4
Iput my Charger in park and kill the engine. I’m back home, and still have hours before sunset. I don’t do well with free time like this. Work was my escape before, which sounds weird, I know. But if I stayed busy then I didn’t have to think. Didn’t have to feel.
But the void in my heart is filled now. My life is a crazy mess, but I love it. I’m starting to figure out who I am and have four amazing men who I love and who love me.
So why does the time between now and sunset seem so daunting?
“Gemma,” I say out loud, reaching over to unbuckle my seatbelt. I really do need to talk to her. Marissa is MIA andiswanted by the police. She messed with a crime scene and will be arrested once she’s found.
And she will be, I’m sure of it.
But who knows what kind of magical damage she’ll do until then? She has powers and knows some dark shit. She sent ghouls after me, after all. She manipulated and brainwashed Gemma, who she knew from the start was weak and vulnerable.
And she knows about my family.
I highly doubt we’ll have a nice chat when I get her in my grip, but I’m certain I’ll be able to get some of the story out of her. I can’t see why anyone in my family would stand back and let a child die if they could help. I don’t see how anyone could.
Back in the house, a bit of the anxiety leaves me, but Gemma is still in the back of my mind. I shake my head and set my purse down in the kitchen. She’s not my friend. I have no obligation to look after her. Ignoring the voice that tells me none of the victims I work day and night to save are my friends, I open the fridge and heat up a plate of baked spaghetti.
I take my food into the living room, setting it down on the coffee table. Before I sit and try to force myself to relax, I go into the library.
“Mom?”
I hold my breath as I wait.
“Mom, are you here?”
Still nothing. Was the spell a one-time thing? I’m not trying it again. Opening one rift is bad enough.
Going back into the living room, I turn on the TV and search through Netflix until I find something to watch. I eat and finish the movie, then get up and pick a room to deep clean. This house needs an overhaul and I’m still too unsettled to do nothing.
An hour later the downstairs bathroom smells like bleach and is spotless, and the pantry has been cleared of every crumb and speck of dust. I even organized my food.
And I’m still wondering what the hell happened to Gemma.
I grab a cookie and get my phone from my purse, bringing up Gemma’s number. Hesitating, I almost don’t call. Inhaling deep, I dial her number. The call goes straight to voicemail.
Maybe she’s at home resting. Or doesn’t have cell service. I’m sure she’s fine. She’s with her family, and while the Amish lifestyle isn’t for her, she’ll be cared for.
I tackle the master bathroom next, and by the time I’m done, sitting around doing nothing is welcome. I get sucked into a new Netflix original show, making the rest of the day pass right by.
When the basement stairs creak, I get up and wait for the guys to come upstairs. Gilbert steps out of the basement first, smiling as soon as he sees me.
“You look better, Ace. Not to say you looked like shit before.”
“I did look like shit before.” I laugh. He crosses the room and hugs me, lips brushing against my neck. “How’d you sleep?” I lean out of his embrace and watch the others come into the living room.
“So deep it felt like someone turned me into a stone statue.”
I wrinkle my nose. “I’m going to fix that, you know. Someday.”
“You have bigger fish to fry. Did I say that right? I heard it on TV last night.”
“Yeah,” I reply with a laugh. “You did. And I guess I do, though right now things are pretty mellow.”
“You know you’ve just jinxed us into an apocalypse or something now, right?” Thomas steps up behind me. “Don’t say shit like that.”
“I used to say jinxes are a bunch of bullshit, but next to curses, I suppose anything is possible.”
