A war between anger and understanding played out in his eyes. “I need to get her home to her mother. We’ve both been going crazy.”
I didn’t think now was the time to tell him it wasn’t my fault, that I was just doing what I thought was best. Maybe I had been wrong, and it was just lucky that it turned out how it did. It could’ve been so much worse. Will’s hand landed on my shoulder. He whispered, “It’s going to be okay.” Relief was in his voice. James might not care that I was okay—he had more important things—but at least Will was happy I was alive. It hurt, but it was what it was.
“How did you find me?” After they brought me here, there was no way they could’ve found me.
Angelica appeared at the door. “Your ring, dear. I had a tracker put in it before Will gave it to you. I figured we might need it one day.”
My mouth dropped open. “Angelica!” I knew hugging wasn’t her thing, but I didn’t care. I threw myself at her and gave her a huge hug.
She patted me awkwardly. “Yes, it’s good to see you, too, dear. It seems you’ve been busy, as have your peers. There are a few stragglers to pick up, but we’ve finally destroyed RP. So, tell me, what else have you been up to?” She managed to extricate herself and looked at me.
“Um, Dana’s dead father is in the basement. So are his henchmen, oh, and some prisoners. Oh, God.” For the second time in five minutes, my stomach dropped out from where it was supposed to be. In the shock, action, and my switch into survival mode, I’d forgotten about the woman downstairs. But had it been my imagination? Sometimes we saw what we most wanted, even if it wasn’t true. I pushed past Angelica, giving B a quick wave as I ran past and down the stairs. My legs had never moved so fast.
But was I running towards disappointment?
I was about to sprint down the second flight, but people were coming up, slowly. I stopped dead. The skinny woman with the auburn hair had just reached the top. She stared at me with familiar blue eyes, then smiled, tears glistening in her eyes. “Oh my, it is you. Lily Bianchi?” She placed a hand over her mouth as if it was a moment she never believed was possible. To be fair, I’d believed the same thing.
A wave of goosebumps flowed over my skin. How was this happening? “Mum?” Tears burned my eyes as we stepped towards each other. All the chattering around us, loud voices, it all fell away. We were in our own little bubble of awe. This must be a dream. Had I been knocked out and everything up till now was just me imagining how I’d wanted things to go?
I threw my arms around her. Her arms slid around my waist and she gripped fiercely. We pressed our cheeks together and cried, our tears mingling as if they, too, were overjoyed to have been reunited.
And then the chatter around us did stop. Someone gasped. Angelica’s voice, as quiet and disbelieving as it sounded, still came through loud and clear. “Katerina, is that you?”
“Mum?”
I started sobbing, the emotion and shock in Angelica’s and James’s voices finally my undoing. I stepped back because she wasn’t just mine. And I would bet a thousand lifetimes that she needed this, to be reunited with everyone, with the people who never stopped loving her, the thoughts of whom were probably the only thing to keep her going.
James and Angelica rushed to her, and they embraced in a big group hug, my niece in the middle of it all. “Oh my lord, who is this?” My mother sounded frailer than I remembered, and she was younger than Angelica. Being a prisoner had taken its toll. The thin woman was not the strong, athletic woman I remembered, but a few weeks out of this hellhole would fix it. I just hoped the mental scars were able to be healed, too, although that would take much longer.
James sucked in a shaky breath. “This is your first grandchild. Annabelle, meet your grandmother.”
My mother shook her head, the pain of lost years in her eyes, the tears of joy and sorrow freely cascading down her face. She reached out, and James placed Annabelle in her arms.
It was a moment I would never forget.
Will placed his arm around me as I ugly cried.
When I’d imagined this day, my day of revenge, it had never ended like this. In fact, this wasn’t an ending at all. It was a beginning. A big, beautiful, joyous beginning.
To be honest, it was about time.
There were so many questions I had for Angelica, but I guessed they could wait. There was only one question that really mattered. “So, Ma’am, are you and Mum coming home with us?”
Both women looked at each other and then at me. Their grins said it all. Funny how even in the house of an evil wannabe dictator and his mad-as-a-cut-snake daughter love could flourish and push away the gloom.
I smiled. “Well, then, let’s go.”
I took my mother’s hand and led her through my doorway so we could start the rest of our lives… together. Our family could finally begin the real healing process. We’d been given a chance not many people got, and I knew we’d make the most of it.
I couldn’t wait to start.
Afterword
Well, if you’ve just finished this book, you’ve been on a long journey with Lily, her friends, and family. Thank you so much for coming along for the ride. I just wanted you all to know that Lily’s story isn’t over yet, and there will be more PIB books in 2021, just in case you were wondering. So if you’re still enjoying the series, never fear! More books are coming—books 15 and 16 in the first half of 2021. For the latest news, you can follow my Facebook page, my Bookbub profile, or my Instagram.
* * *
Cheers
* * *
Dionne Lister
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my readers, in particular the readers who have messaged me to chat about the story, tell me how much you’re enjoying it, or just to say hello. It brings me so much joy to hear from you and to know my books are making a difference in your lives, even if it’s just that they help you escape for a few hours when you most need it. I’d love to send a special shoutout to Susan W, LaDonna B, RaBea M, Terri S, Rashelle F, Bethsheba A, Pam K, Lesley M, Suzi T, Kara S, Mandi D, Lorna F, Theresa U, Sandra D, Becky N, Amy R, Victoria M, Valerie F, Robert R, Steffi H, Michelle W, Mel A, Valerie C, Niki S, Louise P, Alyssa D, Elizabeth N, Peggy M, Jackie D, Karen C, Rita C, Carol H, Linda M, Mary-Lou G, Raven A, Karen R, Marchido C, Katie DD, Margaret DL, Corin WF, Colin O, Beverley T, Maureen E, Tracy S, Ruth F, James K, Katrina W, Wynnie Reads, and last but not least to Shiela B, who messaged me at a most serendipitous moment, which helped me finish the book in the best way possible. Sorry if I’ve missed anyone—I really do love you all, and I can’t thank you enough for all your kind messages and support. I hope this book met your expectations. xx
Also by Dionne Lister
Paranormal Investigation Bureau
Witchnapped in Westerham #1
Witch Swindled in Westerham #2
Witch Undercover in Westerham #3
Witchslapped in Westerham #4
Witch Silenced in Westerham #5
Killer Witch in Westerham #6
Witch Haunted in Westerham #7
Witch Oracle in Westerham #8
Witchbotched in Westerham #9
Witch Cursed in Westerham #10
Witch Heist in Westerham #11
Witch Burglar in Westerham #12
Vampire Witch in Westerham #13
Witch War in Westerham #14
Christmissing in Westerham (Christmas novella currently in Christmas Crackers anthology. Will be published on its own in March 2021)
Book #15 Coming 2021
The Circle of Talia
(YA Epic Fantasy)
Shadows of the Realm
A Time of Darkness
Realm of Blood and Fire
* * *
The Rose of Nerine
(Epic Fantasy)
Tempering the Rose
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Dionne Lister is a Sydneysider with a degree in creative writing. Daydreaming has always been he
r passion, so writing was a natural progression from staring out the window in primary school, and being an author was a dream she held since childhood.
Unfortunately, writing was only a hobby while Dionne worked as a property valuer in Sydney, until her mid-thirties when she returned to study and completed her creative writing degree. Since then, she has indulged her passion for writing while raising two children with her husband. Her books have attracted praise from Apple Books and have reached #1 on Amazon and Apple Books charts worldwide, frequently occupying top 100 lists in fantasy and mystery. She’s excited to add cozy mystery to the list of genres she writes. Magic and danger are always a heady combination.
Witch War in Westerham Page 23