Eliza Gayle Witch Bundle (paranormal romance), Eliza Gayle [books suggested by bill gates txt] 📗

That was the last she'd been able to pick up on him. Wherever he’d disappeared to, he must be hidden behind some incredibly powerful wards. Well, whatever happened out there in the middle of nowhereville, he must have popped into a hiding place pretty damned fast and so close to Boston it only made sense he was hidden in the city somewhere.

She yanked her cell phone out of her pocket, pressing star ten. The direct line for the Reverend. He would be waiting for an update by now. She was overdue.

“Hello.” His tone clipped in annoyance,

“Hey, Rev. I've got a line on that witch you wanted me to find. Seems he used some pretty powerful magick at mile marker 14 on Route 20 just outside of Beantown. Unfortunately I think he’s gone to ground 'cause there's been nothing from him since.”

“Boston, huh? I might actually be able to help you then.” She listened to the distinct sound of papers being shuffled around. “Yeah, here it is. I have an address you can check out. A family townhome he might go to for refuge.”

She dug out a pen from her backpack and scratched the address down on the map.

“It might take you a while to break through the wards on that place, but I’d bet that's a good a place as any to find him hiding.” The phone clicked dead in her ear, the good Reverend had already disconnected before giving her a chance to respond either way.

Fucking Bastard. Good thing he pays well.

She palmed the cell back in her pocket and hunted up the address on the map. Studying the geography, she surmised she could be there in under two hours. She folded up the map and stuffed it into a cargo pocket on her left leg. Climbing back into the car, she leaned over to check on the potions she had stored in the glove compartment. She'd been tasked with bringing the witch back alive, but was warned that he was on the verge of turning and would not be easily captured.

Hence the sleep and paralyzing potions. One way or another she would get him back to the Rev and collect her finder's fee. A smug smile played on her lips. Sometimes it paid extremely well to be a witch for hire.

Startled, Cash shot up from sleep. The house was still dark and a check of the nightstand clock read 5:15 AM. Sunrise was a little ways off, but something had woken him up. He eased from the covers, not wanting to wake Selene. They'd been up most of the night, unable to get enough of each other. He smiled. No matter how many times he took her, he wanted more. His cock stirred now in his pants just thinking about that pink pussy of hers welcoming him again.

A small wisp of air brushed his arm. He jerked his body around, looking for the source. Seeing nothing, he concentrated on the airflow through the house, down the stairs into the living room and towards the front door. There. A crack. Damn! The wards were broken. Someone was in the house.

“Selene,” he whispered. “Get up now.”

“What is it?” Looking like she was on autopilot, she sprang noiselessly from the bed. She grabbed clothes to cover herself and palmed one of the ritual knives from the dresser. Her movements were so effortless he was certain she was used to this kind of thing.

“Someone's in the house.”

“How do you know?”

“The alarm went off.”

She looked around the room. “What alarm? I don't hear anything.” Seconds later she was fully dressed and standing by his side ready for action.

“Who are you?” he mumbled.

“What are you talking about, Cash? You know who I am.”

“Do I?” He grabbed her hand. “After I get us safely out of here I think we need to have a long talk.”

She snorted. “After you get us out? I think we'll be doing this together.”

He hesitated, staring down at her. He sensed a fierce determination that could prove useful in getting them away. Damn, she was definitely his kind of woman. He was so screwed.

“Our uninvited guest is at the bottom of the stairs. We only have a few seconds to get to the back staircase without being seen. Stay close,” he warned.

“Is it Merc again? How'd he find us? And what happened to being safe here?” Her voice trembled slightly with fear. “I don't want him to hurt you because of me. I can negotiate with him. He just needs me.”

He looked at her sharply, pulling her close. “No, I need you and there will be no negotiating. Is that understood?” She nodded. “Besides, it's not him. It's a female. Come on, we don't have much time.” His fingers wrapped around her arm and he hauled her from the room and around the corner. Backs against the wall so they weren't visible from the stairs, they scooted along the landing. Reaching the back staircase, Selene took them two at a time. Not fast enough. When she reached the bottom she hesitated long enough to turn and look behind her at the same time a woman appeared at the top in time to hurtle a bottle towards their feet.

“Hold your breath, Selene, now.” He managed the words a breath before the bottle crashed and the inky vapors poured from the broken glass. His eyes burned as they leapt over it and hurtled towards the kitchen. He watched as Selene's hand heated and flared into a flaming ball. “No, Selene, don't,” he yelled, but either she didn't hear or she ignored him. Not fast enough to throw up a barrier, he watched helplessly as she flung it at the woman behind them still shrouded in the shadows.

Quick on her feet, the intruder leapt out of harm's way as the flare crashed into the wall behind her. The splintered drywall caught fire in seconds, spreading up and out across the room,