Chapter 11 #4
“I realize all that in my head. In my heart, I want to whisk you away to Canada and hide.”
Scott smiled. “I wish we could. I thought of that too. But we have powerful allies and a good plan. This is our best shot. I also have a feeling there are a lot more people behind the scenes working with Becca and Amy who they aren’t mentioning. Strangely, I’m okay with that.”
Justin stopped pacing. “I’m not letting you face him alone. Gonna be right with you, all the way.”
“Just don’t do anything foolish,” Scott warned. “I want us both to come out of this safe and alive.”
Justin pulled Scott into his arms, trying to say with a kiss what words didn’t completely capture. Scott kissed him back with the same quiet desperation, and soon they were stripping down and landing on the bed, tangled up together.
Last night on earth sex. Scott had heard the phrase before, but never expected to experience it himself. While he hoped with all his heart that it wasn’t their final night together, the impending danger amplified every touch and taste, making every inch of skin exquisitely sensitive.
Claim? his coyote asked.
Not yet. It’s too important to rush. Scott was as torn as his other half and angry at the world for making it more complicated. For now, he needed to let it go and be fully with Justin.
“Make it so I can’t think of anything except us.” Justin kissed Scott’s neck, an unexpected erogenous zone, and despite the fear and tension, Scott felt himself getting hard.
“I can do that.” Scott couldn’t promise safety or that they would succeed. But right here and now, he could show Justin how loved and cherished he was, and how much it meant that Justin would risk his life to protect him.
They took their time, touching and licking.
Scott felt himself committing every sound and movement to memory, taking in the scent of his lover.
He could feel Justin more than ever and guessed that Scott had a heightened sense of him as well.
While it meant he couldn’t hide his feelings or downplay his concern, it also made for total honesty without awkward confessions.
How amazing will it be when we’re fully mated?
Justin rolled onto his back, wordlessly asking Scott to top. He was happy to oblige, knowing it would help Justin focus on sensations and not worry about mechanics. He took his time to open Justin up and slick the way.
Scott slid deep inside and let the feelings and passion sweep away any unwelcome thoughts. He went as slowly as he could, trying to make it last, creating a space where they were safe and away from danger and concerns.
“Come with me,” Scott coaxed, working Justin’s cock with his hand in time with his own thrusts. They tumbled over the edge into ecstasy together and lay quietly for several moments just listening to each other’s breaths and heartbeats.
“I love you,” Scott whispered.
“Love you too,” Justin echoed. Their amulets clinked together. In this moment, together in the darkness, Justin prayed to any entity that would listen for safety.
Scott wiped them down with a T-shirt and tossed it onto the floor. They fell asleep naked, lying in each other’s arms, and as he drifted off, Scott hoped that the fates would grant his prayers.
Two days later, Justin and Scott arrived at the warehouse to find Amy and Becca waiting for them. Scott parked next to the building, but the others were leaving their cars in another lot to give the impression that Scott was alone.
“The sheriff will be along shortly,” Amy said as they entered. The lights were already on, illuminating a big open room with a few stacks of packing crates toward the back.
“We got here early and warded the whole place, checked for traps, and did a supernatural sweep,” Amy told them.
“We don’t know that Santoro and his witch will show up,” Justin pointed out. Scott could hear the nervousness in his voice. He put a supporting hand on Justin’s arm and tried to send comforting vibes. It at least earned a wan smile from Justin for the effort, which Scott took as a win.
“He’ll show,” Amy said with confidence. “We did a good job putting the story around that you’d be organizing today for the Fox Hollow Merchants’ Holiday Happiness drive starting at nine, and named the warehouse with the address.
It’s on flyers all over town, on the Fox Hollow website, and posted at Lone Coyote, the coffee shop, the restaurants, and the library.
Whether Santoro sees it himself or hears from a snitch, he’ll know it’s his best shot. ”
Justin flinched at the word “shot,” and Scott sympathized.
“Let’s get the ghosts going.” Becca stepped closer. “Whether you see or feel them depends on your sensitivity, but you’ll both have a cloud of protectors who have even more reasons than you do to want Santoro gone.”
She closed her eyes and raised her hands, palms out, then began to speak so quietly Scott couldn’t pick up the words. He felt the temperature get colder and saw his breath mist. His skin tingled, and he just barely glimpsed translucent shapes that faded as soon as he looked straight at them.
Justin met his gaze and nodded, silently confirming that he also could sense their ghostly protectors. After a moment, the chill lessened, and the revenants vanished.
“They’re still around you, even if you can’t feel them,” Becca assured them. “If they aren’t needed, I’ll dispel them when this is all over. For now, consider them your supernatural security detail.”
Amy went to answer a knock at the door, checking before opening it to admit Sheriff Armel. “I’m here,” he said. “Now what?”
“Now, we wait,” Amy replied. “There are cameras with a good view of the whole area, and they’re active. Scott will be at the table shuffling papers. The rest of us will hide. When Santoro shows up, we witness his threat, and then you arrest him.”
“You seem sure he’ll come,” Armel replied.
“I might have added a spell or two,” Amy admitted. “Not for compulsion. Just to make sure he knew about the opportunity and saw the potential. Coming here and any threats to Scott will be entirely up to Santoro.”
She glanced at Armel’s holster. “Don’t forget, one of the wards makes it so guns won’t work inside the warehouse. That still leaves knives and fists, but it brings any attack to close range.”
“Be sure to turn off any alarms and silence your phones,” Becca reminded them.
“Not my first stake-out,” Armel grumbled, but he and the others still checked.
“Places, everyone!” Amy said just before nine, sounding like a stage manager. “It’s show time.”
Justin gave Scott a kiss. “Be safe. I love you.”
“You, too,” Scott replied.
Everything in Scott balked at letting his boyfriend walk away instead of facing the danger side by side. Justin found a hiding place behind one of the towers of crates where he could still see Scott, as did the others. The ghosts weren’t visible, but Scott still sensed their presence.
When this is over, we’ll be free, and we can create our new normal together.
Scott felt torn between wanting to avoid a dangerous confrontation and wishing the whole situation were over. He wondered if Santoro would show up and how long they would have to wait.
Just after nine, the door opened, and Santoro walked in, accompanied by an older man with graying dark hair.
Scott guessed he was Santoro’s witch, Samuel Wilmot.
Santoro looked like a mid-level salesman, someone who specialized in cars or vacuum cleaners.
Wilmot was an odd companion, since the older man had the gravitas of power, but also a clear streak of hubris.
“Hello, Scott. We haven’t met. Do you know who I am?” Santoro taunted.
“You had our plane shot down. Bill and Mike died in the crash. Your hitmen came after me to finish the job.” Scott outlined the crimes as they had rehearsed for the recording to pick up.
“And yet, here we are.” Santoro didn’t deny the accusations. “Because you wouldn’t fucking die. Nosy bastard should have left things alone.”
He pulled a gun from beneath his jacket and stepped closer, taking aim at Scott’s head. “Stand still, and this will be quick.”
The weapon clicked harmlessly. “What the fuck?” Santoro roared. He dropped the useless weapon and charged at Scott with a switchblade. “I…want…you…dead.”
Wilmot stepped forward and moved his hands as he called out the words to a spell. Nothing happened.
Justin started forward, ready to tackle Santoro. Scott grabbed the clipboard from the table and raised it like a shield, bracing for the attack.
The temperature plummeted, and a cloud of spirits rushed forward, enveloping Santoro and the witch and stopping them in their tracks. The ghosts became visible, people Santoro and Wilmot had betrayed and killed, and the shock on the men’s faces made it clear they recognized their attackers.
“You can’t be real. You’re dead,” Santoro shouted above the mayhem as the spirits set on him, intent on vengeance. They tore at his clothes and hair, clawed and pinched his skin, and immobilized him as they landed blow after blow.
Wilmot shouted curses and worked sigils with his hands, but nothing deterred the press of spirits.
“Enough!” Becca shouted as she and the others broke from cover. “Restrain them, but don’t kill them. We need them alive.”
Scott swore he could feel the spirits’ reluctance as they drew back, keeping Santoro and Wilmot pinned by invisible hands, stopping their attack.
Sheriff Armel strode up, brandishing handcuffs.
“Mark Santoro, you are under arrest for attempted murder, murder for hire, and other crimes. Samuel Wilmot, you’ll be brought before a tribunal of your peers for the crimes you’ve committed.
” He restrained them with iron cuffs spelled against magic and read them their rights.
Still reeling from the ghosts’ attack, neither man fought back.
“Are you okay?” Justin came to stand beside Scott.
“Yeah,” Scott said. “Just a little shaky, and I didn’t even have to throw a punch.”
“It worked.” Justin sounded awed and surprised. Their scheme had seemed like something out of a TV show, and they’d had their doubts, but damned if it hadn’t come together.
“Told you.” Amy grinned.
Becca looked toward the cloud of spirits still clustered around Santoro. “Thank you for your help. Your killer will pay for his crimes. We have your statements to add to the record so that your deaths will be recorded. If you are ready to rest, I can send you on.”
Scott couldn’t see the spirits anymore, but little by little, the room lost its chill, and he sensed a change in the energy.
After a few minutes, Becca turned and glared at Santoro. “They have moved on. Their stories will be known and made public. Everyone will know what you’ve done.”
“I can’t enter that testimony into the official record,” the sheriff said, “but if you can substantiate it with living witnesses, I’ll be glad to pile it on so this bastard spends the rest of his days paying for his crimes.”
Armel headed out, taking Santoro and Wilmot to his police cruiser. Scott sat down on the edge of the table, shaking. Justin wrapped his arms around him.
“It’s over,” Justin said. “Santoro’s toast, and so is Wilmot. They can’t hurt you anymore.”
“I just put a note on the door saying that the holiday collection has been postponed,” Amy said. “Didn’t figure you’d be in the mood to hang around.”
“Thank you,” Scott said in a ragged voice, looking from Amy to Becca to Justin. “You saved my life.”
“That’s what friends do.” Amy murmured something under her breath. “The wards are dispelled, but you’re welcome to keep the amulets. A little extra protection never hurts.” She smiled.
“You’ve done your civic duty,” Becca told them. “Go home and collapse. You’ve earned it.”
Amy and Becca stayed behind to undo the other spells she had wrapped around the warehouse and promised to lock up. Justin guided Scott back to the car, casting worried glances at his silent passenger.
“How are you holding up?” Justin asked.
“Coping,” Scott said. “Rattled. I can feel the adrenaline crashing. I knew you were all there to back me up, and that the magic and the ghosts were supposed to protect me, but I was still afraid until the very end that somehow Santoro would have a trick up his sleeve and manage to kill me.”
Justin took his hand. “We weren’t going to let that happen.”
“I guess I’m going to have to testify,” Scott said. “Not looking forward to that.”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Justin said. “I imagine you’ll have to give a statement, but with the video from today and the dirt we’ve dug up on Santoro, as well as what Brent found, I’d be surprised if it didn’t plead out, if Santoro even makes it to trial.”
“I hope so,” Scott replied. “I just want my life back. I want to move here and settle in with you and go back to work and not have to worry about getting shot.”
“We’ll make that happen,” Justin promised. “But give yourself time to recover. I’m with you all the way.” He kissed Scott. “We have all the time in the world now.”