Page 9 of Petty Deadly Gorgeous

“You’re fine.” She shrugged and looked back at me. “Anna, go get your things.”

“Oh, no!” He roared. “My daughter is NOT going with you.”

“Daddy?” I felt my face scrunch up. “It’s my birthday. I want to spend it with Gran.”

“No.” He looked me dead in the face. “You are not leaving this house with her.”

“Jamie, let’s talk about this.” Mom stepped up and he slapped her.

I stepped forward but Gran held me away with her hand as we watched mom clutch her cheek in astonishment. Mom snapped her head back and glared at him.

“Anna Elizabeth, go get your things.” Her eyes remained on his face, and I knew she was sending me out of the room.

“Mom…”

“Anna Elizabeth. Now.”

I blew out a frustrated breath and ran up the stairs to my room. Hot tears streamed down my cheeks as I grabbed my backpack and filled it with pajamas, my overnight kit, and a change of clothes. Anger roared in my ears and I tuned out the fighting downstairs.

How dare he hit her! No man should ever hit a woman. Not like that. Not in anger! What is his deal?

The book Gran gave me whispered my name. I felt it call to me and I dropped to my knees and pulled it from between my mattress and box spring. It felt warm to the touch, and I clutched it to my chest.

This wasn’t any spell book. I made it centuries ago with that young girls’ skin for a cover.

“Holy shit!” I dropped the book and scuttled back. My eyes blinked rapidly. “It’s not leather.”

Anna.

My hand shook as I reached for the book.

Yessssss. Anna.

I lifted the book and brought it back to my chest, cradling it. The book wanted to be near me, and I wanted to be near it. I tucked it into my backpack and raced back down the stairs. Gran stormed through the back door and my parents stood there looking at each other.

Worry filled me. “Where’s Gran going?”

“To her car to wait for you.” Mom muttered.

“We’re letting you go tonight, Anna, but tomorrow before you come home, you need to tell her goodbye.” Dad looked at me with a slight smile on his face.

My eyes narrowed. “What do you mean I need to tell her goodbye?” I turned to my mother. “Mom? What is he talking about?”

“Anna, your father and I decided that it was best if you don’t see Gran for a while.”

“No.” He pursed his lips. “We decided it was best to not see her again.”

I stood there, slaw-jawed, shaking my head in denial.

“When she’s eighteen, she’s going to do what she wants, Jamie.”

“Not under my roof.”

“Hold on.” I held up a hand at each parent. “Better for who?”

“All of us.” Dad smiled. “This is what we need to do to protect our family from her and that bullshit witchcraft.”

I felt bile pushing its way up my throat. “Mom?”

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