by Deanna Chase
“It’s Kane, right? That’s what’s keeping you up. I know he hasn’t called you or stopped by. The ass.”
“No. It isn’t. I asked him for space.” It was true. I had asked him, and he was giving it to me. Be careful what you wish for. He hadn’t even shown up in my dreams. Though Bobby was still there, watching.
“But—”
“It’s the ghost dog.” I cut her off before she could work herself up further. “Duke, the ghost dog. He barks all the time while you’re there. He just won’t stop.”
“Oh.” She chuckled then sobered. “I’m sorry, it’s not funny.”
“It’s kinda funny, except I’m about to pass out.”
Pyper looked thoughtful. “Do you think it would help if we had separate bedrooms? I mean, if we stayed in my apartment, do you think I’d still be able to sleep? Maybe the dog will sleep in your room with you. Do ghosts sleep?”
“I don’t know about ghosts, but Duke certainly looks like he does. That dog lies around all the time.” I shrugged. “I’m up for trying it, if you are. You have a lot more to lose than I do.”
“It’s worth a shot.”
Later that night, while Pyper went to work at Wicked, I curled up in Kane’s bed once again and was rewarded with the faint whiff of his scent. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed him until that moment. A hollow ache formed deep in my heart.
I closed my eyes and did my best to put Kane out of my mind. Within moments Bobby’s soothing image stood before me. I don’t know how long I slept before the barking started. Damn dog. I got up and followed the noise to the living room.
“Hi, Pyper.” I waved.
“Did I wake you up?” Her worry seeped into my consciousness.
“No. It was the dog. I’ve come to collect him. Come on, Duke. Let’s go.” He trotted over to me and disappeared in thebedroom. “Want me to stay up until you go to sleep, just in case?”
Worry swirled around her, but stubbornness quickly took over. “No. I’ll wake up fast if it doesn’t work.”
Too tired to argue, I nodded. “Okay. Goodnight then.”
“Night.”
I fell right back to sleep. Bobby watched over me as usual, with Duke lying at his feet. The bliss seemed to last for hours, until the light around Bobby brightened to a reddish glow and the calm turned anxious. I rolled over, restless and knocked my head against something hard.
“Ouch. Damn it.”
“Hey,” a gruff voice said. “Are you all right?”
Kane’s distinct energy engulfed me. “Was that your head?” I asked.
“Yes.” He ran his hand lightly over my skull. “No large bumps. I think you’ll live.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and I snuggled in closer.
“Good.” I closed my eyes hoping for more sleep, but his intruding desire snapped me awake. “Wait, why are you here?”
“There’s a storm raging and rather than take a cab home, I decided this sounded much nicer.”
“But you’re avoiding me.”
“I was giving you space.”
“And now?” I sat up.
“Now I’m not giving you space.” He pulled me back down into his arms and crushed my lips with his.
Shocked, I didn’t move, but when I felt his tongue searching I kissed him back with just as much intensity. His heart pounded against my breast. I pressed closer as his desire overpowered all my other senses. That alone was enough to send my blood pumping.
Kane rolled me over, trapping me beneath him, hands everywhere. My thoughts jumbled, and I wanted nothing but him.
“God, Jade, I’ve missed you. I’ve been—”
A high-pitched screaming sounded through the wall.
Kane froze.
I pushed him off of me, jumped up, ran to the other room and yelled, “Pyper! Wake up, honey, wake up!”
Her screams stopped, and a second later her eyes fluttered open. “There you are.”
“Jade. What happened?”
“I don’t know, sweetie. You’d been sleeping for a while, but then you just started screaming. Can you tell me anything?”
Kane brushed my arm as he moved to sit next to Pyper.
“I don’t know. I was feeling peaceful, like I always do when I sleep at your place, then all of a sudden the calm disappeared and hell took over.” She clutched the covers to her chest. Kane reached out, running a hand over her leg.
I joined him on the edge of the bed. “I dreamt of Bobby and the dog and had the same peacefulness. Then right before I woke up it got tense and uneasy.”
“Right after I joined you in the bed?” Kane asked, his eyes crinkling with worry.
“How long had you been there?” I asked.
“I’d just gotten there when you knocked me on the head.” He turned to Pyper. “I’m sorry.”
“Why?” Pyper looked from Kane to me.
I slumped. “The ghost has a problem with me and Kane, ah, getting close.”
“Oh.” Realization dawned in her eyes.
“This has got to stop!” I jumped up and paced. “We can’t wait around until Bea and-or Ian shows up. We don’t even know if they can help.”
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Pyper said. “I wonder if Lailah might know someone or be able to do anything.”
“I don’t know. When we asked her about it she said our best bet was to ask Bea.” I flopped back onto the bed.
“It’s worth a try,” Pyper said.
“It is. In the meantime, why don’t the two of you stay here? I’ll take the other room.” Kane got up to leave.
“Won’t work. My ghost dog likes to bark at Pyper. He’s doing it right now. I won’t get any sleep.” I glared at the door where Duke stood.
“I guess it’s the couch for me then.” Kane kissed me on the forehead and left.
Back in Kane’s room alone, it took me a long while to go back to sleep.
The next morning, Pyper and I walked the short distance to The Herbal Connection.
“Hello,” Lailah sang from the back of the store. “Are you here to get your auras read?”
“Thanks, but not today. We’re here about something else,” I said.
“The black thing still following your friend?” Lailah frowned, studying Pyper.
“Yes,” Pyper said.
“We haven’t been able to get a hold of Bea, and things are getting out of hand. We were hoping you might have some suggestions for what to do, or know someone else who might be able to help us.”
Lailah focused on Pyper. Her white light energy took on a gray hue, and then shone bright white again when she looked back at me. She bit her lip. “I don’t know. That shadow is really strong, and it’s not going to be easy to get rid of. I know a way, but I’d feel a lot more confident if Bea were here to help me.”
“Do you know when she’s coming back?” I asked.
Lailah shook her head. “No. In fact I haven’t heard from her at all, which is really weird.”
Pyper stepped up next to me and put her hand on Lailah’s arm. “Please try?” A small twinge of desperation seeped from Pyper.
Then something odd happened. Lailah seemed to absorb it, change it somehow, and sent it back as a stream of calmness. She’d physically changed Pyper’s distinct energy. I could siphon energy, or send my own as a sort of suggestion, but I couldn’t change it.
“How did you do that?” I asked.
“You felt that, huh? Just one of my gifts. I’ll show you sometime. Right now I need to prepare for getting rid of this jackass tormenting Pyper here.”
“Yes!” Pyper pumped her fist in the air.
“Don’t get too excited. It won’t be pleasant. So be prepared.” Lailah turned to me. “I’ll perform the ritual, but we’ll need a fourth person. A female. Females have more power with this kind of thing. Do you have someone you trust?”
“Sure.” I knew Kat would come if I asked. “But she doesn’t have any powers.”
“If she’s female, it’s enough.” L
ailah grabbed a note pad and started scribbling. “We need to do this as close to midnight as possible, and outside. Do you have a place we can meet for this?”
“Yes,” Pyper said. “We have a courtyard between Wicked and The Grind. You know where they are, right?”
Lailah nodded, still writing.
I handed her my cell phone number. “Give us a call when you’re out front, and one of us will come get you. Do we need to do anything special to prepare?”
“Nope. I’ll take care of everything.”
When we got back to our building, Pyper headed to her apartment and I went to mine. I called Kat and invited her to a girl’s night in, leaving out the part about needing her for a ritual. Okay, so I felt a little guilty, but I wanted to feel her emotions while I told her about it in person. If she had any hesitations, I’d have an easier time navigating how to convince her.
My heart sank. Talk about being a hypocrite.
Chapter 17
Kat showed up right before nine. “Where’s Pyper?”
“Working down in the club. She’ll be here before eleven.” I poured two glasses of wine. “Did you eat?”
“Yes, but snacks are expected on girlfriend night.” She took a glass. “So chop up the cheese and whip out the olives or whatever it is you have stashed aside.”
Laughing, I pulled out a cheese plate from the fridge. “I’m way ahead of you.”
“Gouda!” She put a piece in her mouth, closed her eyes and groaned in ecstasy. “Man, this is good.”
“Glad you like it. And here’s dessert.” I set another tray next to it.
“Oh my God! I want girlfriend night at least once a week. Dark chocolate, strawberries, and what are these?” She held up a small round chocolate ball.
“Chocolate-covered blueberries.”
“Damn, Jade. You’ll never get rid of me now.” Kat filled a plate and sat back.
“Good, cause I have an ulterior motive for bringing you here.”
The cheery contentment surrounding her faded to suspicion. “What? What are you gonna make me do?”
“Not me. Lailah.” I grabbed my wine glass and told her about the day I’d met Lailah, my confession to Pyper and the upcoming exorcism.
When I finished my speech, Kat cast a sideways glance as she popped a few chocolate covered blueberries in her mouth. “Now that Pyper knows you’re an empath, did you tell Kane?”
After everything I’d just told her, that’s what she focused on? “No.”
Kat washed down her chocolate with a gulp of wine. “You better do it soon before someone else does.”
“What? Are you going to tell him?”
“No. But word spreads. You know that.”
I frowned, knowing she was right. “Fine, I’ll tell him. Happy?”
“Yes. Now, what exactly have you signed me up for? An exorcism?” Her expression told me she thought I’d lost my mind.
“Lailah said she might be able to get rid of the ghost. She needs three other women to help with the ritual.” Feeling her questions rise, I raised my hand in a stop motion. “I don’t know what or how. She did say it wouldn’t be pleasant, so if you don’t want to do it, I need you to tell me.”
Her suspicion faded to weariness. “Is she a witch?”
“I really don’t know. What I do know is Pyper is willing to try just about anything to be free. Kat, it’s horrible. I can feel her pain when she gets attacked.” I shuddered and whispered, “It’s awful.”
Kat sighed, still filled with weariness, but she said, “All right. If it helps Pyper, I’ll do it.
I grabbed her and gave her a hug. “Thank you. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you on the phone.”
“Don’t worry about it.” She refilled her wine glass. “Let’s get down to the really important stuff. Like where exactly is tall, dark and yummy this evening?”
I smiled. “He’s working at the club. We can go down there if you want.”
“Uh, yeah! Let’s go.”
We ran into Charlie at the bottom of the stairs. When I told her we were headed into Wicked, she shuffled us through the employee entrance and led us through the crowd. Once we
reached the bar she waved a couple of dancers off the bar stools, making room for us.
“You didn’t have to get up,” I said to the tall, gorgeous, barely covered blonde in front of me.
She winked, smiling. “When the boss says move, you move. Enjoy yourself.” She turned and sat in the lap of a man sitting at a nearby table.
“You got promoted!” I stood on the bottom rung of the stool, leaned over the bar and wrapped my arms around Charlie.
“Yep, and a nice raise, too.” Charlie hugged me back, holding on a little longer than really necessary. Her eyes sparkled as she released me, and I laughed.
Kat reached over and gave Charlie a quick hug. “Congrats!”
Watching them, I jumped off the stool, lost my balance and stumbled backwards, crashing into someone. Mortified, I turned to apologize and stopped midsentence. Hate crept up my spine, shattering my defenses. I took a step back.
“Dan,” I said.
Kat whirled in surprise. “Hey! I thought it was poker night.” She put her arm around Dan’s waist and kissed his cheek.
His eyes went wide with shock and then he scowled. “What the hell are you doing here? I told you I didn’t want you hanging out with that freak.”
“Dan.” Kat warned and backed away. “Don’t talk about Jade that way.”
Ignoring her, Dan glared at me. “Why did you have to bring her to this slut palace? Again.”
“She wanted to come,” I said.
“Like hell. You talked her into it, you cheap bitch.”
Kat leaned in, poking Dan in the chest with her finger. “Do not call her that. And don’t you dare tell me who I can and can’t hang out with, Dan Pearson.” She took a few steps forward, forcing him back. Her anger, mixed with confusion, took over, pushing all of Dan’s hatred right out of my awareness. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
Dan grabbed her wrists and yanked her aside. As he moved toward me, Kat regained her footing and jumped between us, stopping him.
“I’m warning you, Kat, get out of my way,” he said.
“Or what?”
“Or you’ll get what’s coming to you.” He grabbed her shoulder, trying to yank her sideways, but Kat swung her forearm up and knocked his arm away. Before he could say another word, she reached up and slapped him. Hard.
“Don’t ever touch me like that again,” she seethed.
“Excuse me. Is there a problem here?” Kane suddenly appeared next to me.
“It looks like Kat has it under control,” I said.
Kane glanced at Kat, and then focused on Dan. “That may be true, but I recall banning this individual from the premises.”
He stepped around Kat and dodged the swing Dan threw his way. “You’ll want to calm down now.”
“Fuck you. I won’t stand for a pimp telling me what to do,”
Dan yelled and lunged forward.
Kane sidestepped him and kicked. He caught Dan in the rear, sending him sprawling into a couple of stools. Dan crashed to the ground and groaned as he rolled to his side.
Kane signaled to one of the bouncers. When his backup appeared and hauled Dan to his feet, Kane leaned in and said, “I thought we had this conversation before, but let me inform you one more time. Stay away from these premises. Stay away from Jade, or I’ll find a way to have you arrested.”
“I never touched you. Good luck making that stick.” Dan winced when the bouncer yanked his arms back.
Kane shrugged. “True, but I have a bar full of witnesses who’ll say you attacked one of my girls. Now move.”
Kat turned to me, holding her wrist. Her face was etched in disbelief. “What just happened here? Who was that?”
My anger at Dan turned to sympathy for her. It was the first time she’d seen that side of him. Worse, it wasn’t just that she’d found out her bo
yfriend had turned into a first-class asshole, but he was also one of her closest friends. I knew exactly how she felt.
“I don’t know,” I said sadly. “But he behaved in much the same way the last time he showed up here. I tried to tell you.”
She furrowed her brow. “Damn, Jade. I’m so sorry. I was pretty drunk that night. I didn’t remember a lot of what happened, just that you and Dan were arguing and then he told me…well, it doesn’t matter what he said. He obviously lied about it.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. But thank you, Jesus! She’d finally seen Dan at his worst.
“You have no reason to be sorry. This is Dan’s problem. And now mine, obviously.”
“What are you going to do?”
She blinked back tears. “Tell him to move out, I guess.”
“I’m sorry. I know it’s hard.” I took her hand. “And I’m sorry we let him come between us.”
Kat pulled me into a hug. “I know, honey. So am I. Don’t worry. You won’t have to deal with him anymore.” She dabbed at her wet eyes and forced a smile. “What’s a girl got to do to get a drink around here?”
I smiled, gave her another hug and turned to Charlie. “This girl needs a drink. But better make it a diet Coke, minus the rum.” I flashed Kat an apologetic smile. “We can’t be drunk when Lailah shows up.”
“Anything for that bad-ass girl. I wouldn’t want to be on the other end of that stabbing finger and lecture.” Charlie winked at Kat and filled two glasses with ice.
Just as I pulled out a ten to leave on the bar, Kane appeared beside me. “You know,” he said in a husky voice, “there are perks to being the owner’s girlfriend.”
“Like what?” I held the bill out for Charlie to take it.
She glanced at Kane, hesitating.
“Like, free drinks.” He lowered my arm.
Leaning toward him, I lowered my voice. “I wasn’t aware I was your girlfriend.”
“You are if you want to be.” He watched me, maintaining a casual appearance. No one would have guessed the nervous hopefulness churning beneath his cool exterior.
