Buddy, I wouldn’t even know where to start. I nodded briefly and stood up.
“Does he know about me, after what he saw the other night?” Does he hate me?
“I don’t think he understands what he saw. We don’t talk about it. He knows what I do for a living and I’ve told him you’re not a witch. He believes me. It will be simpler for you to keep quiet about it, at least for now.” He stood and turned on his phone. “Looks like we’ve got reception again,” he murmured. He checked his messages and fired a few back. He was silent after that. Not that I was complaining. I had a lot to think about and it pulled my stomach into all sorts of knots. He was crazy… or I was. I’d asked for information and that’s what he gave me. But aliens? Gods? Ten years ago, people didn’t believe in witches. We were wrong. I should know that better than anyone.
The cooler air tickled my face and provided relief from the long, cross-country walk. My thoughts traveled to my friends, and I hoped Kitty and Alvin were doing okay. I didn’t really care about Aunt Lucy and her festival, but what about Leila? Well, she was a work in progress. My stomach tightened as I glanced ahead at Cash. What kind of mess was he pulling me into? What kind of mess was I pulling him into?
Finally, we made it to town and dragged ourselves past a few beach shacks on the barren streets. The afternoon spent in the sun had made my mouth parched and skin tight. My fast healing took care of any sunburn, but I desperately needed hydration. There was no substitute for water. Lost in the sound of waves crashing over the not-too-distant hill, I didn’t notice the white Jeep Wrangler until it pulled up next to us.
“Y’all need a ride?” Tommy asked as he leaned out of the driver window.
My muscles relaxed at least half way, the rest would go after I enjoyed a nice cool shower or bath. Cash opened the back door for me before moving to the other side of the car.
“Nice threads,” Tommy joked.
“Shut up,” I said with a smile.
He chuckled as I slid into the back and flopped down onto the length of the seat, moaning into the leather. These guys sure knew how to pick nice cars.
“Seatbelt,” Cash snapped from the front.
Oh, right, Safety-Nazi. But a seatbelt had saved my life just a few hours before. I sat up, buckled myself in, then leaned back and closed my eyes. An instant later, someone shook me awake with gentle hands.
Chapter 12
“Roo, we’re here,” Tommy whispered.
I opened my eyes. Tommy held the car door open. “Sorry, must have dozed off.”
“Don’t blame you. You look like you been rode hard and put up wet.”
“Don’t know what that means, but thanks, I guess.”
Tommy whooped and slapped his thigh, then led me out of the vehicle with a sparkle in his eyes. “You don’t say thanks to that, Probie.”
We were parked next to a small cottage with a cobblestone stairway leading to a porch and a potted rose garden. The cottage looked terribly out of place in the Australian bush, although the surfboard leaning against the rendered balustrade helped a little.
Waves crashed on the other side of the dense forest surrounding us, and a small trail led into the trees. I suppose they wanted to be close to water for security. Like Cash said, witches feared water. Drowning was the only way they died permanently.
Tommy tugged on my hand and I turned to him, confused. He hesitated a moment then pulled me into a bear hug, lifting me off the ground. I tensed. It was the first human hug I’d had in three years. He put me down but kept his face buried in the hair at my neck. I patted his back awkwardly.
“Goddamn it, Roo, I was worried.” He spoke into my shoulder, his voice brittle, then cleared his throat and relaxed. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have done that. You’ve been through a lot.”
He let go, took a step back and rubbed the back of his neck, regarding me through dark lashes. When he looked at me like that, he seemed more like his brother, but leaner and scruffier and more… empathetic. They really were different.
“But you’re okay. You’re out of there. It’s okay.” He tugged his creased t-shirt and stood up straight. He was taller than I remembered. His eyes lit up. “I picked up your things from your place.”
My heart melted and warmth trickled to the rest of my body. Flashes of that refreshing shower crossed my mind, coupled with thoughts of my own clean clothing.
“Thank you, Tommy. I don’t know what I would have done without you. You’re the best. You know that, right?” I squeezed his shoulder, and I was sure he blushed. I had a thought. “Did you see Aunt Lucy?”
He shook his head.
“Uh-uh. I picked up your boxes from the front porch. She’d left them there. Bless your heart for packing those ahead of time for me.” He winked. He knew I had intended on moving in with Kitty. “Cash drove your bike here too. It’s parked round the back.”
I froze. “He drove my baby?”
I pictured him going into some sort of cardiac arrest and veering off the road.
“Yeah, but he can ride. I told you, he can do everything.” He pointed at the surfboard. A wetsuit hung over the rail beside it. He pulled me into the house but I paused at the entrance. Tommy noticed my hesitance. “Oh don’t worry, we got the place wired. Any witch trying to cross the threshold will trigger the static electricity alarm. Cash says it picks up their frequency or something. I don’t really get that woo-woo kinda shit.” He wiggled his fingers and made googly eyes, then slipped his arm around my shoulders. “I’m gonna enjoy this new touchy-feely Roo—no collar going off, lots of hugs. C’mon, I’ll take you to your room. With what you’ve been through, I’ll bet ya fixin’ to have a nice hot shower.”
“You read my mind.” As I stepped across the threshold, I received an electric shock and jumped—but no alarm.
Tommy frowned, “You okay?”
“Yep, just tripped. Sorry.” I blushed. I hated lying to him. I stepped away and made a beeline for a dining table in the large open area. It was littered with curious papers and gadgets. I reached for a piece of paper when Cash entered, slamming the door behind him.
“Don’t touch that,” he snapped, then stalked through the living room and down a hallway.
Yikes. Guilty of snooping.
“Yeah,” Tommy said. “That’s his work stuff.”
“Got it.” I turned around to check out the large room. A sitting area with two couches and a coffee table faced a beautiful granite fireplace. The country theme—white-washed wood, floral furnishings, and metal light fixtures—made it feel feminine and cozy. The kitchen was dead ahead. Cash had disappeared down a corridor the left of the sitting room, and Tommy led me down the right.
We stopped in front of a door. “This is your room, I’m across the house and Cash, well, he’s wherever he is.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, if he sleeps, it’s on the couch. Me and him don’t sleep so good but he’s got the bug worse. We both had it since we were kids. Must be hereditary or something.”
I opened the door. My old purple bedspread covered a Queen sized bed and a few of my knick-knacks were displayed on the dresser. Tommy pointed out the bathroom attached to my room and the walk-in-closet for my clothes, then left so I could freshen up.
I picked up a photo of my sister, my father and I that had been taken just before I was accused. We’d posed awkwardly, standing together, but we all seemed to be somewhere else. I studied my father’s face—tanned, blue-eyed and hard from years in the Military. What was he doing now, I wondered. Was he dead, or just absent? I looked at my sister’s soft face with a forced smile. My mind went numb when I thought of them. I should be feeling something other than disappointment, but I wasn’t. I sighed, put the frame down and headed to the bathroom.
After my luxurious shower, I found my clothes had been unpacked and folded away neatly in the walk-in robe. I ran my finger along the rows of folded fabric. Somehow, I didn’t think it was Tommy who color-coordinated and lined up the shirts perfectly. Cash must have he
lped. Maybe he wasn’t a sociopath after all.
I dressed in denim cut-offs and a light blue singlet and put on a touch of makeup. There wasn’t much to choose from. I’d have to pick up more. After rummaging through a drawer I found my new perfume and sprayed, wistfully breathing in the scent of my independence.
I left the towel in my hair, turban style, and padded to the kitchen. I was famished and polished off what looked like last night’s leftovers then made my way to the sitting room. Cash and Tommy were having a heated conversation about someone coming over. Cash was also newly washed, wearing jeans and a black t-shirt, his face flushed and hair glistening. Both were drinking something that smelled like whiskey and dry ginger ale. My tastebuds tingled. I desperately wanted a sip but didn’t want to be a further burden—I’d just polished off their food—so perched on the edge of a couch and toweled my hair.
“Who’s coming over?” They were probably talking about Cash’s boss. No one answered. When I looked up, they were staring at me.
“What?” I patted my soggy hair and stuck my chin out.
Cash raised an eyebrow. “Tommy tells me you are needed at your workplace tomorrow night.”
Tommy still squinted at me weird and scratched his dark mop of hair. What was his problem?
“I didn’t know, but that’s great. I’m also going to visit my friends.” Making some money to pay my way felt like the right thing to do. I couldn’t count on the kindness of strangers forever, especially when I’d crashed Cash’s car. I just hoped he had insurance.
Tommy grasped his brother’s shoulder then waved at my head with his other hand. “Uh, Probie, your hair is redder than a fox’s butt in pokeberry time. Did you use the wrong shampoo?”
I pulled my hair in front of my face to inspect it closely. Holy shit! The strands glowed with a warm light I’d never seen before. I ran to the bathroom and wiped the condensation from the mirror. The face that appeared was mine, but not the hair. It was flame red. Red! How was I going to explain this?
When I returned to the sitting room, Cash avoided my gaze and Tommy grinned, his wide mouth splitting his face, dimples twitching madly. His hands flew up in mock surrender.
“Don’t look at me, I like redheads,” he said.
The heavy truth thudded onto my shoulders. I’d done it myself, subconsciously. I’d bloody well hexed myself. Was this because I knew Kiya had red hair? In the memory byte, my mother’s hair changed from black to red when the witch had control. Deep down did I think I was her? My throat swelled, and I swallowed hard, tears stinging the corners of my eyes. The tension that had been building all day begged to be released. I slunk into the cushioned couch next to Cash and inspected my ruby red tresses, sobbing silently. First my lips changed, and then my hair. I had no control. I pulled a strand between my eyes and let go. It bounced. I sobbed. “Oh God. Is my hair curly?”
“Yes.” Cash shifted in his chair to face me, putting his arm along the back of the seat. “Listen, about working and visiting your friends, I don’t think it’s wise. Marc… er… my associate will help us out with that issue we spoke about earlier. He could turn up any time in the next few hours. One of us needs to be home.”
“Don’t cry, Probie,” Tommy said. “The red looks good. Hey, you want me to get you a drink?” I nodded sulkily. On his way to the kitchen, Tommy said, “I don’t want your friend here, Cash. I don’t like him. He’s half a brick short of a load if you know what I mean.” He tapped his temple.
“Yeah, well it’s not up to you, and I’d appreciate it if you made yourself scarce when he arrives. We’ve got serious business to attend to. La Roux was released to assist with my investigation and you’re only tolerated here because you said you wouldn’t get in the way of my work. Maybe head into town and get something to fill the fridge.” He pointed at me with his thumb. “This one eats a lot.”
“I’m here because Ma is worried about you, not because you tolerate me.” He finished pouring me a drink, put the soda bottle back in the fridge and slammed the door. “You don’t sleep and you don’t talk to anyone—not since… you know.”
“I’m busy, Tommy. That’s why I don’t speak to anyone. I don’t have time to coddle overprotective mothers and brothers. Maybe now the secret’s out and everyone knows that witches still exist, she’ll take my job seriously. I’m not doing this for the money.”
I mouthed “Thank you” to Tommy as he handed me the drink and took a grateful sip. I hadn’t planned on visiting Kitty and Alvin until morning, but their bickering gave me an opportunity. If I gave up my independence now, I wasn’t sure how much of myself would be left. Sneaking out discreetly shouldn’t be too hard.
With their arguing taking their full attention, it was the perfect time for me to do some reconnaissance. I slipped out the door mumbling, “Just getting some air.”
They barely glanced up.
A breeze rustled the leaves of the trees and the sky was headed toward a pinkish hue. A deep breath later, I felt calm and smiled, a weight lifted. After I surveyed the property and gathered the best way out would be the way in, I stopped to listen to the waves crashing in the distance. There was a small path that led to the beach. Witches were afraid of the water, so I’d be safe if I took a quick look. Curious, I picked my way across the twiggy ground and broke into a light jog down the gravelly limestone path.
The sound of the surf got louder the further I jogged. Coaxed toward the sound of freedom, I ran faster, crunching through forest debris. A burn bloomed in my chest and at the back of my throat.
The rocky path was winding and long.
Too long.
I’d assumed the beach wasn’t far because I’d heard waves crashing from the house. I was wrong. Eventually, I stumbled out of the forest onto fine, white sand, surprising a herd of kangaroos. They hopped away down the beach.
“Oh,” I said, surprised, palm to my forehead.
The view was breathtaking; the setting sun cast a pink, purple and orange glow over the lightly clouded sky.
I exhaled deeply, bent forward to rest my hands on my knees and pulled in a deep breath. The salty air sailed in and out of my lungs until a cool unease brought goose bumps to my skin. My fingers dug into my legs. The drop in temperature wasn’t from the time of day, but from a human-shaped shadow that blocked the dying light filaments.
Chapter 13
“Ello, ello, ello. What have we here?” A male voice with a British accent drew my gaze.
I gasped so suddenly I hiccupped and straightened my spine like a catapult. My hands blocked my eyes, but the vision of a nude young blonde man had seared into my retinas. I could still see him behind my eyelids.
“Where are your—hic—clothes?” I squeaked and thumped my chest with one hand, leaving the other over my eyes. Was this a nudist beach? But—whoa! The power of his dizzying aura pushed at me, causing my skin to itch and tingle like a million insect legs crawled over me. It was the strongest energy I’d ever felt.
“Clothes would be a hindrance, love. What say you and me dispense with the formalities and go at it like those hoppity bunnies I just saw bouncing down the beach.”
“They’re kangaroos—hic—not bunnies.” I took a gulp of air and held my breath. Wow, that just happened. He’d actually said those words. He was way too young to be making lewd insinuations. I exhaled and peeked through my fingers. Shaggy hair came to just below his ears, and he was naked. Stark naked. The only thing that covered his boyish but athletic physique was rosy, youthful skin. The cleft in his chin made him seem a little older, but still… he shifted a leg to the side, and waited for me to respond, smug but playful.
“Oh, are you actually serious?” I asked.
“Is the Pope a Catholic?” he asked.
I dropped my hands to my sides as he wiggled his eyebrows and put his hands on his hips. The intensity of his energy had waned, or I was getting used to it. One way or another, he wasn’t as intimidating.
“That’s more like it, love, nothing to be
afraid of here.”
It was my turn to raise an eyebrow. I looked down suggestively. “No, nothing indeed.”
I giggled and covered my mouth. He really wasn’t badly endowed.
He scrunched his handsome face for a second before his sky blue eyes sparkled again and he launched into a new line. “Just imagine your hands all over this body, sweetheart, you and me, rolling around on the sand. It’s been a while since I shagged a redhead you know. Some say Little Reds are bad luck, but not me! How about it, love?”
I rolled my eyes, turned away and headed back down the path. Seriously, did he have any luck with those lines?
“Does the carpet match the drapes?” he called after me.
Heat flooded my face and ears and I patted my cheeks. “Oh man, did you have to go there?”
“Precisely. I’m a virile young man. There is where I live.”
How did I stumble across a horny, nude, pre-pubescent boy? I growled and kept walking, stomping my feet. I needed to get to the house and shelved any thoughts of escaping to see my friends. Who knew what kind of trouble this weird boy was going to cause?
The gravel crunched behind me. He’d followed.
“Hang on a minute. We need to sort this out, yeah?” he called. He was closer but his speech was broken with gasps and curses as he hurried behind me. He must have found the sharp twigs a delight to his bare feet. “I can’t get you out of my mind, love, where you—ss—uh—going? It can’t be a coincidence us crossing paths like this, ow.”
I smirked at his painful pursuit and concentrated on not showing any sign of discomfort or weakness. He followed me relentlessly, spurting nonsensical pickup lines between bouts of hissing. I lost track of the distance we traveled, too caught up in his hilarious one-liners.
“No wonder you’re out of breath, you’ve been running through my head all day.”
An explosion of laughter erupted from deep inside my chest. Oh, no. I slapped my hand over my lips. It wasn’t nice to laugh at someone in his birthday suit, especially one so young. He looked younger than Tommy and I might give him a complex.
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