Mystic Jive: Hand of Fate - Book Four by Sharon Joss Read Free Book Online Page A

the food.” Blue Mohawk sneered. “We’re looking for somebody.”
    The crescent-shaped scar on the palm of my hand began to tingle.
    “Get out.” Kevin shifted his grip on the bat.
    “Better watch your mouth, Kev,” the tall one said. “If you know what’s good for you.”
    “You threaten me in my own place?” Kevin’s voice dropped to a low rumble. He set the bat carefully on the bar.
    The air went out of the room. A wave of adrenaline and testosterone from the dozen or so werewolves at the pool table rose to palpable levels. Without a word, the guys at the pool table stepped up behind Kevin.
    “Where is he,” asked Blue Mohawk.
    “I told you, we don’t serve your kind. Get out while you still can.”
    The taller of the two women gave our table a long, last look. “We were misinformed. Come on, Joyce. Let’s go.”
    Without another word, the two women slipped out the front door. Belinda burst into tears and ran into the kitchen. Kevin shook himself, then picked up the bat and followed Belinda through the swinging doors. The were-guys went back to the pool table. A Tom Waits tune blared out from the jukebox and the sound levels returned to normal.
    “What was that all about?” I asked, to no one in particular.
    Herman shushed me. “Penfield witches.”
    Lou’s seat beside me was empty. I hadn’t even noticed he’d gone Guess he wasn’t kidding about staying away from witches.
    Even after the women left, the atmosphere in the pub remained unsettled. The party broke up soon after. Humans and vamps alike drifted off. Rhys and I lingered in the parking lot to say our goodbyes to Henri and the rest of the band.
     “I’m going to miss you,” I said. In some ways, Henri knew me better than Rhys did. More than anything I wanted to tell him to stay, but Rhys was right. For the first time in his immortality, Henri was free to make his own choices. For good or bad, he had that right.
     Henri hugged me tight. “Don’t worry. March will be here before you know it, and I expect Blix to be talking by then. You’ve got to make him part of your life, Mattie. He could save your life one day, if you let him.”
    “I will. I promise.”
    Rhys and I hung around until Juno and Henri drove off in the band bus, with the roadies in the van behind them.
    He slipped his arms around me. “Don’t worry, he’ll be fine.” He kissed my forehead. “And so will you.”
    We waited at the side of the road for a break in the traffic before crossing to Rhys’s truck.
    “Mattie, wait up a sec!” Lou called out from behind us. He trotted across the highway toward us.
    The limo came out of nowhere. Low and lean, like a great white shark, it plowed into Lou without hesitation. He flew over the hood and hit the windshield. The limo squealed to a stop, backed up and there was a ghastly double thud as Lou fell to the pavement and went under the wheels. The car took off like a bat out of hell.
    Lou lay in a crumpled heap by the side of the road less than ten feet from us. I ran to him, ignoring the angry protest of blaring car horns. Cars screeched to a halt or swerved abruptly around us.
    Lou was on his side, his breath coming in labored gasps. I checked his carotid pulse and felt a thready heartbeat. “Please, just hang in there, for me okay?” 
    “The ambulance is on their way,” Rhys said. “I’m going to move the truck.” Moments later, Rhys had his truck in position, blinkers flashing—a barrier protecting Lou from the oncoming traffic.
     “Stay with me, Lou,” I murmured.
    Lou let out a low moan. “Ribs busted,” he grunted. “Felt ‘em go.”
    “You’re going to be fine.” I said it as much for myself as for Lou, and I prayed it was true.
    “That was no accident.” His cheek was a bloody pulp of road burn.
    “We’ll find this guy and make him pay. I swear it,” I promised. I smoothed his hair out of his eyes, blinking back angry tears.
    “No. Listen,” he gasped. He squinted in the glare of the