Page 42 of A Cursed Heart
“Astrology. Look it up on your phone.” I’d gotten him his own device on my plan just in case he ran low on magic. Plus, it made him more real. Everyone had a phone.
Mal was quiet while he read his search. “Ah, so you were born—”
“First of March.”
“Making you a Pisces.” He read more of the details. “We are a soulmate match with my given birthday!” Mal’s tiny smile, just a twist of his full lips, was adorable.
“Really?” I hadn’t even looked at shit like that. I’d just liked the scorpion with its tail because Mal had a wicked tail, too.
“Yes. I like the identity you have built for me, Ryan. It makes me hope—”
“What?”
“That I will be in your life for a long time.”
The movie was a basic kids’ movie, but both Freya and Mal were hooked! My little girl sat between us like the princess she was. I reached my arm over the back of the seat to play with a tendril of Mal’s hair. I loved that he kept it long. During the day he wouldtie it in a braid or a basic ponytail. It suited him. I think I spent more time watching my little family than I did the movie.
We were barely out of the theater, Freya’s head lolling on Mal’s shoulder, when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I’d just switched it back on. There were a handful of messages from Salvatore, the tone growing increasingly hostile.
He called me just as we got Freya into the car. “Mr. Mallory, your presence is required in my office.” His tone was aggressive. There would be no arguing with him.
“I just have to drive—”
“If you are not about to say, ‘right there,’ then I don’t want to hear it. Your partner can drive your child home from your little outing unless you want them both to come pay me a visit. My car is coming for you. I need you here now.” Then he hung up.
What the fuck was I going to do? There was no way Mal could drive my car!
“It’s alright, Ryan. I have watched you drive and can use my magic to help me.”
“Really?”
“Yes. If I struggle, I will park and call for a ride. Or find somewhere to vanish Freya home. She is asleep. She won’t notice. Even if she were awake, I’m sure she would enjoy it.”
I could have kissed him for how calm he was being. The urge to plant one on him was growing by the day. Instead, I hugged him, my lips brushed his hair in an almost kiss.
“Be careful, okay?”
“First, let us link.”
“Will you have enough magic?”
“Yes.” His cheeks took on a rosy tint. “I find that I have had a lot more recently.” He placed his hands on my head, forming the link between us. His voice in my mind was so soothing.
Be safe.
Mal got into the car and started it easily enough. His progress across the lot was painfully slow. If he drove like that on the roads, the cops were sure to pull him over. I tried not to worry about that. Mal had plenty of magic. I knew he could charm any officer he came across with ease.
Stop fretting, Mal’s mental voice chastised.I see Salvatore’s car.
Sure enough, the high-end vehicle pulled up in front of me soon after.
Anders was driving. The big bodyguard didn’t say a word, just let me sweat the entire journey to the office building. I wanted to break the silence, but worried that would give me away as being guilty. So I stayed quiet and stewed about it.
Salvatore gestured to the seat I usually sat in when I finally got to the office. I took it and woke the computer up.
“Explain this!” Salvatore barked, pointing at a file folder he’d opened. I deflated from the stress.
“You needed me to get into your competitor’s systems. That’s,” I said, pointing, “the program I’ve been building to do it.”
