He grabbed her arm as she tried to pass. “I’m taking a big chance doing my job to help both you and my family.”
“How kind of you,” she said. “Telling the truth should’ve been a chance you had taken, too.”
Tessa left and didn’t bother looking back.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Dating Tip #5: Grow from the positive and negative dating experiences. And ladies, be sure to remove that chastity belt. Nothing says, “I’m not playing the field,” more than a medieval device used to barricade horny knights.
Why did the pain of betrayal always sear so deep? Deep enough to make her wonder if she’d ever dig herself out?
Tessa thought her dad knew how to do a number on her. Rob evidently worked just as hard. It was on early mornings like this one that she couldn’t help but think about a corner similar to the one where she stood now. She wasn’t waiting for a taxi or a bus at the time.
She was waiting for another man. The first one in her life. She’d been waiting for her father to come pick her up for her rite of passage.
The once-in-a-lifetime event for witches who’d soon leave their homes to be educated in college. She had another year of high school left, but she’d been accepted to attend Northwestern University. She was on the path her parents had set out for her.
A few hours earlier, her mom had said, “Are you sure you don’t want me to take you? I know it’s a father-daughter thing, but I could give you a ride.”
“Dad will show up, Mom. He told me he’s cleared his evening and he’s wrapped up his case load.”
Clark Dandridge was making a name for himself among the supernatural trial lawyers in the Midwest. She’d often heard her father’s name during her grandmother’s dinner parties. He was a man to be respected—especially since he fought for the disenfranchised.
Meet me outside of my office, sweetheart, his note said. I’ll be there at six o’clock sharp.
It was seven-thirty and her feet hurt from standing in her heels so long. The fall wind had picked up as well.
Cars passed by on the busy downtown street in Chicago. After all this time waiting, she sensed everyone’s eyes on her. Who was this girl in a pretty red dress? Why did she look at each car with expectant eyes?
Each time a black car approached, her heartbeat sped up. Would it be him this time? Wouldn’t she feel silly that she’d doubted him?
Like all the other times? He’d taught her to stand behind her words. To uphold the truth.
Tessa took a step toward the curb and tried to ignore a growing feeling. Of regret. He promised he’d come this time. It wouldn’t be like the other times when her dad had told her he’d leave work early or take her out to eat and not show up.
A black car pulled up. One that she recognized, but the woman who opened the door and ushered her inside wasn’t her father. It was her mom.
She didn’t say a word as they rode to the dance.
Tessa cried the whole way.
The event was everything she’d expected it to be. Minus the man who was supposed to be at her side.
The ceremony at the country club was simple, yet profound. Fathers offered their daughters a gift, one that would prepare them for their journey in the magical world. Most got jewelry, others got rare wands and capes made from exotic materials.
“I’ll get you something tomorrow,” her mom told her. “Something really nice.” Her mom’s kind words touched her, and Tessa tried to hide her disappointment. She was the only girl without a gift. Rather embarrassing with all the money that flowed around her affluent friends.
The dance began and one of the teachers took her hand to lead her to the dance floor. Dr. Parks wasn’t the tallest guy either—the top of his head was at the same level as her eyes, but he beamed at her the whole time. The math teacher’s eyes shined as if to say to everyone, “She’s my daughter tonight.”
If only such things were true.
After the father-daughter dance ended, Tessa sipped her punch and gabbed with her friends.
The evening almost came to a close—then someone lightly touched her shoulder. She turned to see her aunt Daisy.
“What are you doing here?” When she noticed the distraught expression on her aunt’s face, Tessa’s smile vanished.
“Tessa…I’m so sorry.” Daisy swallowed visibly. “We need to talk somewhere else.” Her mother wasn’t standing with the adults anymore. She was by the door leading out of the ballroom, holding both of their coats. Grief was etched in her features.
Something was very wrong.
As her mother led her out, Tessa kept repeating, “What’s wrong, Mom? Is it Dad?”
Had he got in an accident? She should’ve waited a bit longer. Had he missed her and gotten hurt?
By the time they’d reached the hallway outside, her mom broke into tears. Her sobs stabbed into Tessa. “It’s Grandma. She’s gone. She died a half-hour ago.”
The trip home didn’t exist. The house where her family gathered to mourn didn’t exist. All she had left was her family’s love, but even at that moment in time, what she really needed was her dad. And he didn’t bother to exist either.
Clark Dandridge didn’t bother to show up until her grandmother’s will was read.
The ticking clock left Tessa hungry for a repo mission. Ursula’s hard work proved fruitful. After reading and arranging the paperwork for the agency, she managed to determine the contact information of four of the seven warlocks on the list. The intern could alter her voice and contact relatives or old golf buddies, fishing for information on the location or contact details on the missing client.
Tessa was reading the profiles for an upcoming dinner party this week for Clive when the phone beside her rang.
She heard the haggard voice of Rob’s aunt.
“Thank God you answered. I’ve no one else to call.”
“What’s wrong?” Was Rob hurt? A thousand ideas popped into her head.
“Arthur isn’t feeling very well. We were out for a walk in Central Park and he started having chest pains. I can’t get a hold of Rob.”
His aunt’s worried voice sounded strange. The woman’s fright broke her heart.
“It’s not that bad, Matilda. Come sit down with me,” her husband’s voice barked.
She could see where Rob got some of his stubbornness. “Matilda, if he’s having chest pains you should call 911.”
“He doesn’t want to call them. He took a Bayer aspirin and told me not to worry.”
“Sounds like he’s being stubborn.”
“I’d agree. Now, I know you’ve only met us once, but well, I’d hoped you could help me convince him to head to the hospital.”
Arthur’s voice grumbled protests not far from the phone. “I’m feeling a bit better.”
“Then why are you still clutching your chest?”
As they went back and forth, Tessa had already re-arranged her schedule on the computer.
“Matilda, here’s my cell phone number. I’m on my way.”
Twenty minutes later, Tessa found the pair sitting on a park bench not far from 73rd Avenue.
The heat couldn’t be the source of poor Arthur’s sweating. She’d never witnessed a heart attack before, but she knew they shouldn’t take things so lightly.
“How about we catch a cab to head to the hospital real quick?” she asked softly.
“And pay over a thousand for some quack to tell me to take an aspirin? No thanks,” Arthur grumbled.
She’d had relatives like him. Bitter old men who had a switch you had to flip to ease their minds.
“I understand that you hate the hospital, but look at your poor wife. She’s sick with worry.”
Arthur pursed his lips. “It’s not that bad, sweetheart.”
“Twenty minutes ago, you were in agony. It’s time to go to the hospital.” His wife crossed her arms and glared at him.
“Matilda only wants the best for you.” Tessa took a step forward. “Who would take care of her if somethi
ng happened to you?”
“How are you feeling, honey?” Matilda asked.
“Like garbage, but I’ll manage.”
Rob’s aunt turned to her. The woman’s face scrunched as if she searched for the proper words. “Did you eat the clam chowder Rob gave you?”
“Sorry, I didn’t have a chance to eat it. I took it to work to eat for lunch and my staff ended up eating it all.”
Her face brightened with relief. “Good thing you hadn’t. Arthur found out I accidentally substituted one of my herbs for a container of lovage. I was so glad you picked up the phone.”
Tessa offered a shaky laugh. Good luck pot of clam chowder indeed. The hospital visit would’ve been the other way around.
Two minutes later, they were in a cab on their way to the nearest hospital. In all honesty, Tessa avoided hospitals like the plague. There were plenty of supernatural physicians available, in particular wizards who operated clinics in their homes, but they didn’t come cheap or offer insurance plans associated with the majority of the employers in NYC.
The emergency room was comfortable, but left little to be desired. Most folks in New York told her not to go to the local hospitals. After hearing the receptionist, she wondered if they’d be issued pagers like they were diners at the local Bennigans.
“What’s the emergency?”
Matilda squinted at the receptionist. “My husband’s having a heart attack.”
“Please go through the double doors and see the nurse.” The receptionist droned the information like a telemarketer recording.
Rob arrived just in time. He stormed into the ER waiting room and spotted them. “How are you feeling?”
“Groggy, but not too bad.”
He addressed his aunt. “My cell died while I was at work. I noticed the phone message while I ate lunch at home.”
“I called Tessa and she helped us get to the hospital.”
He muttered thanks in Tessa’s direction while avoiding her face. She didn’t want him to look at her either. To see her desire under the layers of resentment.
A nurse appeared with a wheelchair to take him through the doors. Rob helped his uncle until he was safely in the chair. Matilda followed close behind until the couple left into the ER. Rob stood there watching them through the tiny window of the closed door.
As she watched his wide back for a few seconds, images flooded her mind of his body on top of hers. His hands intertwined with hers as he made love to her. After a deep breath, she jarred herself out of her reverie. She twisted her eyes away from him and headed for the door.
A strong hand grasped her shoulder. “Wait.”
She avoided his face. Somehow.
“Thanks for stepping in to help.”
She nodded.
“You didn’t tell them... about what I told you.”
“No, I didn’t tell them you were lying to them.” She regretted the words after speaking them. They were the truth, but nonetheless she couldn’t miss when he winced.
“I did what I had to do, Tessa. I was in a position to help, so I took a chance.”
“That doesn’t make being a liar any better. Your aunt and uncle are good people. They deserve the truth.”
I deserved the truth, too.
“You saw my aunt. She’s worried sick about ending up on the street.” He tried to lessen the distance between them, but she took a step back. “I won’t do that to her.”
“You’re gambling for a happy ending, Rob.”
“I’m more than aware,” he grumbled.
She turned to leave again, but he grabbed her arm. “I know you’re mad at me, but I’m still willing to help you if you need it.”
Their eyes locked for a moment. The pain from knowing things never would be the same hit hard.
As she turned to leave she heard him say, “If you’re interested I can pick you up outside of your apartment when the time comes. Just give me a call.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Dating Tip #8: When a matchmaker suggests someone for you, there may be ulterior motives: you need to date someone your own age for your own good or perhaps you conjure up ghosts every time you sneeze. Either way, I only make suggestions. You may already know what you need. The true matchmaker lies within.
Tessa had mixed feelings during the next repo mission with Rob. Maybe he knew her feelings left her torn and divided? Most of past boyfriends never read her that well. Even if her and Rob had a rocky start, she’d fight tooth and nail to save her business. And that meant facing him whether she wanted to be in his presence or not.
His eyes brightened when she got into his rental car. She tried not to return his gaze and failed miserably.
After some time heading east, Tessa finally ended the silence between them. “Where are we headed?”
“A job in Long Island. Should be nice and easy.”
From past trips to attractive spots on Long Island, she knew they had at least an hour of travel time ahead of her. Travel time where they’d be forced to talk.
The trip to Fire Island, their final destination, took under an hour. During the drive, he tried a few times to make small talk. She focused on the scenery instead. On a warm, breezy evening like this one, the Long Island coastline was pleasant and comfortable. The rows of beach houses reminded her of her parents’ vacation house on Lake Michigan. They’d spend a few weeks during the summer relaxing on the water during the days that weren’t stifling hot.
Their destination was a double-level beach house painted lime-green with white shutters. The house was dim against the neighboring houses with summer occupants.
“Are you sure they aren’t home?” she asked.
“Clive was told by the loan holder that the owner is on a business trip in Europe. Should be an easy walk in and walk out job.”
She nodded with a sinking feeling that easy should never be applied to doing repo work.
They approached the house from the back door facing the expansive deck.
“Do you want to try an unlock spell?” His attempts for conversation were persistent.
“I’m good.”
Once inside, the deathly quiet house beckoned. The motor within a large marine tank in the living room grumbled and buzzed. Above the tank a long bulb illuminated the space in a blue glow. The water’s reflection bounced along the walls, casting strange dancing shadows. Something didn’t feel right, but she couldn’t put to words the feeling that they weren’t alone. Rob crept ahead, checking around corners to make sure the coast was clear.
The flickering light drew her to the fish habitat where she peered inside to see what caught her eye. Floating near the bottom, a jar—one of those old-fashioned kind you used for preserving jams and such—had to be filled with what looked like snow. In a warm seawater tank? She took a closer look. A familiar marking on the container’s side consisted of three wavy lines. A water witch’s mark…
Now that’s weird. But not exactly something she’d expect Rob to repo. She touched the tank’s glass and waited for the water to whisper its secrets. Tingles from the jar vibrated into her fingers. None of them good—almost like the hairy tips from a spider’s leg. What was even creepier was how the container slowly slid across the bottom in her direction.
Oh hell no…
Tessa took a step back. No need to lose what little common sense she had left. She should’ve asked Rob what they came here for. She could’ve sped up the process by assisting him in the search. Instead, she left the fish tank behind and looked for Rob in the living room. The furniture was so nice here. What she wouldn’t give to be able to afford this kind of stuff. Like any other luxury beach house, the kitchen had marble counters with a deluxe chef’s stove. She could almost hear the voices of a dinner party with sounds of banter and champagne bottles popping open. A bonfire on the beach would be seen outside the French doors. She’d be standing outside her home, rubbing elbows with the elite of New York.
And all of these riches would’ve come from her successful b
usiness—if she had one in the next year.
“Tessa, I found the earth witch’s painting. It’s in the basement.”
She turned to Rob as the sounds of the beach party faded from her mind. Time to finish the job and find her scroll at last. The path to the basement was dark until they reached it. Large skylights lit the room, but the focal point that drew her eyes was a set of Victorian sconces above an ornate golden frame of an old French period girl with her small dog. On the other side of the room, a home theater had been setup with two rows of comfortable seating and a projection screen along the wall.
As she approached the painting, the hairs on the back of her neck rose. The palm where she stored the wand itched like hives.
“Rob, let’s repo this thing and get out of here,” she whispered. “Something doesn’t feel right.”
He froze as if he listened for something in the silence.
A faint scent hit her nose. The house had been empty for months. Just a trace of fresh paint and cleaning products lingered in the air. But in this room, something familiar filled her with dread. A rainstorm during lunch. A man with a single name—Dagger.
“About time you two showed up.”
Rob whipped around and pushed her behind him.
From the shadows on the other side of the room, Tessa noticed the brief flare of Dagger taking a drag of his cigarette, before blowing it into the air. The smoke trailed around him, then settled at his feet like an ominous fog.
“I expected you to come alone. But your lady friend is more than welcome to join in on the fun.”
The painting behind them hummed. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from Dagger as she fought to remember to breathe. A trap had been set, and they’d waltzed right in.
Rob stared Dagger down without blinking. “Let her leave. This is between you and me.”
“It’s much too late for that now. I promised my pet a chance to play.” Another spark of his cigarette briefly lit the corner. “And both of you triggered his release from the painting anyway.”
Repossessed Page 14
