Nina jammed a finger in her ear before she grabbed hold of Dom’s shoulders and gripped hard.“I heard you, and if you don’t quiet the fuck down, you’re gonna hear my foot when it jams right up your ass!Calm down.We have to have a plan, and part of that plan is to get your shit together mentally.”
Squeezing her temples, Dom winced.Nina was right, but goddammit, she wasmad.“I don’t know what happened.One minute he was there, the next he wasn’t.Just poof.Gone!”She snapped her fingers.It had happened so fast.How could she fight something that can make someone disappear?
Nina pulled her into a tight hug, giving her a shake in the process.“Breathe, Dominique.Just breathe.We’re going to get him back.We’ll do whatever it takes.I fucking swear that to you, but you’re at the core of this.You need to be strong to take on this fight.Remember, you have all the GD power.Now, say it,” she demanded.
When Dom fought for words, Nina gave her another gentle shake.
“Say.It.”
On a quivering breath, she repeated the words.“I have all the power.”
Inhaling deeply, she let Nina’s clean scent of laundry detergent and soap soothe her.But all she could think was, they had her papa.Would they hurt him?Was he cold?Was he afraid?Was another one of those horrible serpents breathing down his neck—in his face, the way it had been in hers—terrifying him?
Clenching her fists, she forced herself to calm down, to let the vibration of MC’s handle remind her she wasn’t powerless.
Wanda and Marty flew into her grandfather’s room with Darnell right behind them, throwing their arms around Dom, enveloping her in a floral hug.“Oh, honey!We’re on it.Don’t panic!”Marty crowed, squeezing her hard.
Wanda tightened her grip on Dom.“You’re shaking, honey.Please, please listen.We’re going to find your papa.I promise you.Help is on the way.”
Harvey, in the middle of the chaos and panic, remained calm as he and MC summoned Heimdall.
Just when Dom thought she might pass out from the fear of her papa with those monsters, a beautiful woman with flowing hair and sparkling eyes walked in the door.Unsure if she was friend or foe, Dom spoke to MC.“Hammer!Prepare to battle!”she bellowed, planting her feet firmly to ready herself for impact.
She held him up in the woman’s face, taking a threatening stance.“Who the fuck are you?”she growled.
But the woman simply smiled, tilting her head.“I’m Roberta Tisdale-Winthrop.Though, I prefer Robbie.And this is my husband, Greer.”
A handsome man, healthy and tall, came in not far behind her.“Greer Winthrop.Nice to meet you, Dominique.”He held out his hand, but she hesitated.
Nina stepped between the group, pushing MC away from the newcomers.“Calm down.They’re here to help.Don’t threaten the fucking help.”
Marty and Wanda threw their arms around Robbie.“Thank you for coming!”Marty squealed.
Robbie hugged them back.“Always.”Then she took a step back and sniffed the air, wrinkling her nose.“You were right to call us.I smell the magic.Can you smell it, too, honey?”she asked Greer.
He nodded his head, his green eyes somber.“I do, babe.But it doesn’t smell like anything we can’t handle.It’s not strong magic, if that helps at all.And I definitely think it’s the giants who have him.”
Now Dom took a step back.“Whoare you?”
Robbie planted a hand on her shoulder, her smile gentle.“We’re here to help get your papa back, Dom.We’re witches, and if there’s anything we know, it’s magic.”
Harvey stepped forward, his face somber, but his eyes screamed interested when he stuck out a hand to both Robbie and Greer.“Harvey Larsen.Thanks for coming to help.We’re all a little on edge right now.Forgive our jumpiness.”
Dom’s shoulders collapsed in relief.She instantly dropped MC to her side.“Oh…oh, I’m so sorry.I didn’t mean to come at you in attack mode.”
Greer smiled at her.“It’s all right.You’re worried for your grandfather.But that you’re ready to do battle is a good sign, Dom.You’re strong.I can sense it.”
She gave him a sheepish glance, horrified by her behavior.“I’m…I’m so sorry for my approach.I’ve been in warrior mode for the last couple of weeks, and I seem to have forgotten my social graces.I’m ready to fight anyone who looks at me crooked.”
Robbie chuckled, the tinkling sound pleasant to Dom’s ears.“No one gets that better than I do.This accidental business is pretty crazy, huh?But then there’re these ladies, and all the amazing things that have happened to me since I became a witch.They helped the entire way.I’d have never made it without the saucy vampire, my favorite werewolf, and the calm in the eye of the storm, Wanda.And of course, Greer.But I won’t tell you getting there was easy, Dom—because it wasn’t.But youcanget there, and we’ll help.”
“Can you explain what you mean when you say this magic the giants used to abscond with Stavros isn’t strong magic, Robbie?”Marty asked.
Robbie drove her hands into the pockets of her oversized coat with a pop of her lips.“I mean, whatever they used isn’t something we can’t harness and control.It’s weak.And I’ve done a bunch of sniffing around since Wanda and I had that Zoom meeting.I can’t find a hint of any ancient magic anywhere that’s been dug up.That’s not to say it can’t slip past us, but I have my doubts—why else would they take her grandfather and not MC himself?They want to scare you right now, Dom.They want you to come to them, and your papa’s the bait.”
Dom licked her lips.“Well, they’re doing a great job of it, because I’m petrified.”
Greer held out his hand again.“We absolutely will help.So let’s start again.I’m Greer Winthrop, and I’m here to help you kick some giant ass.”
