“Wrong answer,” he bit out and shook his head. “I was so hoping this would go well. I’d hoped that you’d see reason after hearing how your mom lost her life due to her defiance.”
“She lost her life to cancer, you narcissist. I didn’t believe your shit then, and I don’t believe it now.”
As if he didn’t hear me, he just continued. “And now my rebellious offspring has paid the price, as well.”
I fought against Trent’s hold as panic blasted through me, twisting and kicking. “What did you do to Turner?” I yelled, throwing my head back and hoping to hear the crunch of cartilage.
“Hopefully knocked some sense into him,” Lionel said and chuckled.
“Good one, boss,” Trent said.
I swallowed hard as a million worst-case scenarios ran through my head. I imagined him being tortured like I had been. I imagined him being held prisoner like Lionel had with so many others. I even imagined Lionel using some unknowngiftI didn’t know he had to brainwash him back into the fold.
But I couldn’t let those thoughts affect my energy. I needed to have faith that he was fine and that this was just another of Lionel’s attempts to get inside my head. I needed to fill myself with light. Feed my magic goodness so I could fight this. Fighthim. Turner was okay. He’d be fine. He had to be. And when this was all said and done, I’d let him lean on me as he grieved.
I’d grieve with him. I’d get to know him as we should have known each other for the last nineteen years. I’d be there for him.
I let my magic rise this time, feeling it fill every cell of my body. I watched Lionel take a small step back, a look of confusion crossing his face. I hoped he could feel it. Both the rise in my power and the magic that Dev and I had done together. I hoped he knew that I wouldn’t just lie down and roll over like some helpless victim. I would fight. For myself and those I loved. I would battle for my brother and the man I could no longer imagine being without. Balance of Light would no longer have dominion over any of us. I wouldn’t let it.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, willing all that resolve and love and hope to fuel the power within me, similar to how it had when surprise had overtaken me while sitting with Turner.
As I reopened my eyes, I saw a look pass over Lionel’s face. Fear? Hesitation? Good. He should be scared. I took another deep breath and was about to just . . . let go, when I saw a flicker of movement behind him. Five specters flashed into existence.
I watched as they rushed Lionel and Trent, varying looks of rage, loathing, and determination on their faces.
I wasn’t alone. I didn’t have to do this on my own.
Somehow, they were able to affect the living world, and both men flailed and yelled, slapping at the assault, battling things they likely couldn’t see.
Never underestimate the power of a vengeful spirit.
I fell to the floor, kicking the gun that Trent had dropped, and scrabbled away, trying to put some distance between myself, the men, and the avenging members of Balance of Light. Just as I got to my knees and prepared to stand, Wren, Findley, and the rest of the ghost crew flashed in, each of them looking at me. I gave them a nod, letting them know that I was okay.
I watched with amazement as Wren, Findley, and Reagan joined hands, chanting spells that seemed to give the spirits additional strength and form to fight Lionel and Trent. Desmond and Burke prayed, and I felt the light of that add to the manifestation of the good.
I was about to join in with the spell when a whole group of people I loved came crashing through the front door of the house.
Dev scanned the space, his gaze quickly finding mine. “Are you okay?”
I nodded.
Dakota came to me, dropping to her knees beside me. “Desmond came and told us that you were in trouble. Said someone came to get him.”
The words barely registered. I couldn’t process what I was seeing. Still fighting the ghosts, Lionel and Trent were tiring fast, and Hanlen and Sky ran in, guns drawn.
“Freeze, motherfucker,” Sky said and turned her head slightly to Hanlen. “That never gets old.” She grinned, and the other woman just shook her head.
“Hey, guys? Do you mind?” Hanlen called over her shoulder, her gun trained on Lionel as Sky aimed at Trent.
As she said that, Aaron and James rushed forward with handcuffs. They wrestled the two men to the tile in the entryway and got their hands cuffed behind their backs—none too gently—and kept their weight on them where they lay.
Hanlen lowered her gun and pulled out her phone, putting through a call. I listened as she told whoever answered that they needed to get over to 503 Egania Street now to “pick up the trash.”
All my adrenaline left me, my energy deflating like air being let out of a balloon. I sagged, dropping to my forearms and knees on the floor, every ounce of pain making itself known. I sucked in breaths, as much as my bruised and battered midsection would allow.
Suddenly, I was pulled into a warm embrace, the air around me smelling of bergamot and black pepper, and I knew who held me.
Kholt.