Callie rushed forward to meet Josh at the edge of the shadows. She wrapped her arms around him, and held tight. Frost bit at her cheek against his chest and at her forearms embracing him. She willed the magic to give me a fucking second. His ribs pushed against her arms, even though his clothes. He hugged her back with a ferocity that squeezed the air from her lungs, and let her forget the magic glazing her with ice, the fear of the last several days, and the consequences of everything. Josh used to be her safe place, and for that half moment he was again. She’d missed that. Missed him.
Her joints were growing stiff from the magic. If only her brother could have avoided the Soul Charmer’s wares. If only she knew how to repair a torn soul. She didn’t, though, and so she had to back away. The hospital’s beacon of light now loomed behind them, a stalwart reminder of how vastly shit had gone wrong.
Callie stepped back far enough to melt the ice on her skin, and to have Derek at her side. She wasn’t quite steady yet when she asked, “Is she okay?”
Josh shoved both his hands into the single front pocket of his hoodie. He pushed them down until the rumpled cotton was taut over his shoulders. Only then did he look at Callie. His eyes were bloodshot. Whatever sibling bond they’d revived was already disintegrating.
“Her ribs are busted, and they put seven stitches in her head.” He spat into the snow.
Facial wounds always looked more severe than they were, Callie reminded herself. Seven sutures on a forehead were about minimizing a scar, not worrying about big-time damage. Maybe this was something she could come back from. Maybe it’s something they all could come back from.
Josh wasn’t done, though. “She’s missing fingers, Callie. Fingers.”
Her brother had barricaded his fear, but the claw marks of its attempted escape were obvious in his too tight jaw and hardened gaze. Callie tried to cage her own. Burying the scream chiseling at her collarbone wasn’t easy.
“Could they reattach them?”
“Callie, our mom has been mutilated and you’re asking about reattaching fingers?”
“I have them,” she blurted.
“What?”
“I told you! Nate was behind this. He sent them as a threat.”
“You have her fingers?” Each word dripped with more incredulity than the last.
Callie bit the inside of her cheek. She was trying to be helpful, but this was already going sideways. Derek tensed at her side.
“We kept them safe so they could reattach. If you think they still can, we’ll bring them,” Derek said with more focus than Callie could have mustered.
“I don’t fucking know. They didn’t ask if we had the fingers—” Josh paced left and right “but who the fuck would have the fingers?”
This was more familiar ground. “Lots of people who hurt themselves in their garages building shit bring in the fingers.”
Josh glared at her. “I don’t think they will believe Mom was building a table or some bullshit. You don’t bust open your head and break ribs building a table.”
No, she supposed not. “Fine, but if they want them…”
“Yeah. Got it.” Josh was watching Derek now. “What are you doing here? What’s your deal in this?”
Derek didn’t hesitate. “Where she goes, I go. That’s my deal.”
Josh huffed, but the wind caught the sound.
They needed to focus. The longer they were in this parking lot, the more likely eyes would be on them. And the longer Zara would be alone.
Josh lit a cigarette. “Told them I was leaving for a smoke.”
“Okay. Is she awake?” The words ground against her teeth, leaving sour sand behind.
“Kind of. She’s out of it. They gave her drugs, but nothing great because they’re monitoring her brain.”
“I’m sure they’ll give her the good drugs soon,” Callie lied. Until they were confident of her cognitive function, she wasn’t getting the make-you-sleep shit.
“Are you going to be able to visit her tomorrow or are you still tied up in whatever shit they’ve gotten you into?” The hostility in her brother’s voice surprised Callie more than the abrupt change of topic.
Callie hesitated, but Derek didn’t miss a beat. “Don’t forget your role in putting her in Ford and Nate’s sights. Now ain’t the time to be pointing fingers, kid.”
Josh took a step forward, but his glower couldn’t touch Derek. “I don’t remember asking you.”
“Stop.” The word was a plea, but both men listened. “Josh, thank you for coming to help. We both agreed to avoid the cops on this. Mom is safe, but I’m not yet.”
“He thinks he can keep you safe?” Josh jutted a thumb toward Derek.
“He will,” Derek vowed.
Testosterone thickened the air, stinging her sinuses. “Get over yourselves,” she muttered to herself. Louder, she continued, “Look, I need time to make sure I’m safe and to deal with this mess. Do you think you could watch out for Mom for at least another day or two?”
“I have to work, Callie. Not a lot of places want to hire a guy like me.” It was the first time Callie had ever heard Josh acknowledge the consequences of his drug use.
It was huge, and she wasn’t about to ruin it.
“You’re right,” she said. Derek stiffened at her side, but didn’t interrupt. “Do you think we could get Aunt Lily to come help?”
“Yeah. I could call her,” Josh said slowly. He probably hadn’t talked to their favorite aunt since he’d gotten clean.
“Thanks. Let me know if she can’t help, and we’ll hit up Serena or Ray.” It sounded like a solid plan even if they were banking on other Delgados to take care of Zara for them.
Josh took a long drag from his cigarette, and then nodded.
“She said you knew Adam.” Derek was trying to use his kind voice, but the stress of the situation still scraped his throat when he spoke.
“Like I told her. His brother’s a good dude, and so yeah Adam comes around the job sites. He’s chill. Nothing to worry about.”
Callie tried to ignore
