Page 61 of Her Ghostly Embrace
“Did everyone around you know?” Aurora was afraid of the answer. She wanted Gia to have had someone,anyone. But she had a feeling they were all complicit, and not in the way Gia feared she’d been over the years.
Gia nodded grimly. “They all knew. Franco hypnotized his men to keep my magic hidden from the outside world. It created an aura of power around him. The kind of fear that kept any rival humans from crossing him because they knew Franco never lost.”
“He’s going to fight like hell to take control of you again,” Viv said in warning.
“Then we shouldn’t wait to make our move,” Aurora said. “We can’t give Franco any more time to prepare.”
Gia gave a decisive nod. “Agreed. Salvator knows I’m finally aware of magic. They won’t need to pretend, and I doubt they’ll approach me unprepared again.”
“If they’ve found you already, let’s lay a trap,” Viv suggested. “Lure them to you and attack. One vampire and a bunch of humans will be easy prey.”
“I wouldn’t say easy.” Aurora wanted to jump up and go as much as the vampire seemed to—for different reasons—but Franco’s men weren’t a bunch of humans. They were killers, and no one in the room was trained to fight.
Except Gia.
“Easy enough,” Viv argued, reminding Aurora she had no idea who this lady was.
Gia shook her head. “I’m not so sure. Before I fled, Franco was looking for more powerful witches than his Ashton Lakes allies. It was all part of his plan to expand his empire. Before, I’d thought all his talk of expansion was about the drug and weapons trade. That’s all he’d let me remember, but after what I just saw, I think it’s something else. He wants more powerful allies in the magic world. He wants to expand beyond human crime.”
Edward leaned forward in his seat. “Do you know if he found any new allies?”
“I’m not sure. He talked about the West Coast once or twice, but nothing specific in front of me. What if he was looking this way because it’s where Jeffrey came from?”
Viv raised a brow. “You think he wanted to get rid of Jeffrey’s surviving family?”
“Perhaps. Franco doesn’t like loose ends. I’m surprised he didn’t hunt Susan down years ago.”
“Susan died of natural causes, right?” Aurora had heard as much, but it was worth checking.
“Yes, there’s no disputing her cause of death.” Edward ran ahand through his hair. “Most covens won’t be interested in allying with a vampire who heads human organized crime, regardless of what he’s planning. Franco might not have had any luck, even looking as broadly as the whole coast. I’ll ask around and see if anything suspicious pops up. Until I hear, we should hold off tracking Franco down, in case he has new magical allies.”
“How long will that take?” Aurora was uneasy. Getting information on the entire region’s coven’s alliances sounded like a huge undertaking. Especially when the Lockwoods didn’t associate with the kind of witches Franco was likely to approach.
But making a move without a clear picture of what they were facing could get them all killed.
“I can get a solid answer in a day by calling in some favors. If Franco doesn’t have a new coven working with him out here, we’ll strike immediately. Before he has time to do anything else.”
Viv’s eyes gleamed, nearly glowing. “And what move are we aiming for? Fire? Beheading? Ripping out the wretch’s heart? Those are your options for killing a vampire, in case you didn’t know, Gia.”
Gia didn’t flinch at Viv’s violent musings. Aurora was sure she would have yesterday. The fact that had changed because of what Franco had done made Aurora want to destroy the world and start over.
Gia nodded, but she seemed deep in thought. She reached for Aurora. “I think we should retrieve your body first.”
“What?”
Gia ran her fingers along Aurora’s forearm. “You need to be safe before we do this, and have access to your magic.”
It would be best to have her full strength and ability. “But what if you need me to channel you? It could be our surprise move.”
“I’m not completely clueless about magic anymore.” A haunted look passed over Gia’s face. “I know all kinds of horrible spells. I’m a weapon, and maybe I shouldn’t want to use what Franco taught me, but turning it on him is the least of what he deserves.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “The very least. Do you know how to counter spells?”
Gia frowned. “No. I never went up against anyone with magic, which is why it’ll be better to have you with me. At my side as a witch. You won’t need to channel me like you did with Salvator if you have your magic.”
“She has a point,” Edward cut in. “If you’re willing to fight with us?—”
“Of course I’m willing.”
