Page 98 of Midnight Auto Parts

“Well,” I said, tempted to laugh at her eagerness, “now I know why you went into the medical field.”

“So, about that blessing. I have it?”

“You don’t need it butohmyfuckingGod.” I jerked upright, heart in my throat. “How could I forget?”

“Um.” Aretha frowned at my mad scramble to sit upright in bed. “That would be the painkillers.”

“Painkillers,” I groaned, hating how they allowed memories to seep through the cracks of my subconscious.

“I loaded you up when you wouldn’t stop screaming.” Aretha rattled off her update. “I couldn’t find the source of your injury. I was about to call an ambulance to take you to the hospital?—”

“No hospitals.”

“—but Kierce said it might cause more harm than good.” She put a hand on my shoulder to hold me still. “We stuck your arm in a sock full of dirt, which, okay. Weird. But it did help.”

“Weird sums up my life lately.”

“Since there’s nothing else I can do for you,” Aretha said, checking her smartwatch, “I’ll see myself out. I’m running late for a consultation.”

With a quick wink for me, she gathered her things then exited the apartment.

“Vi has forbidden you from astral travel for the next forty-eight hours minimum.” Kierce, who had yet to unclench his jaw, tossed his lot in with hers. “I agree with her, that you require time to recover.”

“That’s fine.” I finger-combed my hair out of my face. “I need my body for what comes next.”

Concern tightened his lips into a thin line. “What’s that?”

“Keshawn and Tameka cleared us a path. The two of them are trapped behind the ward, sitting on a pile of bones I asked them to protect. I can’t leave them there.” Breaking from him, I rolled off the opposite side of the bed onto my feet. “I need a boost to finish healing myself and then I’m heading to the commune.”

A heartbeat behind me, Kierce growled, “Frankie?—”

“The last thing I saw was Anunit lunging for Keshawn. I stepped in front of her. I have to know if…”

Had I cost Keshawn her life by sticking to my guns? Had the very bones I asked her to find killed her?

“I called Vi and explained the situation,” Kierce cut in. “She retraced your astral trail back to the commune and checked on Keshawn. Anunit wasn’t aiming for her. The Morgan sisters had sensed the disturbance in the ward and stepped out to confront the Ezells. That was who Anunit meant to attack before you got in the way. Anunit wasted no time correcting her error. Rosalie Morgan is dead.”

Today’s tithe had been paid, which meant Anunit had chosen to kill her. Either to protect us, and our plans, from detection or to punish one of the two women responsible for disturbing her slumber.

“Okay.” I puffed out my cheeks. “That doesn’t change the fact I have to go back for the Ezells.”

“How did I know you would say that?” Kierce scooped me into his arms. “Come on.”

“I’ll text Carter.” I linked my arms behind his neck. “We’ll need her witches to tear down the ward now that there’s a weak spot.” Outside, I marveled to find the landing empty. “Where are Matty and Josie?”

“Matty’s on a date, and Josie’s doing laundry at Carter’s.”

“And…what?” Shock zinged down my spine. “You didn’t tell them?”

“You had no visible wounds, and you woke as soon as your soul returned to your body. You were lucid, but you fell asleep within minutes, so I elected to let you rest.” Kierce hit the ground with long strides that carried us to the repaired golf cart. “I called Aretha as a precaution, but there was no reason to panic Matty and Josie.”

Call me crazy, but it almost—almost—sounded like Carter and I were in good company when it came to fearing how my sister reacted to bad news.

“I can drive to the cemetery.” I regretted not bringing my purse with my keys. “We’ll get there faster.”

“No.” He placed me gently on the bench seat then slid behind the wheel. “I’ll drive.”

As Kierce sped out of the parking lot, as much as one could be said to speed in the battered old thing, I was overcome with a warm, fizzing sensation in my middle. “You’re bossy now, huh?”

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