shifters took him to a nearby vet.”
I was ready to puke. I had two babies inside the farmhouse and two others in jeopardy, and we had no way to help Ellie and Rorie or even my sister, Jordyn.
Tripp whipped out his phone. “I’ll see if I can reach Cooper. Better yet, I’ll have Kendra do it while we get Orion and Luna, and then we leave this place as fast as we can.” He typed out a quick text to the female vampire. “Kendra’s waiting at the private jetport. She’ll call Cooper and your father. He can have a team and a chopper in the Catskills quickly.” He pressed on his ear. “Kraft, come in. We have two of the four packages.” He listened a second then continued, “You and Ben head toward the main house and take up a position across from the back deck. Copy that.”
I felt a smidge better knowing Steven would jump into action for his grandchildren.
Sam rubbed his lips together. “Where are Olivia and Conrad?”
“A car drove up, and Adam jumped in. So they’re tailing him.”
“I heard Roman say something about his contact from Europe being here and taking Adam to their new headquarters,” Sam said.
“Let’s hope they lead us right to it.” Tripp swung his bronze gaze to Agnes. “Give us the layout of the house,” he commanded in his lieutenant tone.
As she outlined the floor plan, I removed the bandage from around my neck. It felt like it was strangling me all of a sudden.
Once she finished, I said, “Here’s what I suggest. Roman doesn’t know that I have my witch powers. Which is why my eyes are yellow,” I added for Tripp’s benefit since he’d been staring at me earlier. “I’ll handle him while you guys deal with Warrick and Ernie. Have Ben and Kraft come in and grab Luna and Orion. Agnes can stay with a car. Do we have one?” I was dishing out orders as if I were the lieutenant.
“Our vehicle is parked on the road behind the property, which is about a mile out,” Tripp said.
“Then we use Roman’s SUV,” Sam said. “It’s perfect anyway. He had his man pack the vehicle with baby things.”
I didn’t care which car we used as long as we got the fuck out of here with our children. That was all that mattered. Hell, I would sprint with both babies in my arms if I had to.
Agnes cleared her throat. “Layla, you won’t have me in there to help you with spells. Your strongest ability right now is your mind control. Use that.” She flattened her hands on my face. “It’s important to know that emotions play a role in witchcraft. So, I caution you.” Her tone reminded me of my mother’s. “If you don’t want your loved ones to get hurt, it’s critical your focus is on your target only. All too often new witches lose control, and everyone in their path suffers. Think before you act.”
She just put a kink in my confidence, but I understood her caution. The problem was when facing off with an enemy, there was no time to think. A second’s hesitation would be detrimental to me and the task at hand.
I nodded at Agnes. “I’ll do my best.”
She lowered her hands. “One last thing. If everything works in our favor and the babies are out of the house, I want you to commit this spell to your memory. Fire purifies. Fire cleanses. It’s by my hand that this house doesn’t stand. This is my will. This is my way. When I walk out, wash it away. Got it?”
“You want to burn down the house?” Tripp asked. “If so, Sam and I can do that.”
Agnes’s expression was serious. “I don’t care who does. But in the event you two can’t, you need a backup.”
“I’m beginning to like you, Agnes,” Sam said with a grin.
I repeated Agnes’s words, praying I could remember the spell, and if I did, that it worked.
8
LAYLA
Ijust wanted this night to be over with. I felt like we were walking through the fires of hell with no way out.
The four of us made our way to the edge of the cornfield, the same way we’d entered. Sam, Tripp, and I were ready to dart up to the porch when a bald man dressed in black came out.
He sniffed the air, his fangs elongating as he searched the area with a mechanical precision.
“Follow my lead.” I jumped into the fray before Sam and Tripp could protest.
It was time for the fireworks to begin.
