“I think that was a pointed jab at me,” Luke muttered. “Still, Kade is right. Shouldn’t we at least send her a warning?”
“I’d think that the death of her brother was more than enough of a warning,” I answered. “The men must’ve told her what we discussed. They knew we were aware of what she was doing. If she has any brains at all she’ll leave Vegas and move somewhere else.”
“What’s to stop her from doing this somewhere else?”
“Only her own conscience.”
“So … nothing?” Kade tugged a restless hand through his hair. “I guess I don’t see another choice. We can hardly walk into the casino and demand to see the witch on premises. We’ve probably done enough for now.”
“Probably,” I agreed, shifting my attention back to Luke. “Other than the death … and the nasty cleanup Naida made you help with … how are you feeling?”
“Guilty,” Luke answered without hesitation. “I feel disconnected from you and guilty. I don’t like either feeling.”
I patted his arm and offered a wry smile. “The guilt will ease with time, especially when I start punishing you.”
“And being disconnected from you?”
“Oh, we’re going to start working on that today,” I answered, grinning. “Kade and I already talked about it. He agrees that you and I need some intensive time together, Luke. We need to make up for the fact that you’ve obviously been feeling neglected.”
Luke licked his lips, unsure. “What does that mean?”
“It means she’s riding with you today,” Kade answered for me. “We think you two need some intensive family therapy.”
“So I’m going with you.” I enjoyed the way Luke uncomfortably scuffed his shoe against the ground. “I’m going to take command of the radio and we’re going to bond all the way to Montana.”
“Ugh.” Luke made a disgusted face as he rolled his eyes. “Now you want to ride with me? Now that you’re angry and I’m vulnerable, now you want to bond?”
“Oh, I always want to bond with you, Luke,” I said, linking my arm with his. “I think it’s a virtual necessity right now.”
Luke darted a desperate look in Kade’s direction. “You know she’s going to torture me for the entire trip, right? This is cruel and unusual punishment. You’re the only one who can save me.”
“You say that as if I want to save you,” Kade pointed out. “I don’t. I think you’ve earned everything you have coming.” Kade dropped a kiss on my upturned mouth. “I’ll see you in time for dinner, Poet. As for you, Luke, I hope to see you again one day … once your punishment is complete and everything, of course.”
Luke scowled. “Oh, you guys suck. You get more and more alike with each passing day. You’re going to enjoy torturing me, aren’t you? You’re going to make a game of it and laugh behind my back when you go to bed tonight. You think I don’t know, but I know.”
“I believe we’ve already admitted that,” Kade said, stroking the back of my head. “Poet promised to text me whenever she makes you do something really funny. She might even take a video of you doing it. I don’t want to miss out on the fun.”
“You’re sadists,” Luke hissed, narrowing his eyes to dangerous slits. “I know exactly what you’re doing, and I don’t like it.”
“I believe that’s a win then,” I offered. “That’s what family is all about, after all.”
“And this is exactly why I hate family,” Luke grumbled.
I linked my arm with his. “You love me, though, don’t you?”
Luke’s expression softened, although only marginally. “I’m not sure how I feel right now. Ask me again in eight hours, because that’s how long we’re driving today.”
“That sounds like the perfect day to me,” I crooned, grinning.
In the grand scheme of things, it did sound like the perfect day. It couldn’t get much better than my best friend and boyfriend being safe … and a day of torturing one of them until I could be rewarded by the other.
What’s better than that?
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About the Author
I want to thank everyone who takes the time to read my novels. I have a particular brand of humor that isn’t for everyone – and I know that.
If you liked the book, please take a few minutes and leave a review. An independent author does it all on their own, and the reviews are helpful. I understand that my characters aren’t for everyone, though. There’s a lot of snark and sarcasm in my world – and I know some people don’t like that.
Special thanks go out to Heidi Bitsoli and Phil VanHulle for correcting the (numerous) errors that creep into a work of fiction.
If you’re interested in my future works, follow me on Facebook, Twitter or join my mailing list. I do not believe in spam. I only announce new releases or free promotions.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
For more information:
author@amandamlee.net
Books by Amanda M. Lee
An Avery Shaw Mystery
Who, What, Where, When, Die
If it Bleeds, it Leads
Buried Leads
Shot Off The Presses
The Preditorial Page
Misquoted & Demoted
Headlines & Deadlines
Misprints & Mistakes
Bylines & Skylines
Off the Record
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Mystery
Any Witch Way You Can
Every Witch Way But Wicked
Witching You Were Here
Witching on a Star
Witch Me Luck
Life’s a Witch
Charms & Witchdemeanors
The Trouble With Witches
Murder Most Witchy
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Short
Careful What You Witch For
Wicked Brew
On a Witch and a Prayer
You Only Witch Once
The Christmas Witch
Bewitched
A Solstice Celebration
Witchdependence Day
Happy Witchgiving
Merry Witchmas
Four-Leaf Clover
Thistle While You Work
Landon Calling
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Fantasy
Witchy Tales
A Witch In Time
Make A Witch
An Aisling Grimlock Mystery
Grim Tidings
Grim Offerings
Grim Reunion
Grim Expectations
Grim Holiday
Covenant College
Awakening
Whispering
Conjuring
Waxing & Waning
Graduating
Living Covenant Trilogy
Rising Covenant
Dark Covenant
Eternal Covenant
Dying Covenant Trilogy
Haunted Covenant
Desperate Covenant
Everlasting Covenant
A Mystic Caravan Mystery
Freaky Days
Freaky Lies
Freaky Hearts
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