whiskey witches 01 - whisky witches by s m blooding Read Free Book Online

why she’s not at the clinic.”
    “You really want a demon-possessed person running rampage in the clinic? Trust me.” Dexx dribbled some of the water down her throat, watching her swallow. “Also, I’m fairly certain the good doctor would try to tell you that the dosage we’re giving her would kill her.”
    “Will it?”
    “Doubt it.”
    “Doubt it?”
    “Demon.”
    “Right.”
    Dexx stood, screwing the cap back on the water bottle. “Okay. Where do we start on the case?”
    “Shouldn’t we wait for her?” Brian’s gaze stayed on Paige’s form.
    “I need to see if she’s really in danger or if we have someone out there mucking with stuff they don’t understand.” God, he hoped it was just some stupid person.
    “You both are really on that kick, aren’t you?”
    “Let’s just say we see it more often than not.”
    “Okay.” The chief turned to the table. “What do you need to see?”
    After an hour of studying the pictures, notes, and interviews, Dexx pushed away from the table with a flaming headache. He reached into his bag for his bottle of peppermint oil. He released a few drops into the palm of his hands, rubbed them around and then brought cupped hands to his nose and mouth.
    “What are you doing?” the chief asked, looking as worn out as Dexx felt.
    “Dealing with a headache.”
    “I have ibuprofen. I even have the good kind.”
    Dexx breathed deep, though the fumes attacked his eyes. “Rather do this. Hate pills.”
    Brian sniffed with a wry smile and tipped back in his chair, crossing his thick arms over his chest. “So what’s the verdict? Are we in danger?”
    “Yes.”
    “Is she in danger?”
    He wished she wasn’t. “Yes.” Dexx sighed and let his hands fall. “I don’t know how they found out about her gift, but someone did. The murders, the inane symbols? They were the bait. I’ve seen these symbols before on a past case. I doubt the sacrifices did much of anything. Whoever is behind this killed those three people to lure her out. The mandala was a test.”
    “What kind?”
    “I don’t know, but I don’t like it. Leslie needs to hurry up. We need Alma.”
    “It’s a good day’s drive from Dallas.”
    “I know. They should be here any minute now, but with Leslie being so pregnant, they’re probably stopping every ten miles so she can pee.”
    Brian frowned at the table, his gaze unfocused. “What’s the deal with these Whiskey Witches anyway? There are entire forums dedicated to them like they’re heroes or something.”
    Dexx fell against the back of his chair. “It’s largely due to the fact they don’t hide. Alma served in the military as an active, casting witch. Then when she got out, she was very vocal about supporting the pagan community and fighting back against the paranormal.”
    “She sounds like a real trooper.”
    “She’s more like a general.” Dexx scraped his top lip with his teeth. “Paige and Leslie are her granddaughters. She raised them after their mother abandoned them, taking only their brother.”
    “Why?”
    “Because Paige is a demon summoner and Leslie is a medium. Rachel didn’t want to deal with the dead or with demons.”
    “So, what’s she?”
    “She summons angels.” Dexx groaned as he recalled how he’d been accepted into her home as family, how she’d encouraged him to fight demons after his brother. “She took Paige’s younger brother with her when she left. He’s an empath, so she deemed him safe, I guess.”
    “Brutal. So how’d you meet them?”
    “Through Nick, their brother. Him and Rachel lived in New York, right down the street from me. He . . .” Dexx paused as he recalled the state Nick had found him in. He’d just lost his father, blamed his mother, couldn’t rely on his brother. Nick and Jackie were the only two things that kept him together. “ . . . just found me one day and kinda took me in.”
    Brian tipped his head to the side. “How’d you become a demon hunter?”
    Dexx dropped