Page 74 of Savior
“Why not?”
Vanna looks up at me, chewing her lip once again. “She said he watches her. Doesn’t let her go far. Monitors her money and her mileage. She asked me to help her.”
“She’s either looking for encouragement to leave… or an excuse to stay.”
“Or a spell to fix him… But that never works.” Vanna sighs. The way she stares off for a moment, I know she’s thinking back on her past with Jack. But she pulls herself out of her own darkening thoughts. “I’m meeting her tomorrow at ten. She seems to think that’s possible without him knowing.”
“Well, you’re not going alone.” I insist. “For all we know, this could be Legion again.”
Vanna gives me another look, though it seems to border along the lines of something more sympathetic. “It isn’t Legion, Dean. Her name is Gina. She’s a cashier. And I wasn’t going to go alone, anyway. I wanted to ask you to come with me.”
“Of course.”
“But keep your distance.”
“I understand.” This situation is far from my first rodeo. Though, I’m not sure how I feel about Vanna getting involved. On the one hand, perhaps helping another woman who may be in a situation similar to the one she escaped herself, could bring her healing. Her proximity to the situation has me a little on edge. It’s bad enough she’s on Legion’s radar. I don’t want her on anyone else’s.
She brings her thumb to her mouth, nibbling on her fingernail as she stares off at nothing in particular now. The nail biting is new.
“What’s wrong?”
She peers back up at me. “It’s hard to explain. She’s coming to me because she thinks, as a Witch, I can somehow help her. But I don’t feel like there’s anything I can do for her in that way. I’d never advise her to do what I did with Jack.”
I give her a playful nudge. “What about the Knight Spell? You still regret that?” I tease her.
“Not if it truly did bring us together… But…” she hesitates, fidgeting again. “Do you think we’d have met if I never did that spell?”
“Yes. I didn’t realize it at first, not until I saw you. But I’ve been wishing for you, Vanna, waiting my whole fuckin’ life for you.” I take her soft, little hand in mine. “We were meant to be, baby. But since we’re on the topic, I’ve noticed you’ve been shying away from some of your practices, even before this Gina lady. The smudge stuff. The candles. You haven’t touched a tarot card since we burned that spell box together. Hell, unless one steps foot into your witch room, nobody would even know you live with me. Nico hangs out in that room more than you do.”
“I’m not shying away. You know where I work.”
“It’s almost like you don’t believe like you once did. Like that’s all it is to you now. Work you don’t bring home anymore.”
She looks at me wryly. “You’re one to talk about not believing.”
I lift my wrist and show her the bracelet she made me. “I never take it off. And if this baby inside you doesn’t prove you’re pure fuckin’ magic, doll.” I simply shake my head at her.
“Maybe it’s you.” She shrugs. “Maybe you’re the reason I haven’t practiced Magic in a while.”
Her words take me by surprise. “I’m not sure how to feel about that… But, I think that breaks my heart a little, baby.”
“No, it’s not a bad thing. I started doing spell work when I was with Jack. When I was trapped and desperate.”
Right. I remember her explaining that to me. That her witchcraft was like a prayer. A way to feel like she was empowering herself in an impossible situation.
“Well, my prayers have all been answered, in you.” She smiles at me genuinely now. “I haven’t really felt the call to practice anything beyond Reiki for my clients. Most of my spells were to bring about change. To escape. To find protection.” She twists to stand directly before me now, her other hand taking mine, holding them between us. “I don’t want to escape anymore. And you make me feel protected. I feel safer with you than I think I’ve ever felt before in my whole life.”
Now that warms my heart. “As long as you’re happy, doll.”
“I am, with you.” She arches up on her toes and I bend to meet her lips with my own for a tender little kiss. “Now, let’s wake up Serene.” She says, pulling back and tugging me by the hand. “You want magic, let’s make some happen.”
We walk together, right up to the black Harley.
“Mount up, rider.” Vanna says, though her tone is slightly deeper now.
My eyes dart back to her. She’s got her teeth in that bottom lip. Paired with that tonality, it’s like a siren’s call to my libido.
“Go on.” She urges.
