Taken (29 page)

Daddy’s eyes bulged. “You went and bound yourself to that damned Empty?”

Abby released Channie then shook her finger at Daddy and scolded him as if he were one of the trips. “You watch your mouth. I don’t wanna hear none of that bigotry in front of my babies.”

Daddy’s gaze dropped to Channie’s belly. “You got a bun in the oven?”

“Aunt Wisdom married us last December. And no, I’m not pregnant.”

“That no-good meddlesome woman. Why I oughtta—”

Diego said, “Where is Josh?”

Hunter flopped down on the sofa and scratched the back of his head. “At the Discount Tire shop across town.”

Daddy snorted a blast of air out his nose. “That useless little Empty cain’t even change a flat tire.”

Channie put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “He works there. And he’s not an Empty. He’s a mage.”

“I met the boy. He ain’t no mage.”

“He’s a halfie.” Channie glanced at the trips, then looked at Abby, who was glaring at her. “Sorry.”

Daddy rolled his eyes. “I would’ve felt his energy, even if he was just a halfie.”
 

Abby puffed up like an angry porcupine. “I’m sick and tired of folks trying to categorize everybody by how pure their blood is. If a person can do magic, they’re a mage. Period.”

Channie felt bad for starting the ‘halfie’ debate, but she’d already apologized. Abby needed to get over it. “Josh couldn’t access his magic until after Aunt Wisdom gave him his power-name. But he’s the most amazing mage I’ve ever met.”

Before she could elaborate, Diego pulled out his phone. “What’s his number?”

Channie sighed. “He left his phone in his room.”

Diego shrugged and tapped the screen on his phone then held it to his ear. “This is Diego Martinez. I need to speak to an employee of yours … It’s definitely an emergency ...
 
Josh …?” Diego lifted his eyebrows and looked at Channie. “Josh who? They’ve got three of ‘em working this shift.”

“Abrim. Josh Abrim.” Channie couldn’t believe she and Hunter hadn’t thought to call Discount Tire.

Diego handed the phone to Channie. As soon as she heard Josh’s voice, she burst into tears.
 

“What’s wrong.”

Channie managed to choke out a few words between sobs. “I’m at your place. Come home.”

“Are you safe? Is Hunter there?”

“Yes, but hurry.”

Josh didn’t ask anymore questions.
“I’ll be right there.”

Fifteen minutes later, Josh burst into the apartment and called Channie’s name.

She flew into his arms with a sob, but instead of comforting her, Josh raised his shield and shoved Channie behind his back. His energy field swirled with a mixture of vibrant hues — red, gold, orange and purple. Josh seemed to grow even taller as magic pulsed all around them. He was every bit as intimidating as Daddy ever was. “Who’s there? Show yourself!”

The only other mages Josh had ever been around — since becoming a mage himself — was Aunt Wisdom, Hunter and the two trackers that had tried to kill him. He had no way of knowing that the magical energy filling the apartment came from her family. He was in full attack mode.

Courage charged into the front room and kicked Josh in the shins.
 

Josh barely reacted. He put one hand on CoCo’s head and shoved him towards Channie. She grabbed him and held him against her as he continued to struggle. “It’s okay, CoCo. Josh is just trying to protect us. He’s not going to hurt anyone.”

Daddy stumbled into the front room, leaning on Diego and clutching his chest. Abby, Zeal and Savvy crept in next, using Daddy’s bulk as an additional shield. Channie didn’t blame them, Josh’s power levels were dangerously high.

“Daddy?” Channie stepped towards him.

 
Josh’s right arm shot out to the side, barring her way. “What’s he doing here?”

Diego stepped forward and grabbed CoCo then handed him off to Abby. “He’s trying to save her from her loco momma.”

As soon as Channie, Abby, Diego and Hunter were able to convince Josh that Daddy meant her no harm, he lowered his shield … and healed his heart.
 

It beat all Channie had ever seen. Aunt Wisdom claimed she couldn’t do anything about Daddy’s weak heart. But then again, Aunt Wisdom didn’t really like Daddy.
 

It took another ten minutes to sort everything out. Channie buried her face in Josh’s greasy coveralls while he explained why they’d been forced to sneak around behind everyone’s back.

“I don’t appreciate being lied to, but I understand. Especially with Prudence acting so strange.”

Josh pressed Channie even tighter against his chest. “Strange? She wants to cut Channie’s heart out and you think it’s
strange
?”

“Prudence ain’t herself. It ain’t her fault.”

“That’s it. We’re outta here. Hunter, you’re welcome to come with, but we’re leaving right now.”

Hunter’s energy shifted. It was subtle. Channie doubted anyone else noticed, but they’d been friends forever. She knew him better than she knew her own family. He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I hate to miss out on more adventures with y’all, but I got me a nice place to live and a good job. I think I’ll stay put for awhile.”

He’s giving up … letting me go.
 

Hunter winked at her. “Besides, Ms. Jennifer is going to teach me how to go on Safari so I can search for my kinfolk with the new iPhone she got me.”

Daddy arched an eyebrow. “Your family’s definitely on the run, but I doubt any of ‘em got as far as Africa.”

Josh chuckled and shook his head. “I don’t think you’ll find any Ozark mages on the internet.”

“Me neither, but I gotta do something.”

Channie was surprised by how much the thought of leaving Hunter behind hurt.
 
“If anyone could hunt ‘em down, it’d be you.”

Josh took a deep breath, then looked at Hunter. “I hate to ask, but … can I borrow some money?”

Hunter nodded, disappeared into his room for a few minutes then returned with a lumpy pillowcase knotted at the top.
 

Josh rolled his eyes, but he did it with a smile. “I thought I told you to put that in the bank.”

Channie’s jaw dropped when she realized the pillowcase was stuffed full of money.

“I don’t trust banks. Besides, ain’t nobody gonna steal my money with all the protection spells I put on it.”

Channie’s hand flew to her throat. She’d forgotten about the Book of the Dead until Hunter mentioned protection spells.

Hunter smiled and tried to hand the sack full of money to Channie. “Don’t worry. I lifted all the spells. You ain’t gonna get cursed.”

Josh shook his head. “How much is in there? We only need a couple of grand.”

Hunter grabbed Josh’s wrist and thrust the pillowcase into his hand. “You helped me out of a jam more’n once. Take it. There’s plenty more where that come from.”

Channie swallowed then cleared her throat. “Josh. I left in such a hurry. I didn’t bring the Book of the Dead.”

His shoulders slumped. “We can’t leave without that book.”

Daddy glared at Josh. “Not you too.”

“Daddy, the book belongs to Josh.”

“What are you saying?” The color drained from Daddy’s face. “Are you telling me, this here city-boy … is …
Valor Veyjivik
?”

~***~

Daddy ran his hands through his hair and sighed. “I’ll go get the book. Maybe Prudence will come back to her senses once it’s gone.”

Channie said, “Momma’s not going to hand it over without a fight.”

“I know. But she’s still bound by our wedding vows. She’s gonna have to give it to me. I’ll tell her I found a mage that might be able to break the spell so’s she can open it again.”

“She’ll want to come with you.”

“I’ll tell her the mage is a Veyjivik traitor and refuses to let anyone but me see his face. That’s close enough to the truth that she won’t be able to tell I’m fibbing. That woman can spot a lie quicker than a red tail hawk can spot a mouse in an open field.”

“Be careful, Daddy.”

He frowned and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m more worried about what she’s gonna do when I come home without the book. She’s downright unstable.”

“Just go get the book and then leave with us. You don’t have to go back there.”

“Now, baby girl, I cain’t leave your momma. Especially not when she needs me the most. I made some wedding vows of my own. And I intend to keep ‘em.”

“Speaking of wedding vows, I’d like to marry Channie before we leave Vegas.”

Daddy glared at Josh. “I thought you two was already married.”

“According to your traditions, we are. But not according to the law. She’s still considered a minor, even in Las Vegas, so I need you to fill out a form.”

Daddy grinned and thumped Josh on the back. “I can scrounge up any kind of document you want.”

“I want this to be legal.”
 

“You wanna go to one of them Chapels of Love and let Elvis marry you?”

“I’d rather just go to the court house.”

“How about we just pile in the back of Diego’s truck and do one of them drive through chapels. I done missed my baby girl’s binding ceremony. I don’t want to miss her wedding, too.”

“I’m sorry. But I just want to get married and get out of town. I wouldn’t even bother but I have a feeling we’re going to need a marriage certificate.”

Channie said, “I’ve learned it’s best not to ignore his hunches. So far, every time Josh’s said he has a feeling about something, he’s been right.”

Daddy pursed his lips then scratched the stubble under his jaw. “All right. But you need to clean up first, boy. Ain’t nobody gonna marry my daughter looking like no grease monkey.”

Josh grinned and winked at Channie then stepped into the bathroom and closed the door.
 

Hunter groaned and closed his eyes. “Come on, Josh, you know what sort of mess that makes.”

A flare of golden light shot out from under the bathroom door. Josh opened it and stepped back into the room as a cloud of black dust settled behind him.

Daddy swore and put a hand over his heart. “There ain’t a spec of dirt on them coveralls.”

Channie laughed as she wrapped her arms around Josh. “I told you he was amazing.”

~***~

After Daddy signed the permission form in front of a public notary, he left to go get the Book of the Dead. Channie was sad that he couldn’t be there to see her get married, even if it was just a formality, but Josh was right. They needed to get out of town as fast as possible.
 

It took less than an hour to get a marriage license, buy a couple of plain gold wedding bands, find a judge and get married. Hunter, Abby and Diego took pictures with their phones, but Josh made them delete every single one of them when Diego offered to post a wedding album on FaceBook.
 

“I don’t want to make it easier for Dominance to find us.”

Channie understood, and agreed with him, but she would have given anything to have just one photo of her and Josh on their wedding day.
 

Josh handed his phone to Hunter. “A couple of pics on my own phone shouldn’t be too big of a security risk.”

Channie threw her arms around Josh’s neck and pulled his head down to hers. She whispered, “thank you,” and kissed him full on the mouth in front of the judge and everybody.

By the time they returned to Hunter and Josh’s apartment, Daddy was back. They found him sitting in the middle of the sofa with his head in his hands. He didn’t even look up when they all filed in.

Channie placed her hand on his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Are you all right?”

“No. Not really.” Daddy sighed then lifted his head and handed her a small, black velvet bag with the “Bellagio” emblem embroidered on it in gold. “But I got the book.”

“Is Momma okay?”

“She will be. Soon.”

“I hope so.” Channie wished she had Daddy’s faith that all Momma needed to regain her sanity was to be free from the Book of the Dead.

Josh said, “I’ll go grab a few things and give you guys a chance to say good-bye,” then disappeared into his room.

Channie fought tears as she hugged Abby and Diego.
 

Coco planted a wet kiss on her cheek then pressed his hand over the damp spot. “Don’t rub it off.”
 

She pressed her hand over the top of his and nodded, too choked up to speak.

Daddy grabbed Channie and squeezed the air out of her. “I know I ain’t said it near enough, but you know I love you baby girl. Take care.”

Channie swallowed hard and forced the words past the lump in her throat. “I love you too, Daddy.”

“I’m sorry your momma couldn’t a been a part of this, but … well … you know.”

“I know.”
 

Josh came back into the front room, a backpack on his shoulders and a duffle bag in each hand. He dropped one of the bags and reached toward Daddy to shake his hand. “I promise to take good care of her.”

Daddy nodded and cleared his throat as he grabbed Josh’s hand. “You better.”

Josh grimaced.

Hunter stuck his hand out, but instead of shaking it, Channie pulled him into a tight hug.

He stiffened then gave her a quick squeeze. “You take care of yourself, girl. Ya hear?”

Channie couldn’t hide the surge of grief that washed over her as she said good-bye to Hunter. “I wish you were going with us.”

“I’d just be in the way.” He patted Channie’s butt, earning a growl from Josh. “Y’all better hit the road, it’s gettin’ late.”

~***~

Channie and Josh talked until they crossed the Utah state line then settled into a companionable silence, lost in their own thoughts. Josh started yawning at about ten o’clock.
 

Channie put a hand on his shoulder and said, “I can drive for awhile.”

He exited off the highway, on the eastern outskirts of Grand Junction, and pulled into a Marriott Hotel parking lot. But instead of switching places, he leaned across the console, slid his hand behind Channie’s neck and pressed his forehead against hers. “This is our wedding night and we aren’t spending it on the road or in the back of the car.”