by Rachel Dylan
“Something’s wrong with you,” Olivia said. “I can tell.”
They walked through the turnstiles out the front door into the warm, summer air. He dreaded telling her this on top of everything else that was on her shoulders, but they were a team and made a promise to each other not to have secrets. “You’re right.”
“Is it your settlement?” Olivia asked.
“Well, yes, that blew up too, but there’s more. Let’s get to the car.”
They made their way to the parking garage and into his Jeep. He started the Wrangler and then looked over at her before he put it in reverse. “While waiting for you to finish up in court, I got served with a malpractice suit.”
“What?” Olivia’s voice was uncharacteristically loud. “For what?”
He started to drive and told her what he knew, which wasn’t much. “It’s for a case where the jury found against my client and for the company. The complaint was sparse, but they’re basically saying I was negligent.”
She reached over and placed her hand on his arm. “I know you, Grant. You’re a very diligent lawyer. There’s no way you were negligent.”
He only wished he were as confident as her, but he didn’t want to show weakness right now. “I don’t think so either. I’ve got insurance, but this is going to be a big thorn in my side.”
“You know I’ll do anything to help you. I’d offer to represent you myself, but I know your insurance carrier would flip over that.”
“And you can’t be objective.”
Olivia smiled. “Probably not, but I’d fight to the end to defend your good name.”
“I know you would and then some. Let’s take it one step at a time. I’ll call my insurance company and go from there.”
“All right, but if the lawyer they assign isn’t up to snuff, I’ll be there in a heartbeat.”
He gripped the steering wheel. “This has been a completely rotten day. Maybe I should drop you off at your place. I know we’d talked about dinner, but I think I’d be lousy company.”
She didn’t immediately respond.
“I can practically hear you thinking, Olivia.”
“Don’t try to push me away, Grant.”
“I’m not, but I want to wallow a little bit and don’t want to subject you to that.”
“I’m in for all sides of you, not just the good days.”
Now it was his turn to smile. Leave it to Olivia to know the exact right thing to say. “I don’t deserve you.”
“We’ll tackle this like we do everything else. Together.”
Ben and Micah exchanged glances as they hovered over the white Wrangler as it pulled into Olivia’s driveway. The angels kept close tabs on Olivia and Grant because the spiritual battle that had started when Olivia stepped foot into Windy Ridge still raged on as strong as ever. The levels of occult activity had only increased in the past year.
Yes, they’d had some victories, but the forces of darkness were bound and determined to go after this power couple. It was up to Ben and Micah to help protect them.
“Grant’s struggling,” Ben said. “And this latest blow isn’t helping.”
“It’s because Othan and his demon cohorts are sticking way too close and nagging him to death. This lawsuit is probably their doing too. They have their ways of putting ideas into people’s heads.”
Ben nodded. “Don’t I know it.”
“We have to be prepared for Layton to be released, and then he’ll be on a warpath too.”
“Yes, he will,” a loud booming voice interrupted them.
They had an unwelcome visitor—Othan, the lead demon in Windy Ridge.
Micah floated forward. “Othan, you have no place at Olivia’s house. Get out of here.”
Othan laughed, his eyes sparkling brightly. “I can go anywhere I want on this earth, and you and I both know that. Those tactics won’t work with me.”
“Where’s your minion? Did he not make the cut?” Ben asked.
“I’m working solo tonight but don’t worry. There’s plenty of us around, and all I have to do is say the word and I’ll have reinforcements.”
“What, are you afraid of two angels?” Micah asked.
“Hardly,” Othan responded. “With Layton soon to be back in business with his name cleared, the tide is definitely turning our way.”
“That still doesn’t explain why you’re here at Olivia’s tonight,” Ben said.
Othan turned toward Ben. “Because Grant’s doubts are letting me in. He’s opened a door, and the two of you are too blind to see the truth.”
Before they could respond, Othan vanished.
“I don’t like the sound of that,” Micah said.
“Me either. They both need our prayers, but we must be extra vigilant with Grant. We can’t lose him.”
That would be a disaster.
Chapter Two
Nina Marie took a deep breath as she walked into Windy Ridge Community Church. She was there today to meet with Pastor Dan Light. After being wrongly accused of embezzling, it would’ve been easy and understandable for Pastor Dan to pack up and leave. Since his wife died there was nothing tying him to this community, but Nina Marie had learned that wasn’t the type of man Pastor Dan was. He wouldn’t tuck his tail and run.
Nina Marie stopped for a moment and thought about how her life had changed so much over the past year. She had once been the CEO and spiritual leader of Astral Tech—a thriving New Age tech company. A woman who had actively and openly practiced witchcraft and the dark arts.
But the Lord had worked as only He could, and now she was a believer. Even with the changes in her life, she still needed a lot of help. She’d had multiple counseling sessions with Pastor Dan, but her pain ran deep. It was to be expected that someone who had lived in the darkness for so long would have many struggles in trying to live her new life. She had a solid net of people around her to help, and Dan wanted to make sure he did his part—not just as her pastor, but also as a friend.
Nina Marie walked into his office a few minutes later. Today she’d chosen to wear a simple ivory blouse and black pants with a strand of pearls. She adjusted her horn-rimmed glasses before she gave Pastor Dan a quick embrace. Then she sat in one of the chairs.
“I heard about the trial.” Dan’s light blue eyes focused in on her.
Nina Marie nodded. “Yeah. I think I’ve come to terms with the fact that Layton will walk. I don’t know what that means for me. Will I always be looking over my shoulder? I don’t think he’s going to let it go. To let me go. He’s a vindictive man with a very long memory.”
“You’ve already been spared once, Nina Marie, against all the odds. I believe with all my heart that God has a bigger plan for you. You didn’t die that night for a reason. I think you should pour your energy into getting completely well and then see where the Lord wants to take you.”
She clasped her hands together in her lap. “I’ve thought about it and wondered why God would’ve allowed me to live after all the heinous things I’ve done in my life. The pain I’ve caused others and intentionally inflicted…”
“That’s the beauty of your testimony, Nina Marie. The power of God can transcend even the darkest of hearts.”
Nina Marie stood and walked over to the window. “I’m not the same person. Not even close.” She paused. “There’s something else we haven’t talked about that’s been weighing on me.”
“Please, whatever it is, you can tell me.” He urged her to continue.
When they’d first started their counseling sessions, it was tough for Nina Marie to open up to him given their rocky history and her previous spiritual activities, but over the past few weeks, she’d gotten more comfortable. Still standing by the window, she turned to face him. “You may think I’m crazy.”
Dan shook his head. “No, don’t say that. I’m here to listen to whatever is on your mind.”
She took a breath. How could she try to explain this to him? “After Layton stabbed me and I was lying the
re in my house, certain I was going to die, I started going in and out of consciousness.”
He tilted his head. “That’s completely normal given the circumstances.”
She nodded. “Yes, and while I was in and out, I saw things.”
“Like a dream?” he asked.
“Yes, but it was even clearer than a regular dream. It was like I was seeing it and experiencing it at the same time.”
“What happened?”
“It was a battle. Right here in Windy Ridge. I don’t think I survived.” She paused. “I don’t think anyone did. It was just death all around.” Her voice shook as she spoke.
Dan rose from his chair and walked over to her. “Nina Marie, that type of dream would be awful for anyone. I’m not discounting it at all, but we have to consider that it really was a dream or hallucination as you lost consciousness.”
“And what if it wasn’t? What if it was a vision of things to come?” Her voice trembled.
He reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder. “God will protect us. Do you believe that?”
She took a step back and turned toward the window. “I hope so, but I know I can’t get it out of my head.”
“Has it occurred to you this is just one of the evil schemes Satan is using to try to bring you down and get you on a detour? He plants those seeds of fear and anguish and tries to get them to grow.”
Nina Marie faced him again. “That’s a good point, and it’s completely rational. I used to think I was a logical person, but reason doesn’t work for me anymore. I’m having these visceral experiences, and I can’t deny them.”
Dan nodded. “Then we’ll both pray about it. I’ll make sure I’m specifically praying for you. God can give you peace, Nina Marie, even in the midst of the darkness.”
She didn’t feel entirely convinced, but she gave him a slight nod.
“How’s Abe doing?” he asked.
She smiled. “Abe is my rock. Out of this awful mess has come something good. He’s different than all the other men I’ve ever had in my life. I literally wouldn’t be alive if he hadn’t found me, and I’m still alive because he’s in my life. Each day he supports me and pushes me to move forward and not dwell in the past.”
“God has a way of bringing people into our lives at the exact right time.” Dan took a breath. “I do think it might be helpful for you to attend services a bit more regularly. I see Abe here all the time, but he’s alone.”
Nina Marie blew out a breath. “I figured you were going to mention that at some point.”
“What’s your hesitation? I can sense it. What’s holding you back?”
She bit her bottom lip. “People in this town know me. They know what I’ve done. I can’t help feeling like right when I walk into service, people will start chattering about the witch who was almost killed and then found Jesus.” Nina Marie paused. “I don’t like the attention and people talking about me and being put under a microscope.”
“Here’s the thing, we all have a past. Every single person in this church has made mistakes, has sinned, has done things they are ashamed of—myself included. You shouldn’t feel like you’re any different. Yes, you are a bit more high profile, but my experience is that people tire of the chatter quickly and will move onto something else or someone else. Don’t deprive yourself because you’re worried about what others will say. There’s only one opinion that matters in the end.”
She looked up at him feeling the tears coming on. “I can only hope that’s true, because if it’s not, there’s still a place in Hell for me.”
Dan placed both his hands on her shoulders. “No. There is no longer a place there for you. You’re a child of God, now, Nina Marie, and nothing can change that. Do you understand me?”
“You really believe that God’s grace goes that far?” she asked expectantly.
“Absolutely. You may have your doubts, but God doesn’t.”
She gave him a small smile. “If you think that it would be okay, then I’ll be here on Sunday.”
“We’ll be waiting with open arms.”
Stacey Malone stared at her calculus notebook, but her mind wasn’t on her college homework. It was on the fact that Layton had been found not guilty by the jury. It didn’t come as a surprise to her as she had sat in the courtroom for most of the trial and had been able to get a good feel for the jurors and their reactions to the testimony.
Stacey knew Layton didn’t have to resort to witchcraft to be able to get the verdict they wanted. She wasn’t naïve anymore—her eyes were wide open. Layton had tried to kill Nina Marie, and the woman had deserved it. She had turned her back on everything they had fought for in Windy Ridge.
In her mind, Nina Marie was the worst kind of traitor. It was inconceivable to Stacey to think that a woman with so much power and promise could have gone over to the church. Now Nina Marie called herself a so-called believer.
Stacey had been there once herself, a prisoner of the church, and it only brought her pain and confusion. They were always putting constraints on her and telling her how to live. But now with her newfound freedom, she was stronger and more determined than ever to make her mark on this world. Life was too short to live with regrets.
When there was a knock at her apartment door, she set down her notebook and went to answer it. She looked through the peephole and saw her friend and mentor Morena Isley on the other side. She opened the door and Morena stepped inside. The pretty, curly haired blonde didn’t look like a practitioner of the dark arts, but she definitely was. Morena had not only been a teacher but a great friend to Stacey, but Stacey realized she was advancing so quickly that she had overtaken Morena in the spiritual arena.
“Isn’t the news about Layton wonderful?” Morena’s light blue eyes sparkled.
Stacey nodded. “Yeah, but I wasn’t that concerned. I didn’t think the jury would find him guilty because there were way too many holes in the prosecution’s story. Of course, it helped that we had Louise on our side. She had the jurors eating out of the palm of her hand.” The move to bring in Louise had been absolutely brilliant, and probably orchestrated by Layton. He had such a strategic mind, especially when it came to legal entanglements.
“I thought we might go out and celebrate,” Morena said.
“Aww. I would love to, but I’m trying to get through some calculus homework. Although it’s days like these that I regret taking this one summer course.” Yes, Stacey might have a lot of interest in partying, but at the end of the day, she still wanted to be a strong businesswoman in her own right. And that meant not having to rely on Layton or Morena for anything.
Stacey appreciated the internship she currently had, and the offer for full-time employment, but she needed to keep her options open. Layton had taught her a lot—and he was the best. But his self-interested model was something she was trying to imitate for her own benefit. She also had a call scheduled later that night with a New Age practitioner in California who was going to share some of her teachings. Stacey hadn’t told anyone, but she had started to go out on her own to learn more areas of the dark arts. She had a bigger plan at work.
Morena punched her arm playfully. “You’re always diligent. You know there is such a thing as trying to have fun. Especially at this point in your life before you get too old.”
Stacey laughed loudly. “I think I can do it all.”
“Spoken like a true millennial.” Morena smiled widely. “So, on another topic, what do you think is going to happen to Nina Marie?”
Stacey had given that a bit of thought. “I don’t know. Layton isn’t one to let things go, but he might be over it at this point and ready to move on to bigger and better things. I would not want to be Nina Marie. I’d be sleeping with one eye open.”
“If she hadn’t sold out on us, I’d almost feel sorry for her.”
Stacey had once admired the woman. “She looks awful. Not anything like the person I used to know, but I will tell you that her boyfriend is one hottie.”
Morena raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, I noticed that too. I guess he’s a private investigator. What he sees in her at this point, I’m not sure. Nina Marie has fallen so far, and I don’t even know what she’s going to do with her life from here on out.” Morena paused. “But she isn’t our problem anymore.”
Stacey fully agreed with that. “I’m ready for the next step and to see where Layton is going to take Optimism. I know he said he had some new ideas before trial started, but we haven’t had a chance to discuss anything. Now that it’ll all be over, we’ll be able to decide the direction of the group, especially now that Nina Marie will almost certainly be completely out of the picture. Astral Tech as a company will struggle and probably collapse. Although we could probably recruit people from there who we want to cherry-pick and bring them into our fold.”
“Stacey, you are wise beyond your years. Are you sure I can’t convince you to come out?”
Stacey shook her head. “As much as I’d like to, I really should hit the books.”
“Understood. I won’t pressure you. We can catch up later. I’ll let myself out.”
Stacey heard the door shut, and she couldn’t help but wonder what her future would hold. She was going to be a new type of practitioner of the dark arts—not old school like Layton. She would make her own way and use her skills and gifts in the way she wanted. If one day she would take on Layton himself, then so be it. And that meant she had a lot of work to do.
Layton Alito sat in his dining room waiting on the arrival of his guests. He was hosting a dinner party not only to celebrate the verdict and exoneration, but the plan for what was next for Optimism. His company was a thriving business that focused on a broad range of New Age products and activities, but the other side of Optimism wasn’t just a business—it was a spiritual lifestyle. He was selling not only products but a way of life, and people in Windy Ridge were buying and buying big.
He had built the company over the past eleven years. He’d taken over once the original founder passed, but he’d made it his company and was bound and determined to see it thrive. But even more than the financial statements, he measured his success by how many people he could bring over to his way of life.
