Page 124 of After 5

“I saw it in a vision. I make it, and the baby too.”

“Vic, yer visions are no always correct withoot yer key.”

“I’m willing to risk it.”

As I drew closer, I bumped into Toches coming in from the opposite direction.

“What are you doing here?” I asked keeping my voice low.

“I’m here for the key. You should have left when I let you go the first time.”

“Where’s Mortas?”

A wicked smile crawled over his face. “He’s got your buddies about a mile up the road. He can’t do much with big, dumb, and blond, but he’s taking a little catnap. I imagine he’ll have a nice bump on the head, but since you’re a doctor, you should be able to fix him right up.” He poked the patch on my uniform jacket indicating I was with the medical corps. “I wouldn’t waste any time getting to your cousin. I’m not responsible for what Mortas might do to her.”

“There’s WTF all over this area,” I said, hoping Brodie might show.

“Oh, we took care of them. The chloroform came in real handy. You’re all alone now, princess. Better get a move on if you want to save your friends.”

“Why are you working for the Mafusos?” I stared him down. “They don’t care about you.”

“The heart wants what the heart wants.” He grinned.

Toecheese quoting Emily Dickinson. He was full of surprises. I started to make a witty remark, and the quote’s meaning snapped another piece of the puzzle together.

“You’re Mahlia’s plus one, aren’t you? Those were your clothes in Caiyan’s apartment.”

“Your Scot’s got a nice place—or had one. I didn’t know he had already been here. Once I found out, it was too late. Mortas made me stay. Sorry for your loss.” His face dropped, and I almost thought he was sincere.

“You’re going to be disappointed when they screw you, Toecheese.”

He frowned at the name. “When I bring the seer and her key to Gian-Carlo, he’s going to cream his pants.”

Gross.

“He’ll have to let us get married.”

My face screwed up trying to imagine what Mahlia saw in this guy.

Toches huffed. “Don’t look so shocked. I’ve got talents not even I knew about. I’ll send you a wedding invitation.” He took a step toward the clearing.

I grabbed his arm.

“Go ahead, try and stop me. I’ll tell the Scot everything about you. The life you had together will be ruined.”

I released his arm.

“Time to break up the happy couple, or not so happy from the sound of it.” He rubbed his palms together and moved through the trees.

My brain told me to help Caiyan, but my heart cemented my legs to the ground.

The rumble of a motor vibrated the ground under me. I pushed my feelings aside and hurried down the path Toches had taken.

I entered at a high point behind the cover of overgrown brush. Toches sat straddling Mahlia’s Harley-Davidson Sportster.

“Stop!” Caiyan yelled over the noise of the motorcycle, his back to me.

Victory ran toward Toches and climbed into the sidecar of the motorcycle.

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