“Are there any other surprises in your basement?”
“No.”
I straightened as Griffin used his cuffs to fasten Nathan to the leg of the couch. To make sure he stayed silent, I removed one of his socks and doused it in the tainted water before shoving it in his mouth. He was out before I had a chance to greet Redmond, Cillian and Braden as they walked in through the back door.
“What’s going on?” Braden asked, his eyes wide when he saw Nathan. “Is it over?”
“Partially,” Dad replied. “We have Nathan under control, but there are three wraiths and five Grimleys in the basement.”
“So, what do we do?”
I made a face. “What do we do? We kill them, you bonehead. That’s what we do.”
“I don’t think I like your attitude,” Braden grumbled. “You’re a total pain in the ass sometimes.”
“Well, I know I don’t like your attitude,” I said. “We need to get down there before the wraiths start killing. They probably heard Nathan cry when I yanked that hair out of his head.”
“Yes, that was especially vicious,” Griffin said. “Remind me not to get on your bad side.”
“I’ll show you my good side if you help me end this.”
“Sold,” Griffin said, kissing my forehead. “Let’s do this. I have a very important date and I don’t want to wait.”
“You’re a poet and you didn’t know it,” I teased.
“Oh, I can’t wait for this night to be over,” Dad said, rubbing his forehead. “I can’t take one more second of verbal foreplay. It’s too … disgusting.”
“Welcome to my world,” Aidan said. “At least you didn’t have to live with them for several months.”
“Yes, I’m thanking my lucky stars even as we speak,” Dad said. “Get to the basement. Aisling is right. It’s time to end this. I have a feeling there’s a terrified family down there just dying to be reunited with their daughter.”
“Pun intended?”
“At least I’m not a poet,” Dad said. “Move, kids. I’m not in the mood for ice cream or baths, but I could use some bourbon and my bed. It’s time to save the day … and then go to bed early.”
“You’re a wild man, Dad.”
“Don’t push me, Aisling.”
THE BASEMENT stairs were narrow and dreary. I flicked the light switch at the top and flooded the area below before following Redmond down the stairs. Griffin wanted me to remain on the first floor, but I put the kibosh on that idea before he could muster much of an argument.
Redmond descended slowly, a sword gripped in his hand. I was right behind him and had the long knife Dad held for me while I questioned Nathan.
I heard hissing before I saw anything, my eyes bouncing from one terrified and glazed set of Grimley eyes to the next. Only Serena looked to be completely drug free, and she was shaking in her spot in the center of the floor.
The Grimleys were arranged in the shape of a pentagram, everyone’s arms bound behind their backs and gags silencing them. Serena’s eyes widened when she saw me and she made a noise, although the words were muffled.
She was trying to warn us about the wraiths. I was prepared.
The second I hit the bottom of the stairs I turned to my left and slashed, my knife cutting through the robe of the nearest wraith. I heard Redmond grunt behind me as he took on another enemy, and Braden and Cillian were already moving toward the shadowy figure in the far corner before I could glance away from the wraith in front of me.
I felt Griffin move in behind me, but he didn’t move to take out the wraith before I could. I took the silence as a form of blessing and rammed my knife into the wraith’s heart before it could attack.
It hissed its displeasure and lifted its face to the ceiling as it began to decay and flake away. By the time I turned around, my brothers had finished the other wraiths and the battle was essentially over.
Dad hurried to Lawrence Grimley’s side and cut his restraints. The man was weak and pale, a head wound making him fuzzy, but Dad promised he would get everyone the medical care they needed right away.
Braden, Cillian and Redmond helped the Grimley brothers and mother up the stairs while Aidan and Griffin supported Lawrence’s weight for the long trek to the main floor. That left only a sobbing Serena – who threw her arms around me the moment I freed her – and my taciturn father.
“I can’t believe you found me,” Serena gushed. “I thought we were all going to die down here.”
“Yes, and that’s still a distinct possibility for you,” Dad said, wagging his finger. “Where is my car?”
Serena shrank back. “I parked it at the cemetery. I don’t know what they did with it.”
“We’ll find it,” I said, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and shooting my father a dark look. “Did they hurt you?”
“Mostly they just frightened me. I didn’t realize they were in the mausoleum until it was too late. Luckily for me they seemed more interested in checking out the basement. They kept talking about some herbs they needed from down there.”
“Well, you’re okay,” I said. “And look, your family is alive. You can all go home together.”
“Thank you.”
She was so earnest and sweet I had trouble holding back my tears. “You’re welcome.” I directed her toward the stairs, but Dad stopped us with a hand on Serena’s arm. “Oh, don’t yell at her,” I whined. “She’s been through enough.”
Serena’s eyes widened as Dad stared her down. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re still grounded,” Dad said, his tone gruff. “It will start right after you get your cookies and milk for a snack.”
Serena burst into tears as she hugged him, and even a curmudgeon like my father couldn’t maintain his anger given her overwhelming gratitude.
“Fine, you’re not grounded,” he said. “If we don’t find my car, though, you’ll be doing chores around my house for the rest of your life until you pay for it.”
“That sounds fair,” Serena sniffed. “Can I still have cookies?”
“We’re all having cookies,” Dad said, “but I’m having bourbon with mine.”
33
Thirty-Three
Everyone camped out at Grimlock Manor that night.
Dad called the home office, which sent a doctor to tend to the Grimley family. Lawrence was the only one with a serious injury, and after administering a sleeping draught he retired to Dad’s wing of the house with his wife. He managed a few heartfelt thanks, but his exhaustion was palpable. No one begrudged him the first good night of sleep he’d had in weeks.
There were a lot of tears when Serena was reunited with her parents. She apologized profusely for sneaking out of the house – and even owned up to missing her brothers – but her mother held strong despite the girl’s torment. Dad may have lifted Serena’s grounding, but Lucy Grimley refused to back down and reinstated it. Serena was grounded for a month … and she also was engulfed in hugs and tears. Something told me she would be happy to accept the grounding once they returned to their own home.
Dad locked Nathan in the basement cell until the home office could send soldiers to claim him the following morning. I was fairly certain Dad wanted to question Nathan himself when no one was looking – really dig in about the possibility of Mom being involved in the kidnapping – but if that was his plan, he kept it to himself. As for Mom, well, it looked as if she was innocent. At least this time.
Everyone ate cookies, ice cream and cake in the dining room before people began drifting off to bed. Dad kissed the top of my head at the bottom of the stairs before giving me a hug.
“You were brave today, Aisling. I was very proud of you.”
“Does that mean I can have the week off with pay?”
“You may have a five-day weekend with pay.”
“You’re the best Dad ever!”
Dad grinned as he ruffled my hair. “Anything for my princess.”
Griffin and I trudged to my bedroom. I washed
my face and slipped under the covers while he brushed his teeth behind closed doors. I was surprised when Jerry appeared in the doorway. He was wearing his monogrammed pajamas and a soft smile.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“I’m going through withdrawal again.”
I pressed my lips together as I glanced at the bathroom door and then lifted the covers so Jerry could slide in beside me. It wasn’t as if Griffin and I had the energy to get romantic. Jerry wasn’t hurting anyone.
“I’m going through withdrawal, too,” I said, resting my head on his shoulder.
“Is it wrong that I miss you so much?” Jerry asked. “I know this had to happen eventually, but it’s so weird. We used to do everything together. Now you do everything with Griffin.”
“I don’t do everything with Griffin,” I countered. “I have plenty of room for both of you in my heart. We have a lot of shopping ahead of us, after all. I have to get Griffin the perfect Christmas gift.”
“And a dress.”
“And a dress,” I gritted out. I didn’t want to be reminded of Griffin’s mother’s imminent visit when I was still riding high thanks to the Grimleys’ rescue.
“Bug?”
“Huh.”
“I still miss you.”
I tightened my arms around Jerry’s waist and didn’t bother looking up as Griffin opened the bathroom door and strolled out. He didn’t pause when he saw Jerry in bed with me, instead moving to the far side of the bed and lifting the covers before sliding in behind me.
“Goodnight, guys,” Griffin said, reaching for the lamp switch.
Jerry and I exchanged a surprised look before the room went dark. I rolled to my side and studied Griffin’s profile in the ambient light given off from the nightstand alarm clock.
“Aren’t you going to kick Jerry out?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Yeah, why not?” Jerry echoed.
“Because all I want tonight is peace,” Griffin replied. “I’m not going to get it until Aisling gets it, and she’s not going to relax without you. So, if you want to sleep in here, Jerry, knock yourself out. Stay on that side of the bed, though.”
Jerry giggled as he snuggled closer. “He’s kind of a grump when he’s tired, huh?”
“Totally,” I said, linking my fingers with Griffin’s under the covers as I got comfortable with Jerry. “Do you know what you’re going to get Aidan for Christmas yet?”
“I have a few ideas. What about Griffin?”
“I have no idea what to get him,” I said. “It has to be good, though. This is our first Christmas together.”
“You don’t have to get me anything,” Griffin murmured. “You’re here and you’re safe. That’s all I need.”
“Oh, that’s so cute,” Jerry cooed. “You need presents, though. That’s what Christmas is all about.”
“And here I thought it was about peace and good cheer,” Griffin deadpanned.
“What are you guys doing in here?”
I heard Aidan’s voice but I couldn’t see him in the darkness. “We’re sleeping.”
“All three of you?” Aidan was understandably dubious. “Come on, Jerry. If you don’t leave that bed Griffin is going to kill you.”
“I’m not going to kill him,” Griffin said. “I’m too tired to kill him. He can stay.”
“But … .” Aidan was flabbergasted – and apparently a little jealous. “What about me? I don’t want to sleep alone.”
Griffin growled as he rolled and rested his hand on my hip. “You can stay, too, but you’d better stay on that side of the bed,” he said. “No funny business either. This is a no funny business mattress tonight.”
I heard Aidan’s bare feet as he hurried across the wooden floor and hopped on the bed. Jerry giggled as he climbed in next to us. Thankfully my mother insisted on a king-sized mattress when she purchased the infernal thing twenty years ago.
“This is kind of comfortable,” I said, smiling as Griffin spooned up behind me. “It’s nice after everything that’s gone wrong over the past few days.”
“That’s because everything went right today,” Griffin said. “Now … be quiet.”
I did as he asked … for exactly five seconds. “Did I tell you my father is giving me an extended weekend?”
“What?” Aidan protested. “That’s not fair. I faked being drugged, too.”
“You faked it badly,” I said. “I was the picture of a perfect actress.”
“You were both terrible,” Griffin said. “Now … shut up. Everyone needs to go to sleep.”
For some reason he reminded me of my father. Dad admonished the three of us to be quiet numerous times during sleepovers. Apparently I wasn’t the only one to think of Dad because Aidan started mimicking him.
“Don’t make me come in there, because you’ll be sorry if you do,” he said, adopting his best “Dad” voice. “Shut up and go to sleep!”
I snickered as Griffin groaned. “I’m sorry,” I said. “It’s just … we did this a lot when we were kids.”
“You had a boyfriend in bed with you, Aidan and Jerry when you were a kid?” Griffin asked. “Somehow I have my doubts.”
“Can I ask you something before you fall asleep?”
Griffin sighed. “Yes.”
“Do you think the Grimleys will be okay after everything they’ve been through?”
“Yes,” Griffin replied, his voice soft. “They have each other. When times get tough, as long as you have the people you love, everything will be okay.”
“Do you still love me?”
“Yes.”
“Do you love me?” Jerry asked.
“Oh, geez,” Griffin muttered. “Yes.”
“What about me?” Aidan asked, causing everyone to laugh.
“Don’t make me kick everyone out of this bedroom,” Griffin warned. “You won’t like it if I do.”
“Sorry,” we all sang in unison.
The room fell silent as everyone got comfortable. Even though we were having a good time, the day took a toll and we wouldn’t stay awake long. Still, I had to tell Griffin something before he slept.
“Griffin?”
“What?”
“I love you.”
Griffin tightened his arm around my waist. “I love you, too. Now sleep.”
“Okay.”
More silence and then Aidan and Jerry couldn’t resist getting in the last word in.
“We love you, too,” they sang out.
“Ugh. We’re definitely coming up with new rules tomorrow,” Griffin said. “I just … you people are so much work.”
Something told me he thought we were worth it, and that was the last thought I had as I drifted off.
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About the Author
I want to thank everyone who takes the time to read my novels. I have a particular brand of humor that isn’t for everyone – and I know that.
If you liked the book, please take a few minutes and leave a review. An independent author does it all on their own, and the reviews are helpful. I understand that my characters aren’t for everyone, though. There’s a lot of snark and sarcasm in my world – and I know some people don’t like that.
Special thanks go out to Heidi Bitsoli and Phil VanHulle for correcting the (numerous) errors that creep into a work of fiction.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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Books by Amanda M. Lee
An Avery Shaw Mystery
Who, What, Where, When, Die
If it Bleeds, it Leads
Buried Leads
Shot Off The Presses
The Preditorial Page
Misquoted & Demoted
Headlines & Deadlines
Misprints & Mistakes
Bylines & Skylines
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Mystery
Any Witch Way You Can
Every Witch Way But Wicked
Witching You Were Here
Witching on a Star
Something to Witch About
Witch Me Luck
Life’s a Witch
Charms & Witchdemeanors
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Short
Careful What You Witch For
Wicked Brew
On a Witch and a Prayer
You Only Witch Once
The Christmas Witch
Bewitched
A Solstice Celebration
Witchdependence Day
Happy Witchgiving
Merry Witchmas
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Fantasy
Witchy Tales
A Witch In Time
An Aisling Grimlock Mystery
Grim Tidings
Grim Offerings
Grim Discovery
Grim Reunion
Covenant College
Awakening
Whispering
Conjuring
Waxing & Waning
Graduating
Living Covenant Trilogy
Rising Covenant
Dark Covenant
Eternal Covenant
A Mystic Caravan Mystery
Freaky Days
Freaky Lies
Grim Expectations (Aisling Grimlock Book 5) Page 30