Ciarra turned away and back to Trent.
Then, it hit her. The whole Florence Nightingale syndrome thing. She only cared for him as a human being. “Nope. There will never be another Jack.” Silly little liar.
“Go ahead and lie to yourself. But Ciarra Pacelli, you are not, and I mean not, fooling me. I know you.”
Ciarra crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s only because I have to protect him.” Finally, something to cling to besides love. Maybe, she wouldn’t be tumbling off the cliff after all. She was lying to herself, but it was the only way to protect her from Trent.
“Again, go ahead and twist it any way you want. You have fallen for him. I’m sorry, but there isn’t anything more I can do.” She rustled through her purse and produced a business card. “Here. She’s the best there is around here.”
Ciarra flipped the card between her fingers. Letti Chauvin-Vodun Priestess. He would be against this, but as Tiesha pointed out, there wasn’t a whole lot of time.
There was no way she’d lose this battle like she had with Jack. He’d given up on the fight. Ciarra had no intention in letting Trent do the same thing.
Bring it on.
The birds chirped aimless, pecking at Trent’s eardrums. In the distance, a couple of cows ‘mooed’ back and forth, and carried on some kind of conversation. Even the sheep chimed in making their presence known. The dull ache at the base of his neck traveled upward ending behind his eyeballs. What the hell happened? Did he drink last night?
No, he definitely hadn’t. He groaned and remembered seeing Ciarra’s face before he’d blacked out. He was at the God forsaken farm.
He winced at the pain of the intruding light stabbing at his eyes. He forced them open. Sure enough, his old bedroom came into focus. As did Ciarra’s head, which rested upon her arms next to his chest, and the rest of her propped in the chair. He wiggled his right hand and found hers intertwined.
How long had she slept here?
All night?
His whole body ached. What the hell ran him over?
The curse came to mind.
Not.
He lifted his other hand trying to be careful not to wake her. She slept soundly, her breaths slow and even. He couldn’t resist touching her silky hair. The tough detective was stunning. She had stayed by his side falling asleep near him holding his hand. Her light, floral perfume traveled to his nose. Sucking in a couple of savoring, deep breaths of her heavenly scent, he smiled despite the throbbing behind his eyes.
Oh yes, he loved her.
There, he admitted it. Not out loud, of course. What he would do about it he didn’t have any idea.
As Ciarra began to stir, he removed his hand from the top of her head. She moaned.
Despite the dry throat, he managed to speak. “Good morning.”
Lifting her head, she grunted. “Ouch.”
He brought his hand to her neck, kneading the back. “You have to be stiff.”
She sat up and the sight of her sleepy gaze took his breath away. She had the cutest lazy smile, but it was replaced with a frown as her eyes grew wide. “How are you?”
“Aside from a slamming headache and aching joints, I think I’ll survive.”
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” She rubbed her eyes.
“I won’t punish you.”
She glanced at him and the smile returned. “I have to call someone and see about getting an appointment for you to see her. Of course, only after you’re feeling a little better. Or I can have her come here instead.”
Trent pushed his body up against the pillow struggling to sit up. “Wait. What happened to my brother? Where’s he?”
She linked her arm underneath his and helped him up. “He said you had the flu and left. Told me to make sure you drank lots of fluids. Samantha will be up to check on you and is showing Lisa around the farm.”
Lisa? He strained to think. Then, it came back to him. The young mom with the baby he’d rescued from the street. Not his normal behavior bringing strangers to his home or any other home. Ciarra made him want to rescue the world.
Shit. His days of the single life were vanishing fast. He could regain it if he chose to. He still had some control.
But for the first time, his world was complete with Ciarra in it.
Lisa walked in after a soft tap on the door. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but is now a good time? Oh. Good morning, Doctor Moore.”
“Morning.”
Ciarra stood up, stretching her back. “Go ahead. He’ll be perfect practice, and I’m sure he won’t mind.”
Trent shook his head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but the answer’s no.”
Ciarra tapped his arm. “Oh stop, you big baby. Lisa here had been studying to be a nurse before little Gabrielle came along. She just wants to take your temp and stuff.”
Trent contemplated this. “Didn’t have any daycare? Where’s the baby’s dad?”
Lisa dropped her gaze to the floor. “Like I said, he split after I told him I was pregnant. I didn’t have anybody else I could turn to for help.”
And here came the ‘rescue’ again. How did Ciarra have this damn effect on him? “The state has some sort of vouchers for daycare. I only know because one of my residents spoke about it the other day.”
“That’s great during the day, but some classes meet at night.”
Gregory’s wife loved babies. Would she be willing to watch the child a couple nights a week? “Do you have a driver’s license?”
“Yes.”
“You must have had a vehicle at one time?”
She shrugged. “Until I had to sell it to pay for another month’s rent at the rat infested boardinghouse.”
He grinned, the hurting less intense. “I have an idea. But, no promises.”
Lisa’s eyes widened in anticipation. “What are you thinking?”
He drew back the covers. He was thankful someone had thought to put jogging pants on him. Ciarra? He’d check with her later. Right now, he needed to help Lisa. Maneuvering to the edge of the bed, he planted his feet on the cool wooden floor. “Getting you back into school.”
Chapter 10
Trent had amazed Ciarra once again. The man had a heart of gold when it came to people who needed help, pain or no pain. Not only had he given Lisa a computer to explore classes, but he had also hooked her up with a vehicle—an old pickup truck—and even had his sister-in-law lined up as a nighttime babysitter. All in a matter of an hour, and he still appeared pretty sick. Lisa floated on cloud nine.
Ciarra was floating on the very same cloud.
She’d bet anything his patients saw this gentleness and generosity on a daily basis.
“I think she’s all set.” Trent joined her and his brother, Jason in the kitchen. He limped over to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup.
Ciarra stood up. “Why are you still out of bed?”
Trent held up a hand. “I’m fine. Vitals are almost back to normal. Lisa checked them. I just need some coffee.” He winced. “And maybe some aspirin.”
She leaned her hip against the counter. “You are something else, doc.”
He stirred some creamer into his coffee. “Why?”
She shrugged. “The way you’re helping Lisa out.”
“She seems like a great kid. Just needs a tiny jumpstart. It’s up to her now.”
Jason spoke up. “Yeah, you’re a freakin’ hero. You got the ladies wrapped around your pinky as always.” He stood and grabbed his cane. Trent had given it to Jason the first night he’d come home to help him get around.
“Don’t start. You’re just pissed your doctor won’t let you race.”
“Next weekend’s the big race. You watch. I’ll be there.”
“Really? With a broken arm and fractured ribs? I’d like to see that one.”
“They don’t hurt, and my head is fine also. I will be racing again.” He headed back to his room.
Even Ciarra could tell the poor kid wouldn’t
be able to do what he loved the most. She came close to running over to him when it appeared the cane might slip out from under him. Trent whispered, “No.”
Once Jason cleared his doorway, Ciarra spoke up. “What do you mean, ‘No’? He needed help. All I was—”
“You don’t understand. Jason would have thrown a fit if you tried helping. I didn’t want to see you hurt for your efforts. The guy’s an ass. He just about bit Lisa’s head off when she wanted to take his vitals.”
Ciarra walked over to him and touched his shoulder. “I can take care of myself. And as for Lisa, I think your brother may have taken a liking to her. He was asking all kinds of questions about her just before you walked in. Of course that was after he tried coming onto me.”
“He better not. She doesn’t need a screw up like him. Not while getting her life back on track. And as for you, I’m sure you put him in his place.”
“You are a good man, even though you’re an ass yourself at times. You gave Lisa a reason to hope and dream. No one else has ever done that for her.”
His eyes narrowed as his gaze washed over her body. “Does this mean I’ve earned brownie points?”
Ciarra let out a laugh. “Call it what you will.”
His eyes roamed up and down her body causing the heat to settle in her groin. He set the cup down and moved closer, but didn’t touch her. “What is it about you?”
“What do you mean?”
He tucked a few loose strands of her ebony hair behind her ear and touched her cheek with his fingertips. “You’re not my type, and yet I can’t resist you. You make me want to go rescue the world and believe in the greater good . . . even where my brother’s concerned. And my dear, that’s a feat in itself.”
Ciarra closed her eyes and allowed him to caress her face. What a wonderful feeling to be touched again, something so simple and yet so incredibly pleasurable.
Her eyes popped open when his lips connected with hers. Just a brief kiss, but he hovered for a couple seconds and then ran his tongue over her lips. Drinking in the erotic kiss, which hinted at his earlier cup of coffee, she sighed aloud.
Then, her brain caught up with his ‘you’re not my type’ comment. Backing away, she bumped one of the kitchen chairs.
“Ciarra . . .”
She held up a hand. “No. This isn’t right or professional. I’m stopping this before it starts.” She turned on her heels and headed for the back door. “Besides,” she continued while opening the door, “I’m not your type.”
“Hold up. You didn’t let me finish explaining—”
“If I did, we’d both have regrets.” She moved toward the door. “Change of plans. Since you’re up and mobile, we have an appointment with a priestess in the next half hour. We better get going. She won’t be able to come out here to us.”
“Don’t you mean a priest? I know one. I can get him to do an exorcism or something.”
Good try. “No, a High Priestess, as in one who actively practices Voodoo.”
“How about before I go visiting some Voodoo whatever, we go see . . . what are they called? Psychics? Let’s see if one senses I’m supposedly dying.”
She put her hands on her hips. So, he still thought this was all some kind of joke, did he? The man was hard headed. “Last night didn’t convince you?”
“Being sick with some flu? Isn’t that what Greg said?”
Ciarra grabbed his coat off the hook and tossed it at him. “It’s the damn curse. Let’s go before I change my mind.” Don’t let him be an ass now. She couldn’t handle it right now. The heat rose in her cheeks.
“I feel fine,” he spoke as he swayed back a step.
Ciarra reached out and steadied him, and with one fine arched brow raised high, asked with a sarcastic tone in her voice, “Really?” She held out his coat for him to put his arms into.
He hesitated, but only for a couple of seconds. “Oh okay. Just to entertain you though.”
“Whatever makes you feel more like a man.” She held on to his arm as she guided him down the steps slamming the door behind her.
Stupid ignorant men.
“This nonsense has got to end,” Eduardo stated as he rounded the kitchen table.
“I will not take the curse off. I’m dying. They are the last two left.” Kiyana coughed up some blood into her tissue. “I pray I stay alive long enough to see it come to fruitation.”
“Your momma’s right. You lost your mind when Liam died. But, none of this was these men’s fault.” He jabbed his fingertip down on the table. “Do you not care for your other children? What about them?”
She cringed. Her other babies, thirteen, eleven, and seven, sat in the living area quietly watching cartoons on television. “You will raise them and care for their well-being?”
“Well, of course I will. That’s not the issue. They need their momma. Try to reverse the curse and maybe your life will be spared,” he pleaded.
She sighed. “I can’t, my husband. They all must pay for Liam’s life.” She covered her face with her hands. Dropping her hands back into her lap, she spoke again. “I must too pay.”
Eduardo knelt beside her and caressed her cheek. “No one needs to pay. It was an accident. A terrible one, but nonetheless it was an accident. None of this is going to bring our Liam back. It’s senseless to do this.”
“You believe these men should go unpunished?”
“Again, it was an accident. Liam slipped from your grasp and ran.”
Kiyana stood up. “It’s my fault?” Eduardo opened his mouth to speak, but she continued. “Well, I am paying, right?”
“I’m going to make an appointment for you to see your psychologist. My dear, you need to heal and see this is all for nothing.”
Kiyana held firm in her beliefs. The remaining two would die, and she would die. Then, there would be balance back in the world. Her sons would grow into men and live long prosperous lives. She would be with her Liam once again. But, Eduardo didn’t need to know it. She didn’t want him affected by her decisions. The less he knew the better. “All right. I will see her.”
“And the curses?”
“I will take care of them.” She needed to get out of here, if only for a few moments. A ride would do her good. She could pick up some of her tea. Normally, she would take the bus, but since Eduardo was here, she’d take the truck. “I’m going out.”
He rose to his feet and grasped her shoulder. “You can’t. Not in your present condition.”
She let out a laugh. “I won’t be dying today. Now, allow me to go.”
He reluctantly removed his hand from her shoulder. She moved to the door, grabbing her coat. “I will return as soon as I can.”
“Please, Kiyana, stay here.”
She’d always listened to her husband before. But, she wanted more of her tea from the Voodoo priestess. It was the only place she could find it. Not to mention she needed to get away from him for a time. “I’ll be careful,” she promised as she closed the door behind her.
The African American woman who answered the door was breathtakingly beautiful. She had an elegant thin face with high cheekbones and wore a bright colored dress which flowed to the floor along with a matching wrap on her head. Long braids traveled from under the wrap and down her chest, falling to her waist.
Ciarra saw why Trent couldn’t take his eyes off the Voodoo priestess.
The woman turned to him. “I’m not what you expected?”
He shook his head.
“Expected me to have a snake around my bare neck as I danced naked around a blazing fire?” She laughed.
Trent’s cheeks turned red.
Ciarra didn’t feel sorry for him. “Please excuse him. He doesn’t believe any of this.”
“Well, too bad. I don’t know how to help him if he doesn’t believe.”
“Can we try anyway?” Ciarra turned to Trent. “Will you stop already?”
“Follow me.” She led them behind a curtain into a smaller room lit only by candle
light. “Please, sit.”
Trent pulled the chair out and almost fell flat on his ass. Ciarra grabbed his arm and yanked up as he steadied himself onto the chair. “I’m sorry,” he began. “You aren’t what I expected. She’s right. I don’t believe in any Voodoo, magic, or anything else. And I certainly don’t believe I’m cursed.”
Ciarra turned her attention to the contents on the table in front of her: green glitter, green ribbon, a mason jar with a lid, and some green beads. She lifted the small container to her nose breathing in the cinnamon. She couldn’t help but being intrigued.
“You’ve been sick as of recent? Tell me what has happened to you.”
“Okay, I’ll play along.” He told her about the loss of money, the statue coming close to crushing him, and every other bad thing that had happened to him in the last few days. He held out the amulet Tiesha had given him. He had found it sitting on the post of the stairway out on the porch. Funny, cause he knew damn right well he had tossed it off the porch. “See, I have this for protection.”
The priestess’ eyes held little reaction. She shrugged. “You’ve been cursed, Doctor. I can attempt in helping to remove it.” She held up a finger. “But, it will only fully work if you believe. And the amulet will help. Hold onto it.” She stood facing the back wall. Turning toward them, she said, “My name is Letti.” Smiling, she turned back to the wall. “I cast this circle in the name of light and love. I ask you protect us with your never ending energy from unwanted spirits and guide us.” She turned to the right facing the wall and repeated what she had spoken seconds before.
Deadly Curses Page 13