Chapter 3 #2
“Now that the show’s over, I’m going to head home. Thanks again.” She waved a hand, unlocked her car and got in. As soon as she started the engine, the air conditioner blasted out cool air, causing condensation to form on the outside of the windshield.
Fully aware of Simon standing beside the car, it took a moment for Holly to realize the condensation wasn’t filling in all the way across the glass. Slowly, words appeared, making Holly’s blood grow cold. Though she was looking at them in reverse, the message was clear.
SECRETS KILL
Holly pushed the door open and scrambled out of the car. She tripped over the hem of the dress and pitched forward into Simon’s arms.
He caught her and held her against his chest until she got her feet firmly beneath her. “What’s wrong?”
She leaned into him, turning sideways to point at her car. “That.” Her hand shook. “The windshield.”
Simon moved forward with a protective arm around her, circling the front of the car. His team closed in around them as they stared at the message framed by the condensation.
“Secrets kill,” Remy said softly. “The same message as the one on the mirror in your Atlanta apartment?”
She nodded. “Yes. The same that appeared on the tree before Paul died and the sandy beach when my parents’ boat capsized six months ago.” She trembled. “The first two messages were followed immediately by death and loss. I have to admit...I’m afraid.”
“There’s no shame in that,” Simon said. “It’s a threat.”
“If it’s not a direct threat to me,” she said, “I’m afraid of who will die next.”
“You say the first two messages were in the sand and on a tree?” Remy asked.
Holly nodded. “Yes. In the sand where my parents lived and on a tree outside my boyfriend’s house.”
Simon and Remy exchanged a glance. “Sounds like they were targeted specifically.”
“The last two messages were in your apartment and on your vehicle.”
Holly drew in a breath and let it out. “So, it’s me.” She let the breath out. “Thank goodness. At least it’s not someone else.”
Remy shook his head. “You need protection.”
Holly’s gaze went to the car and the message carved out of the condensation.
She’d always valued her independence. Her parents had spent so much time away from home pursuing various scientific endeavors that she’d learned to be on her own.
However, independence was one thing; staying alive was another.
Holly squared her shoulders. “What does protection entail?”
Remy smiled and then schooled his face. “You need someone with you twenty-four-seven.”
“Wait.” She shook her head. “Every minute of the day?”
Remy nodded. “It does you no good if you send him home at the end of the day. If someone targets you, they’re watching you, waiting to catch you when you least expect it…when you’re alone and vulnerable.”
“I’ve been alone a lot since I’ve been back,” she noted. “Why hasn’t it happened by now?”
“It might be a scare tactic,” Simon explained.
Valentin stepped forward. “Like psychological warfare. Keeps you guessing until bam!” He smacked his fist into his palm.
Holly jerked back.
Simon’s hand came up to rest at the small of her back.
She didn’t want to admit it, but his warmth and strength were reassuring.
“Does that mean whoever provides that protection will be living with me until whatever this is stops?”
Remy nodded. “He’ll guard you day and night.”
“I have a job. I can’t have someone hanging around while I work.”
Remy’s lips twisted into a wry grin. “I’m sure Rene at the Crawdad Hole won’t mind. It would be like having an extra bouncer he wouldn’t have to pay.”
“I’m not a celebrity,” Holly argued. “I can’t afford a twelve-hour bodyguard, much less one who’s with me twenty-four-seven.”
“Brotherhood Protectors provide protection to those who need it, no matter their ability to pay for our services. Our founder, Hank Patterson, and his wife, Sadie McClain, set up a foundation to fund the work we do. All you have to do is accept our services, and we do the rest.”
“I really don’t want to announce to everyone that I’m scared and had to hire a bodyguard.” Was she really considering accepting their help? “Could we keep it on the down low?”
Simon coughed. “It makes sense to keep up the tale we fed your friend Cody.”
Holly rubbed the arm that still hurt from where he’d squeezed it so hard. “He’s not my friend.”
“Your former friend,” Simon corrected. “He doesn’t seem the type to give up easily, and I think you broke his nose.”
“He might come after me again,” Holly agreed. “So, you’re saying we should pretend that you and I are together, at least while I try to figure out what’s going on…?”
Simon nodded. “Unless you want someone else to take the assignment.”
Holly’s pulse fluttered again at the thought of being with Simon every minute of every day.
He was a lot to take in. “It’s not like our relationship is real.
” She could keep emotions out of it, especially if they were wrong and the curse wasn’t targeting her but the people she cared about.
All she had to do was keep from caring too much for the guy.
She could do that. She barely knew him. And she wouldn’t wish her affection on anyone the curse could target all because she was weak and allowed herself to actually. ..you know...fall in love.
Another glance at the message on the windshield helped her make her decision. “Okay. I accept your protection. When does it start?”
“Fifteen minutes ago,” Simon said. “I’m glad you agreed to let us help, because I was going to be with you whether you wanted me to or not.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Is that right? And I wouldn’t have had a say in it?”
“You did have a say,” he pointed out. “Since you agreed, I won’t have to sneak around and provide your protection covertly.” He grinned. “Now, do you ride with me, or should I follow you to your place?”
Holly wasn’t sure she liked that he’d already decided to provide her protection without her permission. But then, there was that message on the windshield... “You can follow me,” she said, unwilling to give up every bit of her independence.
He nodded. “But first, let’s clear up one thing.”
She lifted her chin, stiffened and prepared to do verbal battle with the man who was going to spend who knew how long with her—at least until she figured out how to break the curse.
But he didn’t say a word. Instead, he leaned into her car and switched on the windshield wipers. Two seconds later, the message was swept away.
The starch left her body as she faced the open door, the driver’s seat and the car she’d always loved driving. Until now. The message was gone, but it lingered in her thoughts.
Simon touched her elbow. “Ride with me,” he whispered. “Let’s get a mechanic to look over your car to make sure the message wasn’t the only thing left behind.”
“Right,” Remy said. “I’ll have a tow truck take your car to a mechanic I know.”
If she hadn’t been so hesitant to get back into her car, she’d have blasted them for railroading her into riding with Simon.
“Okay.” Holly hated how pathetic she sounded. To make up for it, she added in a more forceful tone, “But just until they give my car the once-over.”
“You two going to be all right?” Remy asked. “I could follow you to Holly’s place as well.”
“We don’t even know if the words mean more than just words,” Holly shook her head. “One shadow is all I can handle for now.”
Remy grinned. “Got it. All you have to do is call if you need reinforcements.”
“Thank you,” Holly said, suddenly tired to the bone. She turned to Simon. “I’m ready, if you are.” To Remy, she added, “Keys are in the ignition.”
“We’ll take care of it.” Remy leaned into the car, shut off the engine and came out with a frown denting his forehead.
“Does this look familiar?” He held up a small doll, handcrafted from brown twine wrapped mummy-style.
Stuck in the doll’s heart was a single pin with a black plastic skull affixed to it.
Holly’s breath hitched. “I’ve never seen that before. It wasn’t in my car when I arrived for my shift.” She reluctantly held out her hand.
Remy placed the doll in her hand. “I take it that’s another message.”
She nodded.
“Do you want me to see if my contacts at the state crime lab can run tests on it?”
She shook her head. “I’d like to take it to my Mémère.
” At the very least, the resident Voodoo queen would confirm what Holly suspected.
The doll was a warning. How much of a warning, she didn’t want to admit.
Based on the location of the pin stick, it could well be a death threat.
She palmed the doll, careful not to dislodge the pin.
Holly couldn’t wait any longer. If her grandmother wasn’t home the next day, she’d have to find her.
“It’s just a doll,” Simon whispered close to her ear.
He didn’t understand what that doll represented. It was all part of the curse she’d come back to vanquish.
She didn’t bother trying to convince him to believe in the power of black magic. He would be of no help in her attempt to remove the curse. But he would prove useful if he could protect her long enough to reverse the dark magic.
With that warm hand still at the small of her back, Simon guided her to his pickup and held open the passenger door for her.
She stepped up onto the running board and slid into the seat, glad to be off her feet for the first time in eight hours. The doll in her palm mocked her attempt to relax.
Having Simon so close wasn’t helping either. He was far too attractive.
As tired as she was, she should have had no problem keeping everything on a professional basis. Even exhaustion wasn’t helping her focus on what mattered—Removing the curse.
Not dancing with Simon or imagining his big body filling the limited space in her houseboat.
What she needed was a cool shower, a soft bed and sleep.
She leaned her head back against the seat, closed her eyes and waited for Simon to close the door.
The truck dipped slightly, and something whispered across her breast.
Holly’s eyes shot open to find Simon leaning over her.
“What the hell?” she muttered. Everywhere he brushed against her lit up like the fourth of July, sending electrical shocks throughout her body.
“Just buckling you in,” he said as he stretched the shoulder strap over her and snapped the buckle in place, his knuckles grazing her hip.
Sweet Jesus.
In that brief moment, she went from near-death exhaustion to all her senses on high alert.
If her breath wasn’t lodged in her lungs, Holly would have told him to never mind. She could drive her own car and take care of her own self. Twenty-four-seven with the man who could dance and who sent her senses into a raging whirlwind by simply buckling her seatbelt was a bad idea.
She reminded herself that it was a good thing she wasn’t in the market for a relationship.
Now, she just had to keep repeating that thought to herself or risk putting the man in jeopardy of her deadly curse.
And if her self-coaching didn’t do it, the doll in her hand should be enough of a reminder of the trouble she was in and, by association, everyone around her could be affected.