Love of the Witch

by Deanna Chase

  A long shadow fell over their table, and Chad glanced up to find the deputy sheriff looking down at him with a pained expression.

  “Drew. What’s wrong?” Hope asked.

  “I’m really sorry to be interrupting your dinner, but I’m here on official business.” He held a piece of paper out to Chad. “It’s a warrant for your arrest for assaulting Leonardo Mahoney.”

  Hope let out a gasp while Chad groaned.

  “That son of a…” Hope spat out. “This is garbage. Chad never assaulted him. You can’t—”

  “Hope,” Chad said, cutting her off by raising his injured hand.

  She clamped her mouth shut and stared at two fingers that were now slightly crooked, and he knew she understood.

  Chad handed Hope his truck keys and threw a few bills on the table as he stood. “Drew is just doing his job.” He turned to the deputy. “Do you have to cuff me? I’m willing to go with you to the station so we can straighten this out.”

  “I don’t see why if you’re not resisting,” Drew said, rolling his shoulders as his facial features relaxed.

  “I’m not,” Chad said with a resigned sigh. There hadn’t been any witnesses that night of the altercation with Leo. Chad had been willing to let it go, but now it was clear he’d just been stupid.

  Hope stood, too. “I’ll call Lorna.”

  “Thanks,” Chad said and followed Drew out of the restaurant.

  “Want to tell me what happened that night?” Drew asked Chad.

  They were sitting at a metal table in the town’s small police station. Lorna was to the right of Chad already scribbling notes. She’d come right away after Hope’s phone call, and she and Chad had spoken for about ten minutes before they sat down with Drew.

  Chad glanced at Lorna.

  The lawyer nodded. “Just the facts, Chad. No need to elaborate.”

  “All right.” Chad flexed his hand, the muscles and tendons aching with just the memory. “I’d just gotten out of my Uber and was headed to my Airbnb after a performance in San Francisco on the night of the incident, when Leo popped up out of nowhere and swung at me. He clocked me in the temple, and I went down sideways, twisting my knee. Then he was on me, fists flying. But I managed to roll and get the upper hand, and when I saw who it was, I just lost it. Before I knew it, I was pummeling him with my right fist. Unfortunately, he twisted out of my grip and the last blow hit the pavement, breaking multiple bones and ending my career as a professional pianist.”

  Drew scribbled down Chad’s story, his lips pursed in concentration.

  Chad leaned back in his chair, trying to calm the nerves in his gut. He’d thought he had nothing to be worried about. Leo had taken the first swing. He was also the type of guy who didn’t like to involve the police in his business, so Chad hadn’t ever imagined he’d go to the police. If he’d known that, he would’ve made his own police report. Instead, he’d just gone to the hospital, gotten his hand taken care of, and then dealt with the ramifications of trying to crush the man’s skull in. He wasn’t proud of the way he’d lost control, but he wasn’t exactly ashamed either. Leo was a grade-A douche.

  “So, Leo attacked you first?” Drew asked.

  “Yes,” Chad said.

  “Did you report it?”

  “No.” Chad glanced down at his hand. Hell, he should’ve reported it. At least there’d have been an official record.

  “Why?” Drew asked.

  Chad shrugged. “I didn’t think it would matter to be honest. I couldn’t sue the bastard for the destruction of my career. He doesn’t have anything. And in San Francisco the police have a lot more to deal with than a one-off altercation. I just wanted to figure out how to get my life back together. Dealing with police reports just seemed like more effort than it was worth.”

  Drew tsked but didn’t comment. He ran through a series of more questions, asking about Leo’s motives and why the man targeted him. Chad answered as best he could, but he didn’t know the answers himself. All Leo had said was that he knew what Chad had done and he was going to pay the price. Chad assumed he meant the money he’d given Hope to get away from Leo and Pam, but he couldn’t be sure.

  “Okay, well, I have to book you,” Drew said. “I don’t have a choice. But if you have the cash you can bond out immediately.” He rattled off the amount.

  Chad nodded. “I can do that. Not a problem.”

  “Good. I’d hate to see you behind bars even if you had taken the first swing. This guy has a record a mile long.” He grinned at Lorna. “Forget I said that.”

  “I didn’t hear a thing,” the lawyer said.

  Twenty minutes later, Chad walked out of the sheriff’s office and headed straight for Hope’s house.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Hope was so angry she was ready to scratch Leo’s eyes out with her bare fingernails. After she paid the bill at Woodlines, she grabbed Chad’s keys and intended to head to the station to wait for him. Instead, as she was opening the driver’s side door of the truck, a hand came out of nowhere and slammed it shut again.

  “What the hell?” she cried as she spun around, adrenaline coursing through her veins. Her startled gaze landed on Leo’s beady eyes. “You,” she accused. “How dare you show up here after filing assault charges against Chad?”

  “That jackass. I should’ve killed him when I had the chance,” Leo said, slurring his words. He crowded her closer to the truck, trapping her between him and the door. “I thought for sure that sucker punch to the head would do enough damage to keep him down while I explained to him exactly why he deserved to have his ass beat. Little effer had more fight in him than I realized.”

  So, he had thrown the first punch. Hope figured as much. Chad wasn’t the type to go around picking fights if he didn’t have to. “Go away, Leo. You’re not welcome here.”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “I don’t think so. Not until you give me the kid.”

  “Why? What is it you need him for? Do you work with his uncle or something?” she asked, just to keep him talking. If she kept him distracted, maybe she’d have an opening to get safely into the truck.

  “I owe Frank a debt. He’s willing to forgive it if I bring his nephew back to him. So do your duty to the one who raised you and take me to him. Or else you’re going to find out what happens when you defy the man of the house.” He thrust his hips suggestively, making her stomach roll.

  She chose to ignore his taunts about raising her and being the man of the house. Neither of those statements were based in reality. But then, he appeared to be so high that likely most of what he was saying probably wasn’t based in reality either. “Levi filed a restraining order against Frank. Even if I was inclined to agree with your insane demands, it isn’t going to change anything. Frank can’t be within 100 yards of him anyway.”

  “Pfft.” Leo waved an impatient hand. “No one cares about any damned restraining order. Where Frank is taking him that won’t be an issue.”

  Hope wanted to gag at his words. He was such a vile human being she wondered if he’d ever had any redeeming qualities. If so, she’d never seen any of them. Not that she cared. All she wanted to do was get the hell away from him and make sure Levi was safe. He’d gone to Candy’s house earlier in the evening and was due home any minute now. The thought of him home alone sent a shot of fear through her. What if Frank was just waiting for him and tried to snatch him again? She pressed both palms to Leo’s chest and pushed as hard as she could.

  The man stumbled backward, and Hope quickly pulled the truck door open again. But before she could climb in, he grabbed her arm and twisted, sending her straight to her knees. “Don’t you ever put your hands on me, girly,” he snarled. “Do that again and I’ll break all of your fingers. Got it?”

  “Let her go!” a boy shouted in the dark night.

  Hope’s breathing stopped altogether as she recognized Levi’s voice. No. No! Go home, Levi! The words echoed in her head as tears fell down her cheeks because of the pa
in radiating through her arm.

  “Ahh, if it isn’t the boy I was looking for all along,” Leo said. “Frank’s found you a nice man to take care of all your needs, Levi. Doesn’t that sound nice? Just because your daddy doesn’t care for your orientation it doesn’t mean Frank has a problem with it. In fact, I’m pretty sure that sugar daddy he’s found will make sure you have everything you need just as long as you behave and do what we say.”

  Levi’s face blanched in the pale moonlight.

  Hope was sure she was going to vomit. “You disgusting pig,” Hope ground out. “Levi is never going with you. Got it? Not if I have anything to say about it.”

  “Oh no?” Leo yanked on her arm so hard a scream ripped from her throat. But it was nothing compared to the foot that landed on her ribs.

  “Stop! Stop!” Levi cried, frantic now. “I’ll go with you. Just stop hurting her.”

  “At least one of you has some sense,” Leo said. He nodded to Levi and then to the blue truck a few spaces away. “Get in the truck.”

  “Let her go first,” Levi demanded.

  “Want me to break another rib?” he asked.

  Levi’s mouth dropped open as he shook his head.

  “Good. Then get in the truck.”

  “Not so fast,” another voice called. This one was high-pitched and full of fury. “I told you I’d burn your junk off if you came near her again.”

  Yvette. Pure relief rushed through Hope. Her sister would never let Levi go with Leo. No matter what happened, he’d be safe.

  Leo stiffened then yanked Hope up to her feet, wrapped an arm around her neck, and squeezed, blocking her airway. “Back off, witch. Do it, or I’ll kill her.”

  “I’d like to see you try,” Noel said, emerging from the shadows, wind swirling around her and making her hair lift from the force of it. Faith, Abby, and Hanna rounded out the group. The five women formed a half circle around Hope and Leo, each of them tapping their magic in terrifying ways. Faith and Hanna, the two water witches, had both produced thick, pointy icicles that were aimed right at Leo’s skull. Abby had her hand aimed at one of the planter boxes on the sidewalk where a vine was growing rapidly and inching toward Leo.

  “Let her go, or things are going to get really ugly for you really quickly,” Yvette ordered.

  Leo jerked Hope to the right, trying to put her in the path of the icicles, but the moment that happened they shifted, this time pointing at his exposed groin. He jerked Hope to the left, trying to cover himself, but Abby’s vine reached his ankle and quickly wrapped itself around his leg. She snapped her fingers, and the vine instantly pulled back, sending Leo to his butt. He didn’t let go of Hope, and she went down with him. But the leverage of his grip was compromised, and she was able to quickly squirm out of his grip.

  Then all hell broke loose. All five witches unleashed their magic, pelting Leo. Noel’s wind held him down while Yvette’s fire flamed to life around him, leaving him no way to run off without breaching the flames. Abby’s vines quickly worked to hogtie the man in place. Hanna’s and Faith’s icicles melted from the fire, but it didn’t matter. Leo was contained and wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

  Levi ran into Hope’s arms, burying his face in her neck. “I’m so sorry,” he muttered over and over again. “It’s my fault this happened. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

  “Shhh,” she whispered into his ear. “It’s not your fault. Don’t ever think that. It’s Leo and Frank’s fault. And your dad’s fault for being so closeminded. But never your fault. You didn’t cause any of this, all right?”

  Levi shook his head, unable to accept that he was the victim.

  “Please, Levi. Look at me.” She pulled back just far enough so that she could stare into his dark eyes. “Say it. It’s not my fault.”

  He shook his head. “If I hadn’t called Chad that night. If I’d just…” Tears leaked from his eyes, and he let out a sob.

  “I’m glad you called Chad. You did the right thing. If you hadn’t, we wouldn’t have found each other. And I don’t know about you, kid, but I’m grateful every day that you came into my life. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Got that?”

  When he didn’t respond, she kissed his forehead and whispered, “You deserve to be loved, Levi. I love you. Chad loves you. And it sure looks like my sisters do, too.” She glanced over his shoulder at the five women who were standing watch over her, Levi, and the bound man on the pavement.

  “I’ve always wanted a brother,” Faith said quietly.

  “Me, too,” the other three Townsend sisters agreed.

  Hope’s eyes filled with tears as emotion rippled through her. This was what it meant to be a family. She let the tears roll unchecked down her cheeks as she forced out, “Looks like you’re stuck with us, Levi.”

  His tears came hard and fast as he buried his face in her neck again. And this time as she held him, the Townsend sisters wrapped their arms around the pair while Hanna watched over Leo.

  Chapter Thirty

  “Need a snack?” Hope asked Levi as she placed a plate of cheese, salami, and crackers on the coffee table. He was sitting on the couch, working his way through a chapter in his algebra book. It had been too late to enroll in summer school, but Hope decided to start him on a homeschool course, and they’d hit the ground running. There was a lot of material to get through before he started classes in the fall.

  “Thanks,” he said without looking up.

  Chad added a large glass of root beer to the coffee table and then tugged Hope back into the kitchen. As soon as they were out of sight, he pressed her against the wall and covered her lips with his. She melted into him.

  It had been a week since Leo had been hauled off to jail. One week since her sisters had saved both her and Levi from Leo’s wrath. One week since all the charges against Chad had been dropped. Since Levi had overheard Leo confessing to assaulting Chad first, his testimony had been enough for the judge to throw out Leo’s complaint. It didn’t hurt that Leo’s record was a mile long while Chad’s was squeaky clean.

  “Want to try another date tonight?” Chad asked between kisses. “The last one didn’t exactly end the way I planned.”

  Hope chuckled. “And how was it supposed to end? With me in your bed?”

  His eyes flashed with heat. “No, but only because I live in an apartment above my stepmother’s garage and am currently making do with a sofa bed until I figure out my housing situation. I was going to do that after I’m done pouring money into the music shop. But if you wanted to invite me into yours…” He grinned. “I won’t say no.”

  Gods. She’d been so close to inviting him to spend the night a couple of times over the past week, but then she’d thought of Levi. And even though she knew he wouldn’t care, she’d still hesitated. Life was finally falling into place, and she didn’t want to do anything to mess it up. She glanced toward the living room.

  Chad’s grin faltered, and he nodded solemnly. “I get it. No need to say anything more.”

  “I’m sorry. I just feel a little strange about it still.”

  He reached out and brushed a lock of her blond hair out of her eyes. “No need to apologize. Really. But if you want to take a long lunch break sometime this week…”

  A shot of desire rippled through her. Levi did have plans to see his friends Axel and Candy on Thursday. And she did have the morning free before she had to head into Eureka to work with Healer Snow. “How about Thursday morning? Ten o’clock? I could make you breakfast and then…” She cleared her throat. “I’m free until about one.”

  That heat was back in his eyes, and his voice was full of gravel as he said, “It’s a date.”

  Butterflies fluttered in her belly as she thought of stripping him out of his clothes and running her hands all over his beautiful body. His lips came down on hers again, and this time the kiss was slow and sensual, giving her a taste of what was to come in just a few days. Guh, how was she going to wait? She’d wanted him for years. Maybe his
sofa bed wasn’t a terrible option. She was still contemplating following him home that night when the doorbell rang.

  She heard Levi get up and open it, followed by him inviting someone in.

  “She’s in the kitchen with Chad,” Levi said.

  “Thanks,” the soft-spoken man said.

  Chad took a step back, putting space between him and Hope. She moved to stand next to the new kitchen table she’d purchased a few days ago just as Lincoln Townsend entered the room.

  “Lin. Hi,” she said, smiling at him. “What brings you by today?”

  He glanced at Chad and then back at Hope. After clearing his throat, he held up an envelope. “The results from the paternity test came back.”

  From the look on his face, it didn’t look like good news, and Hope dropped into one of the chairs. “You’re not my father.” Her voice was flat, and an ache had already settled around her heart.

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart, but no. I wish with all my heart I was though,” he said, sitting across from her and grabbing both of her hands.

  Chad moved to stand behind Hope and placed his hands on her shoulders.

  “I wish that, too,” she said, barely holding back tears. “I can’t think of anyone better to fill that role.”

  “I’m still up for the job,” Lincoln said, his blue-gray eyes serious. “Like I said before, this changes nothing for me. You’re family. My girls are your sisters, and you’re still Gabby’s daughter. If she’d have stayed with me, I’d have raised you as my own. I see no reason to not claim you the same way now.”