“You think people will die?” That question coupled with Derek’s unwavering gaze would have made her bolt if she didn’t love him. Thank God that intensity was directed at anyone who would fuck with her.
“You don’t?”
He shrugged, but there was nothing easy about the motion. “They always die. I just need to make sure we don’t die. If someone did plan this, it won’t be the end.”
“The magic around here is off. I don’t know if it was the Soul Charmer or someone else, but I think I can keep this place secure.”
Derek grabbed her by the hips and yanked her forward. He leaned close until his mouth was next to her ear. “Hell has a special place for anyone that would go against my Callie. We can put up a good front together, but as soon as we’re out of this, you’re mine.”
She arched against him with pure intent. “I’m yours now.”
“Fine. Once this is over, I’m done with the Soul Charmer.”
She rolled her hips toward his, and found his interest had only grown harder. “Ah, so you’re saying you get to be fully mine?”
“Consider it done, doll.”
Fucking in the front of the Soul Charmer’s store was both just right as a screw you to the boss and just wrong as a key romantic moment. Callie took one look at Derek, his elbows braced on the counter and a sated smile on his lips. It had been the right call.
Callie pulled on her jeans. Her phone toppled from the back pocket. Two messages from Josh were displayed.
“Docs say Mom will be OK,” read the first.
“Going to work. Aunt Lily is driving up tonight,” read the other.
His meth days really did make her brother short on the text conversations. Callie pursed her lips like the act would purge the pill of guilt she needed to swallow.
“How’s Zara?” Derek asked.
She relayed the message contents to him, and tried not to think about her mom being alone in a hospital.
“It’s bright outside, and we have a couple hours until the soul pick up. Go visit her.” Derek was so fucking sincere sometimes it stung.
“I can’t—”
“You can,” he cut her off. “You’ll feel better knowing she’s solid and safe. The backroom needs a serious scrub, and I can do that.”
“You shouldn’t have to do it alone.”
“Don’t start stealing my lines.” He nudged her toward the door. “Nah. You can’t go back there. I don’t want that blood on you, but also we need that room to Charmer level crazy.”
Callie cranked her side-eye shade to eleven.
“I’ve worked here a long ass time. I can make Miguel believe the Charmer magic godmothered that shit back there.”
Callie’s laugh was real and from the belly, and so out of place in this den of depravity. Well, if she could screw in it, she might as well be able to laugh here, too.
The suede swagger Derek was throwing didn’t fool her. She was a bird one couldn’t hold too tightly, and he was smart enough to know that stopping her from going places wouldn’t end well. Since his heart was in the right place and he hadn’t fought to go with her, she’d accept it.
“I’ll be quick,” she said, and then barreled into him for a bear of a hug.
“And I’ll be here, doll.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Cold air and the sharp edge of astringent welcomed Callie to St. Stephen’s Hospital.
An orderly bumped into her. “Sorry, ma’am. Do you need directions?”
A faint cooing caught the air. Callie looked down the bright hallway, but only saw hospital staff and a couple patients awaiting triage. No toddler sipping milk.
“Ma’am? Do you need help to the ER?” The woman’s gentle tone mirrored the coo.
Callie stretched her magic until it grazed the woman in pink scrubs. It’s okay. We’ll help you, was the response she got. The pleased hum was from this woman’s soul. Why the hell was Callie hearing people’s souls who weren’t on her list? This lady wasn’t even a renter. The soul chattering away was kind and generous and completely intact.
“Oh, no. Sorry. I’m here to visit my mom.” God, the truth tasted good. “Little dazed.”
“Completely normal. Do you want me to look up her room number for you?” The woman was attempting to corral her toward the emergency triage.
Callie edged out of arm’s distance. “No need. She’s up on the fourth floor.”
Concern flashed on the orderly’s face, but she quickly shuttered it. “I hope she recovers quickly. Elevator banks are ahead on the right.”
Callie thanked her, and hurried forward. She jammed her thumb against the Up button, and waited. The directory between the two elevators let her know the fourth floor housed the intensive care unit. Josh hadn’t said anything about the ICU. He said Zara was stable. A soft chime announced the doors opening. Callie swore under her breath and charged into the elevator. A violent blast of cold pushed Callie back against the side wall. Her hands froze into tight fists. She shifted her arm up, and heard the subtle fissures of splintering ice.
The two men inside the elevator didn’t tug their jackets closed or tighten their stances. The icy air was only for her. The older of the two raked her with a rude gaze. Callie didn’t want to reach for his soul. She didn’t need to sense it to know he was the kind of man who kept a pair of sweatpants in the trunk of his car for emergency stops at strip clubs.
The other man was closer to Callie’s age, and managed a bored affect as he asked, “Floor?”
Three tiny pinches at her ribs warned her not to tell them. It was a fucking floor, but in Gem City nothing was ever simple. Not even pressing a button on an elevator. “Five,” she lied.
The older creep edged to the center of the space. He walked hips first. She wasn’t going to fall for that dare.
