“It’s not a commentary on male-female relationships. It’s a commentary on you. I’ve already told you I’m with Ofelia. I don’t want to be with anyone but her.”
“But ... I have money.” Daisy straightened her shoulders and delivered the line with determination. “I can give you more than she can.”
“Um ... maybe in your head, but I don’t care about money. She’s what I want.”
“She’s just a bar owner. I come from one of the richest families in the state.”
“Oh, she’s way more than that.” Sully smiled as he thought about the previous evening. “I don’t know what you’re trying to do here.” He held his hands out so he wouldn’t accidentally brush up against the unstable woman and cause her to throw herself at him again. “It’s not going to work, though. I’m not interested in you.”
“I can give you more.”
“You can’t.”
“But ... .”
“No.” He shook his head, firm. “I want her. That’s not going to change. Even if I didn’t, though ... .” He left the statement hanging.
“Well ... great.” Daisy’s expression twisted as she took a step back. “I guess this makes me look like a fool.”
Sully silently agreed but opted not to express his opinion out loud. “Things will be fine if you go,” he countered. “I ... .” A shadow caught his attention in the open doorway and he trailed off, looking in that direction.
“Oh, now I’m not even good enough to break up with,” Daisy lamented, shaking her head. “That’s just great.”
The ghoul let out a roar when it saw Sully, claws extending from hands as yellow eyes flashed.
“Son of a ... .” Sully scrambled to push Daisy out of the way and plant himself between the ghoul and the delusional woman. “Move back, Daisy!”
Daisy’s eyes were as wide as saucers as she focused on the ghoul for the first time. It looked like a man except for the fact that his skin was blackened and cracked. His eyes, which were probably human at some point, had turned a deadly shade of yellow, and his teeth were elongated and gleaming with determination.
“What is that?” she asked on a shaky breath.
“Death,” Sully replied, preparing himself for battle. He stretched his fingers, readying himself to shift. He was stronger in his panther form, although it would be hell to explain to Daisy. “Lock yourself in the closet,” he ordered.
“No way.” Daisy instantly started shaking her head. “I’m not getting in there. If you think the apartment is filthy, you should see the closets. You couldn’t pay me to go in there.”
“Really?” Sully’s eyes flashed with annoyance. “What is your life worth?”
Daisy, perhaps reading the truth in his eyes for the first time, changed her tune. “You’re right, of course. It’s best if I get in the closet.”
Sully didn’t bother watching her retreat as he faced off with the creature. “I don’t know what the plan is, but I’m not going to let you escape this time. This is it.”
The ghoul that used to be Robert Windsor let loose a tortured laugh. “You think you have a say in what’s about to happen.” He raised his hands. “You don’t, though. This is the end for you, and after what you did to me, I’m looking forward to delivering the final blow.”
Sully wasn’t a coward. He wasn’t afraid to fight. Still, momentarily and unbidden, his mind flew to Ofelia. If this was the end for him, he had a lot of regrets. The biggest was that he wished he would’ve moved faster when asking her out so they wouldn’t have wasted so much time.
“After I finish off you, I’m going for the girl,” the ghoul hissed. “She has a special brand of torture coming her way, and I’m looking forward to delivering it.”
That was enough to snap Sully back to reality. He glowered at the creature. “You’re not going to touch her.”
“Oh, I’m going to touch her.” Robert let loose an evil cackle. “I’m going to rip her insides out and make her wear them as a hat.”
“You’re not going to touch her!” Sully was adamant.
“You can’t stop me.” The ghoul started snarling at the same moment Sully’s spine started rippling. The transformation was coming. He would protect Ofelia with his dying breath. That’s the only thought that went through his head as he braced himself for the pain that came with the shift.
And then she was there.
Ofelia stalked through the door behind the ghoul, her hair flowing and her hands lifted to signify an attack was imminent. Sully opened his mouth to call out to her, warn her, but it was already too late.
“Hey, Papa Windsor,” she called out, causing the snarling ghoul to swivel. “I just killed your daughter. I thought you would want to know that before I finish you off. When you cross over this time, there will be no one here to bring you back. You’ll be going to the wrong side of the line.”
The ghoul snarled, poised to strike, Sully essentially forgotten. Ofelia didn’t give him a chance to draw first blood, though. She was done playing around.
“Mortem!” she yelled in Latin, causing Sully’s eyes to widen as he ceased trying to transform and instead watched the show. Magic like he’d never seen before pulsed out of her hands, not flames this time but a powerful waterfall.
It barreled into the ghoul’s chest, causing the creature to cry out in anguished pain. Ofelia’s assault was unyielding and she continued funneling magic into the creature long after he’d stopped moving. She was determined ... and relentless ... and fighting for a future she desperately wanted a chance to enjoy.
Sully watched a long time ... and then he intervened. He shuffled to her, carefully moving his hand to her wrist. “It’s over now,” he whispered.
As if seeing him for the first time, Ofelia dropped the magical barrage. Her chest heaved and her eyes were wild as she scanned the room. “It was just him, right?”
“Yeah.” Sully bobbed his head as he slipped his arm around her waist. He wanted to offer comfort, although he didn’t know her well enough to understand what was needed in this particular situation. “It was just him ... and he’s definitely gone.” He pulled her tightly against his side as he brushed her wild hair away from her face. “I guess we now know who killed those girls. Our theory was right.”
“Not entirely.” Ofelia licked her lips as she tried to regain control of her emotions. “It was Maggie. She was the killer ... although Michael and Robert were part of it, too. It’s a long story and I’m more than happy to tell it to you. We have to get rid of the bodies first.”
“Bodies?” His eyebrows hopped. “Oh, right. You mentioned Maggie was dead.”
“She’s in my patio area. She thought she was stronger than me.”
“Baby, nobody is stronger than you.” On a whim, he wrapped his arms around her slight frame and pulled her flush against his chest. “I don’t want to be a nag but ... I had this. You didn’t have to rush to my rescue or anything. I totally could’ve taken him.”
That’s when Ofelia fully returned to reality. Her lips curved as she sought — and found — Sully’s steady gaze. “I apologize. Next time I’ll let you fight the supernatural creature on your own. I won’t offer a lick of help.”
“That would be great.” Sully didn’t miss a beat. “I mean ... I’m all for girl power and everything, but he was supposed to be mine. You got to take out both the bad guys this go-around and I got nothing.”
Ofelia sighed, weariness cascading over her. “I apologize. It won’t happen again.”
“That’s all I ask.” He leaned in and brushed a soft kiss against the corner of her mouth. “Just one other thing.”
“What?” Ofelia pressed her eyes shut and allowed herself to lean against him. It felt good.
“Were you going to leave me in there forever?” Daisy shrieked as she escaped from the closet, her eyes firing with malice as she glared at the embracing couple. “I mean ... I get it. You’re together. That doesn’t mean you have to leave me in the disgusting closet.”
; “Just that,” Sully said as he rubbed his hands up and down Ofelia’s slim back. “We’re probably going to have to come up with a lie to feed her.”
“Or we could just let her grapple with the truth and suck it up,” Ofelia countered, shaking her head as Daisy glared. “Why is she looking at me that way?”
“She’s hot for me. She was throwing herself at me when the ghoul showed up.”
“Really?” Ofelia’s temper fired a second time. “That’s ballsy, huh?”
“Don’t worry. I told her I was a one-woman man ... and you’re my one woman.”
Ofelia’s cheeks flushed red as a surprising wave of pleasure washed over her. “Oh. I ... oh.”
“Yeah. Oh.” He tapped the end of her nose, amused. “I told you I was all in on this and I meant it. Now that the threat has passed, once we deal with body disposal, I’m good to go on that dinner.”
“What is this?” Daisy shrieked as she moved behind the couch and almost tripped over Robert’s body. “Another one? I swear this building is cursed.”
Ofelia smiled and remained focused on Sully. “Dinner sounds good.”
“Just the two of us. Your father isn’t invited.”
“Just the two of us,” she agreed. “Someplace quiet.”
“Yeah. We can talk about things.”
“We can also name the cat. That’s high on my to-do list.”
His lips spread into a wide grin. “And we can also name the cat.” He rested his forehead against hers. “I just need two minutes of this before we tackle the bodies.”
“My father was right about this building,” Daisy lamented. “I never should’ve bought it. Now I’m stuck with it. I’m never going to be able to unload it now.”
“Live and learn,” Sully said as he swayed back and forth, enjoying the way Ofelia burrowed close. “There are lessons at every corner.”
Daisy scowled at him, all traces of flirtatious energy gone. “Are you just going to stand there and hold her?”
He nodded without hesitation. “For as long as I can.”
Drink Recipes
Pimm’s Cup
Pimm’s No. 1
3 oz lemonade
Lemon-lime soda
Garnish with cucumber
Fill glass with ice and Pimm’s No. 1. Add lemonade. Top off with dash of soda. Garnish.
Brandy Milk Punch
2 oz brandy
1 cup whole milk
1 tsp powdered sugar
3 ice cubes
Cracked ice
Fresh nutmeg
Mix brandy, milk, sugar and ice in cocktail shaker. Shake until frothy (about one minute). Strain into glass with cracked ice. Sprinkle nutmeg on top.
Creole Bloody Mary
1 cup vodka
4 ½ cups chilled tomato juice
2 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Celery salt
Black pepper
Celery, lime slices, pickled okra, asparagus, string beans, cocktail shrimp or pickles for garnish
Mix vodka, tomato juice, lime juice and Worcestershire sauce in cocktail shaker over ice. Add celery salt and black pepper to taste. Garnish with your favorite option (pickled okra is my go-to choice).
Wormwood Candy
Ice
1 ½ oz Aquavit
1 ½ chilled sherry
Dash of absinthe
Dash of orange bitters
Blueberries for garnish
Fill glass with ice. Add aquavit, sherry, absinthe and bitters and stir. Strain into martini glass. Garnish.
Cajun Lemonade
12 oz vodka
4 oz Pimm’s No. 1
8 oz lemon juice
4 oz simple syrup
½ tbsp hot sauce
Ice
Lemon-lime soda
Lemon slices for garnish
Combine all ingredients except lemon-lime soda and lemon slices in resealable container. Refrigerate until chilled (at least one hour). Shake contents, pour into pitcher, strain into smaller glasses, stir in soda and garnish.
Rum Punch
80 mint leaves, torn or sliced
8 oz light rum
8 oz aged rum
8 oz orange juice
8 oz mango juice
4 oz pineapple juice
Ice
Pineapple wedges
Combine all ingredients except for ice and pineapple wedges in container. Refrigerate until chilled (at least one hour). Stir well. Serve over ice. Garnish.
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Acknowledgments
I’m a romantic at heart. A true romantic. I love the idea of a happy ending, so much so I have trouble writing a sad one. The world is sad enough. I like escaping in fiction. That’s just me. I like sarcasm and snark – but I’m not sure a sad ending is in me. If you’re looking for an edge like that, you’re probably looking in the wrong place. Just FYI.
If you’re interested in upcoming releases, follow me on Facebook and Twitter. I do not spam. I don’t believe it and, as a reader, I find it annoying. Only new release information and special sales promotions will be posted.
This book is available for lending. Please do so.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.
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Witch Confidential Page 20
