CHAPTER FIFTY

“You sure you’re okay?” Todd asked for the third time. We were outside the restaurant the next night, waiting for Pete and Syd. She’d insisted I was off the hook if I needed to recover from my ordeal, but I wasn’t having it. I had no desire to sit home alone and think about how Jackson Bogart could have easily killed me just like he had Ed Mathers, Jr., whose body he’d hidden in the foundation of his building at 800 Main Street fifteen years ago; Nicole St. James; and as they’d learned early this morning, Chris Strand, whose body had been found in an abandoned construction site—Bogart’s—on the other side of town. If it hadn’t been for Xander—who I knew in my soul had opened that window—I might not be here. But my magickal cat had gotten out of the locked car and led the cops directly to that basement window.

Good thing Gabe had read his text eventually and brought a team out with him to Bogart’s building.

“I’m fine.” The bruises on my neck had been apparent enough that I’d needed to wear a scarf, but aside from that I was none the worse for wear.

Physically, anyway.

“Why did you go there alone, Violet? That wasn’t a great decision.”

“Right, you would have gone with me. Since you’re always around when I need you,” I said, my voice dripping sarcasm.

Finally, a flash of anger as his face reddened. But before he could respond, Syd and Pete walked up to us.

They looked cute together was my first thought. And she looked awesome. Her usually unruly curls were tamed but still buoyant, and she wore a beaded dress that looked like it had come from her store. Pete just looked happy.

They both wrapped me in a hug at the same time.

“You can’t stay out of trouble, can you?” Pete said softly into my ear.

I laughed. “I’m fine. Really. And look, we got justice for Nicole.” Ginny had barely been able to talk but she had called me the minute she’d heard and told me how she’d be grateful to me forever. I still thought it would’ve been better if I’d figured it out before Nicole died, but that was my own guilt to carry.

“Well, we’re not going to talk about that tonight,” Syd declared. “Only happy things.” She squeezed my hand, then looked at Todd as if just realizing he was there. “Hey, Todd.”

“Hey,” Todd said. He nodded at Pete.

Pete’s return nod was curt. “Let’s go in,” he said. “We have reservations.”

He took Sydney’s hand and led the way inside. Todd and I followed. We didn’t speak again until we’d sat and given the waitress our drink order.

I looked around, feeling like everyone was looking at me. It had been all over the news today about Bogart and his crimes, and the whole town was abuzz about it. I hadn’t seen Charlie Klein yet, but I hoped he was pleased that his friend’s son would finally be put to rest.

I wasn’t the only one who noticed people staring though. “You’re a celebrity now,” Todd said to me.

I couldn’t tell from his tone if he was proud of that or if he was being snarky. I brushed off the comment, but Pete watched him with narrowed eyes.

The waitress came back to take our orders. I ordered a salad, figuring I could choke some of that down even though I still had no appetite, and pretended to be engaged in the conversation Syd and Pete were having about some of Pete’s customers. He always had the best stories about his cafe.

But my mind wasn’t totally engaged, until I heard Todd mention “the lawyer guy.”

Immediately I snapped to attention and realized they were all looking at me. “Sorry, what?” I asked.

“I said, what’s the deal with that lawyer guy who you’ve seen way more than me lately?” he said.

“Why are you asking me that?” I said.

“Because here he is again.” Todd pointed. “Seriously, Violet, is there something I need to know?”

Had Todd lost his mind? I twisted around in my seat, then froze. Because the lawyer guy in question was here, coming toward our table. What on earth was Blake doing here?

“Actually,” I said, “the real question would be, is there something I need to know? Since you two are related and all.”

That knocked him back in his seat. And the second blow came immediately following as Blake reached the table. “You,” he said, pointing at Todd. “Come with me.”

I could see Todd prepare to get mouthy and silently willed him not to. He didn’t listen. He rose in his chair, and the “Who do you think you are” was barely out of his mouth when Blake reached both arms straight up in the air, palms facing out, and said something I couldn’t quite make out.

Everything around me stopped. Everything except me, Todd, and Pete. The witches among us.

“Sorry man,” Blake said to Pete. “I just need a minute.”

“No problem,” Pete said dryly.

“Did you seriously just freeze time?” I said to Blake. “Can you teach me how to do that?”

“Not now, Violet.” He had his hand around Todd’s wrist, as if he were afraid he was going to take off. “You’re both coming with me.”

“Coming where?” I asked. “I’m kind of busy at the moment.”

“We have a few things my long-lost cousin and I need to get to the bottom of,” he said, eyes on Todd. “Let’s let these people get back to their date, shall we? You’re not needed here anyway, Vi. They’ve got this.” With his free hand, he grabbed mine, and the next thing I knew the three of us were outside.

I assumed everything inside had gone back to normal. “Blake, is this really necessary right now?” I demanded. “I don’t even have a coat!”

“It is,” he said through gritted teeth. “Would you be quiet and let me handle this? Mac has some news. And I think the three of us need to hear it together.”

Todd looked like he might be sick on the sidewalk.

I didn’t feel so hot myself. I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear whatever this news was, not so soon after everything else. “Blake—”

“Violet. Please. I know you know my family history and I’m sorry I never told you. But unlike him”—here he gestured at Todd with disgust—“I wasn’t doing it to fool you. I don’t have anything in common with my family and don’t want to be tainted by them. I know what you’ve heard and I didn’t want you to think of me that way.” He took a step closer to me, so close I could feel his breath on my face. “And I care about you. You have to believe me.”

I felt it again—that rush of anticipation, the desire to feel his lips on mine. Even right here on the street, in front of Todd. More importantly, I felt an indisputable knowing all the way in my gut that he was telling me the truth. “I believe you,” I said softly.

He smiled. “Good. Because I’m going to make sure you know everything.”

But once again, he didn’t kiss me. Instead, he stepped back and took my hand. I hesitated, then squeezed it tight, trusting him to take me where I needed to go.