by Sandra Cox
Gramps reaches over and takes her hand. “Mina, you really need to think this through. Joel is right. These people will stop at nothing.”
“I agree with Molita. You’re family. And we have ways of protecting our family.”
Gramps sighs heavily and leans back in his chair.
“Let’s put it to a vote,” Joel says.
“Stay,” Molita says.
“Stay,” Mina votes.
“Go.” Amy.
“Go.” Tyler.
Gramps looks first at Mina then at Angel. “I go along with whatever vote Pip makes.”
Joel and I look at each other. In this, we are in perfect accord. Even if it endangers those we care about, we will keep our daughter safe, and Molita’s powers can help us do that. “Stay.” I say.
He nods. “Stay. It looks like we stay.”
Gramps reaches over and takes Mina’s hand. “Thank you.” He looks at Molita. “Both of you.”
“You don’t need to thank us. You’re where you belong.” Molita lays her hand on their clasped ones.
“Angel,” Joel says, “from now on you’ll need to be with one of us at all times, and at least temporarily you’ll need to stay out of the water.”
Her face registers sorrow but all she says is, “Yes, Daddy.”
He turns to Molita and Mina. “Thank you. Someday, I hope we can repay you.”
“Neither thanks or repayment is necessary. We’re doing what we want to do.”
Chapter 24
Joel
Midnight. Barefoot, wearing trunks, I walk quietly through the house. A door opens and closes down the hall. Angel steps out of the bedroom, a grumbling Clara at her heels.
She looks at my trunks and bare feet. “You’re going into the water.”
“That’s right, Angel baby.” I scoop her up and dance around the room then set her back down.
“And I can’t go.”
“It’s only temporary.”
“I know. Is it safe for you to be in the water?”
“It should be. And if there’re any cameras floating, hopefully they aren’t infrared.”
“Even if they are, they’d just pick up a body swimming.”
“Good point.” I ruffle her hair. “Go back to bed.”
“Okay. If you need me, I’m only a thought away. Come on, Clara.” Angel heads for her bedroom, the chicken behind her.
A chuckle escapes. Angel and Clara, what a pair. I leave the house and hit the beach. The moon is up, clouds are drifting overhead, the waves are slapping at the shore, and a comfortable breeze strokes my body.
Once in the ocean, I chatter and the family of dolphins I’ve been swimming with appear. I’ve been playing with my friends a good forty-five minutes when the low hum of a motor breaks the quiet. A running light shines directly on me. I sink down below the surface.
The boat gets closer and the motor dies. There’s a splash as someone goes over.
I wait and watch. A diver without equipment approaches. Jon-Jo! He comes straight at me, his teeth gleaming white against his coffee-colored skin. I pause, paddling in place. He thinks he’s going to have an easy victory. What he doesn’t realize is that he’s now on my turf. And the rules have changed.
He lunges for me and encircles me in a bear hug. I slide through his grip like an eel and place a well-aimed kick at his face. Blood spouts from his nose and he draws back in surprise. Come on, you bastard. I motion him forward with my fingers. He shakes his head and the blood blends with the water to float away. He comes at me again. I wait till the last minute then slide sideways and kick out as he goes by, grazing his ribs.
Jon-Jo surfaces a few feet away. “You think you can take me, white boy?” Water runs off his face in rivulets and he’s gasping.
“I know I can. You’re on my turf now.”
His hand goes down then comes up. Starlight sparkles off the blade of a large knife. Upset, the dolphins chatter in agitated clicks.
“You,” he sneers. “Take me, a houngan? I don’t think so.” For such a big man he’s fast. But he’s a human and I’m a dolph. He swipes at me. I glide to the side.
My knife is in its scabbard at my waist. I’m not about to bring it out if I don’t have too. I don’t want more blood in the water. I’m hoping his nosebleed hasn’t attracted any sharks.
We circle. Jon-Jo continues to lunge and I continue to avoid his knife. He comes too close to the bull dolphin and gets a sharp whack of the mammal’s fluke. Stunned, he raises his knife at the dolphin. At that point, I quit toying with him. I leap at him, taking him by surprise, grab his wrist and twist. He tries to punch me in the side of the head with his other hand but I throw up an elbow, still twisting his knife hand. His fingers loosen and the knife drifts downward.
Rage rolls through me, heating my blood, clouding my judgement. I start throwing punches. Jon-Jo is wearing out. I jab then retreat, jab then retreat. He tries to swim away, but the dolphins close in a circle. Once again, he gets slapped with a fluke. I swim under, come up behind him, grab his throat, and haul him to the surface.
“It’s bad enough you threaten my family, but threatening innocent sea creatures on top of that is going too far, Jon-Jo.” He jams his fist up and over his head, aiming for my face. I catch it with my other hand and increase the pressure around his neck. He begins to gasp. With his free hand, he claws ineffectually at my arm. Chattering, the dolphins draw closer.
He kicks backward. I dodge his leg easily.
I place my mouth close to his ear. “Now listen to me and listen good.” I tighten my grip. “Are you listening?”
His struggles are weakening. He manages a nod.
“I’d rather not kill you, but I will if you try to harm me or mine again. Your body will just disappear and never be found. Do you understand?”
He doesn’t respond.
I put more pressure on his throat and repeat my question.
He nods.
“And when I say mine, that includes everyone in my family, the Moons, and the dolphins, who are my brothers.”
A ripple runs through Jon-Jo’s body, but he nods. I slacken the hold around his neck. He throws up his good arm and I let go of him and move back, watching him cautiously, my hand on my knife.
“What did you mean the dolphins are your brothers?” His voice is raspy. While he paddles, he rubs his throat.
“Just what I said. You may be the head honcho in your corner of the world, Jon-Jo, but I rule the sea, all of it. Do we have an understanding?”
“Yes.”
“No more snakes, no more tarantulas. You will live in peace with the Moons and with my family.”
I lean in. “Pay attention. You do anything harmful to any of my family and you’ll never set foot in the water again. I’ll make sure of it. There’s no ocean you’ll be safe in.”
I give a quick staccato chatter. More dolphins arrive. They move closer and begin to whistle.
Jon-Jo’s eyes roll until all that’s visible is their whites. “How do you do this? How do you command the sea?”
“That’s not information I’m willing to share with you.”
“I promise you none of your family has anything to fear from Jon-Jo. Your magic is powerful. Maybe we should combine forces. With me on land and you in the water, we’d be unstoppable.”
I snort. “A peaceable agreement is good enough for me.”
He shrugs and the water ripples over his massive shoulders. “It was worth a try. And while I’m willing to abide by the terms of our agreement, I can’t be responsible for the actions of others.”
My blood roars in my ears and pressure builds behind my eyes creating a fierce pounding. “What do you mean?”
“Just what I said. I can’t be responsible for the actions of others.”
“What others?”
He shrugs. “I do not know. I just know the spirits are gleeful. They await their blood payments.”
�
�Stop speaking in riddles and tell me what’s going on?”
“I don’t know how long I can keep paddling. I need to return to my boat.”
“Just answer my questions and then you’re free to go.”
“I’ve heard through the grapevine, there are men—powerful men—looking for a family with turquoise eyes.”
My heart fists like a vise is tightening around it.
“And have you helped them get here?”
He shrugs. “I just know they are concentrating on the islands. That their net is getting tighter.”
I want to pound his face in. I know he’s a part of this. But he’s given me information that he didn’t have too. It’s probably just for self-protection, but nonetheless, he shared it. I force air into my lungs then breathe in and out till I’m back in control. “Are they responsible for the cameras in the water?”
“I know nothing about that. You know everything I know.”
“And you aren’t going to feed these powerful people any more information about my family, correct?”
I chatter and the dolphins slap their flukes on the water.
Jon-Jo looks around uneasily. “I will say nothing, but I cannot stop what is already set in motion.”
“Go then. Just remember, you cross me and you’ll never get off your island unless it’s in a plane or a coffin.”
“I understand.”
I give a whistle and the dolphins move back.
Jon-Jo splashes toward his boat with more haste than dignity. The sound of the motor breaks the quiet of the night. He revs it and his boat shoots away, leaving unruly waves in his wake. The running lights and sound fade until the boat is just a speck on the horizon.
I chatter my thanks to the dolphins and head back to shore. As I cut through the water, emotion pounds through me. Like the heaviness in the atmosphere before a storm, pressure builds between my eyes until I’m afraid my head will explode. Stranger and Craven are coming.
I swim mindlessly. I should be exhausted but the adrenaline is still surging through my system. Surprised, I find I’ve reached the shallows. I stand up and wade in, fighting the pull of the sea against my legs.
Click. Click. Click. The dolphins have followed me. “Goodnight,” I chatter. Water splashes in the distance as several jump in the air in perfect symmetry before they disappear.
I push my toes into the warm sand as I walk back to our cottage. The old gate creaks, the sound loud in the quiet night, as I open it and make my way inside. My daughter is asleep on the sofa. I look at this beautiful, perfect little specimen and wonder if her mind continues to work while she sleeps.
I slide my arms around the little warm body that smells of sunlight and soap and carry her to the bedroom where I lay her down beside Piper.
“Daddy?” Angel murmurs, her voice husky with sleep.
“Everything’s fine, honey.” I kiss her forehead and in doing so look directly into Piper’s eyes.
Acting on impulse, I drop a light kiss on her mouth. I swear her arms reach up before they drop back. I straighten and motion toward the door.
She nods. I walk downstairs and outside. Sticking my hands in my pockets, I stare up at a moon so big and bright it looks like you could reach out and touch it. The door closes and I turn. Piper walks toward me, still in her nightclothes, which are just a cami and boxers.
“Joel?”
I force the muscles, tight in my cheeks, up. “Let’s take a walk, Piper.”
“All right.”
The gate creaks again.
Piper winces. “It needs to be oiled.”
“I’ll do it tomorrow.” And cross my fingers I’ll remember.
“What’s going on?”
“I saw Jon-Jo tonight.”
Her body jerks then stills. “And?”
“We came to an understanding.”
She bends down to pick up a shell before she starts walking again. She turns it over and over then lobs it into the ocean where it makes a small splash. “What’s the understanding?”
“That he’ll leave us and the Moons alone.”
“Just like that?” The moonlight casts a pearly glow to her skin and emphasizes the look of disbelief on her features.
“Maybe not just like that. But he agreed.”
“How’d you do it?”
“I was in the water and the dolphins helped, a lot.”
A smile spreads across her features. “I bet he didn’t know what hit him.”
“Let’s just say, I don’t think he saw it coming.”
She grins. “You did good.”
“Yeah, one less thing to worry about.”
“There’s more, isn’t there?”
My insides jump as apprehension settles in. “They’re coming, Piper.”
Her head whips toward me and her breath whistles out. “Craven and Stranger.”
“Yes.”
“How do you know?”
“Jon-Jo.”
“He told you Craven and Stranger are coming?”
“He used the term ‘powerful men.’ And that he can’t stop what’s been set in motion.”
The sky grows cloudy and tendrils of mist move in from the sea, coating the beach in fog so quick and thick that I can’t even see her.
“What do we do?” Her voice is a lament in the dark, a ghost moaning over a grave.
Icy tendrils creep up my spine, leaving my nerves quivering in response.
I grope for her hand. She clutches mine.
“Whatever it takes to protect our daughter.”
She sighs. A sound pulled from deep in her belly and pushed out her throat, as she accepts the inevitable. She squeezes my hand. “What would we do without you?”
I return the pressure. “You’d do what you’ve always done, with or without me, you’d fight back.”
“I’m tired of fighting, of constantly looking over my shoulder, of running.”
I pull her to a stop and reach for her other hand. We just stand there for a moment, holding hands, feeling the unity and occasionally catching glimpses of each other as the mist thins.
“We make our stand here. Hopefully the running and looking over our shoulders is over.”
“But he’s so powerful.”
I jiggle her hands, “Yeah, but he doesn’t have a vodou priestess on his side.”
I sense her grin more than see it.
“If you wanted a walk on the beach, you should have woke me up, Piper. I would have come with you.” The mist clears just enough to show Tyler standing behind us, his voice pleasant, his face expressionless.
Reluctantly, I drop her hands. “I was just filling Piper in on tonight’s events.”
“And what might that be?” He takes one of the hands I’ve dropped.
I proceed to tell him.
“So they’re here.”
“If not, they soon will be. I think they know where we are.”
“Then why don’t we get the hell out of here?” Tyler demands.
I bite back a sharp retort, my nerves not at their best. “We took a vote and decided to stay. It’s a gamble either way. They could get to us easily on the ocean, maybe even easier than here.”
“I don’t like putting Molita and Mina in danger.”
I heave a frustrated sigh. “I don’t either. We seem to be the kiss of death to anyone we come in contact with, but if we stay we have a chance at protecting them. If we aren’t here…” I shrug.
He nods his understanding. “There’s nothing we can do about it now. We’ll let everyone know in the morning what’s going on. Thanks for telling me, Joel.”
“Of course. See you in the morning.” I push past them and head for the house, unwilling to be alone with them.
When dawn breaks I give up pretending to sleep and start breakfast for everyone. The rich aroma of coffee wafts through the air as I’m frying up bacon and eggs. Mr. Dunn is the first to make an appearance. He heads strai
ght for the coffeepot and pours a cup. At the first sip, he closes his eyes and smiles. “You’re a good man to have around, Joel.”
I bite back Not everyone thinks so, and settle for, “Thanks, Mr. Dunn.” Just because Tyler and I have issues is no reason to share them with the world.
Mr. Dunn settles at the table. “Lots of coming and going last night.”
“Sorry if we woke you, sir.”
“Care to tell me what it was about?”
The bacon sizzles and pops as I flip the eggs. Grease spatters on my hand. I shake it, turn down the temperature, then lean against the counter. “Stranger and Craven have found us. That being said, someone needs to stay with Angel at all times and under no circumstances can she go in the water. I’ve mentioned it to her before but it’s doubly important now.”
Mr. Dunn raises the cup to his lips. “Sounds to me like you all need to stay out of the water.”
“Can’t argue with that.”
“Going to let the others know?”
“I thought I’d tell them this morning.”
“Think I’ll call Mina and invite her over for breakfast.”
“Sounds like a good idea to me. Have her bring Molita.”
“Will do.” His joints creak as he pushes out of the chair and leaves the room to get his cell phone.
I turn my attention back to the stove. With yawns and stretches, the rest of the crew trickles in. Once Mina and Molita arrive, I tell everyone what’s happened.
“How did you find out about this?” Molita asks.
“Jon-Jo.”
Her eyes grow round. “Excuse me?”
“We’ve come to an understanding. We don’t bother him. He doesn’t bother us.”
“You’ve come to an understanding.” Molita’s voice is faint. She looks ready to slide out of her chair. “How?”
“We met on my turf this time…in the water.” I wink at her.
“Jon-Jo’s a brute and a predator, but he’s nothing compared to Stranger and Craven. I can’t emphasize that enough.” I ladle out eggs and pour coffee as I talk.
We all agree to hunker down and stay out of the water.
Chapter 25
Piper