Page 23 of The Devil You Know
“You and Seth are both victims that got away,” Joe said.
Evan nodded. “Seth saved my life. But one of the witch disciples killed Seth’s brother by mistake. Seth didn’t know how to find the warlock at the time, but we intend to go back for him. He won’t get away with murder.”
The edge in Evan’s voice must have registered with Joe, because he seemed to regard Evan a little differently.
“How is it that the murders have gone on for a century and no one noticed?”
Evan shrugged. “No one bothered to look too closely. The warlocks usually hide their kills. The families know there are ‘accidental’ deaths, but no one looks for a pattern, so they don’t see it. The cops don’t believe in magic. So, it went on.”
“I’ve had my eye on Osborn—but not for killing those relatives. Didn’t know about that part. He’s involved in other things that are just as bad,” Joe replied.
“The witch in Charleston was trafficking shifters and psychics. Apparently that’s been going on for a while, under the radar. Some of our allies are working to stop that, but it’s slow going,” Evan said.
Joe nodded. “Good to know. I’ll keep an eye out now that you’ve told me. But Osborn’s a little different. He was an apothecary, and he was badly hurt when he was thrown from a horse—long before he became a powerful witch. He depended on the drugs he compounded, and I suspect he turned to magic when the medicine wasn’t enough. He may also need to draw energy from his sacrifices to deal with his injury.”
“That’s a good theory. But it doesn’t seem to have made him more vulnerable.”
“Just because you can’t see the weakness doesn’t mean it isn’t there,” Joe replied.
Evan knew he wasn’t hiding his restlessness well, feeling jittery without Seth. “The ritual would be strongest at the full moon. We’ve got to find Seth before then. I’d like your help—but I’m going after him one way or another.”
Joe gave him a look that Evan wasn’t sure how to decipher. “You intend to go, with or without help?”
Evan met his gaze without flinching. “I know you come from a different time. Maybe this is hard to hear. But I love Seth. I’ll do whatever it takes to save him.”
Joe chuckled. “Some things weren’t spoken of openly, but they existed. I’m much harder to shock than you think. You should have seen the Roaring Twenties.”
“If it was likeThe Great Gatsby, I’ll pass.”
Joe’s laugh rumbled like thunder. “Good point.” He sobered. “I’ll help. But we need to do this smart. Are you staying somewhere safe?”
Evan nodded. “The truck and RV are warded. I’m as safe there as I could be anywhere.”
“Then go home and stay there. I need to talk to a witchy friend of mine. He’ll know how to take on an enemy like Osborn.”
“I’ll give you one day,” Evan countered. “I won’t risk Seth’s life by delaying.”
“And he wouldn’t want you to throw your life away by running into a fight half-assed.”
Evan thought he was holding his own pretty well in a stare-down with an immortal servant of a god. “You have my phone number.”
“I’ll call you. We’ll find a way to get Seth back.”
* * *
Evan neededto clear his head after meeting with Joe, and he was hungry. He spotted a fast-food drive-through and figured that he was probably safe for the time it took to eat a burger.
His mind spun with his conversation with Joe, and his worry for Seth, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel as he waited for his burger, fries, and Coke.
Evan’s phone rang, and he didn’t check the number, hoping Joe was ready to get started right away.
“Evan?” the caller asked hesitantly.
“Parker, is that you?”
My brother.
5
