Convicted Witch: Jagged Grove Book 1 (21 page)

I can’t even think. I just yell, “Mom!” at the top of my lungs. When she comes in, I point at Angelo’s chest. “Talk to him, then explain all of this to me. Please?”

Then I turn and go stand in the shower, making it so hot that it feels like my skin is peeling off.

Here’s the thing: Just when I get a grip on adulthood in the real world, I get sucked into Jagged Cove, presumably for at least the next year. Fine. So I start to get a handle on how things work over here, and I’m slapped with an honest to god wicked witch. Go, me. Now, I might have the Rachel thing figured out, and Angelo decided to throw my long-lost father - and a sister - into the mix? Is he trying to make my head explode?

I sink down into the tub and let the water pummel me until it gets too cold to stand any longer.

When I come back into the living room, Angelo is gone, the twins are gathered around Bilda at the dining room table, and Bilda herself looks pale and defeated.

I sit down across from her and reach to take her hand. “Are you all right?” I ask, because I have no idea how to start this conversation.

She shakes her head, pale curls flopping. “Not yet.”

“Mom, why was Angelo spouting nonsense about my dad? And a sister?”

“Because he’s here.”

I look around like he’s going to pop out of the closet, then catch myself. “Did you know that?”

“No. Oh, no. Not until we got here, anyway. For all I knew he was in the Bahamas. He always loved the islands.” Her nostalgic little smile is infuriating.

I tried to remember everything she’d said about my father, but there wasn’t much. He left while I was still too young to remember him, apparently because he was jealous of Bilda’s coven and how much time it took away from him.

If that was even the truth.

“Have I met him? Or her, for that matter?”

“Only once, but I doubt you’d remember. You can meet them again - Angelo said that he would introduce you whenever you wished.”

I didn’t wish. The guy meant nothing to me, except that now his other daughter wanted me dead. “I think I’ll wait. So he has another daughter, they come here...and now...” I falter, thinking hard.

When this whole mess first started, I asked Angelo why he was singling us out. He told me that it was because Bilda had created a problem. I didn’t believe him then, and now... “Do you think my father manipulated Angelo to drag us here?”

She purses her lips. “It’s possible. But why?”

“I don’t know. I suppose I’ll have to ask him. Eventually.” The idea makes sense, though. Angelo had to have already been watching, to get to mom so fast after her arrest. And he knew where to find me, too, all in a matter of a few hours.

This wasn’t just a random event. This was planned. They just had to wait for Bilda to slip up - which she did.

She lets go of my hand, then pats it. “I think that’s wise, as long as you don’t put it off for too long. Your father, if he really is here, will know how to keep Rachel from killing you, if anybody will.”

“Angelo would, wouldn’t he? I mean she’s his...uh, girlfriend? Or whatever?”

She shakes her head, and I’m suddenly aware of the twins watching us closely. Rachel apparently killed their parents, so they have a right to know all of this, too.

Even as I’m thinking it, Glade looks at me. “I want to help.”

I sigh. “Help what, though? Bilda, what should we do here - an exorcism? A lifetime of protection spells? Could we just kill Angelo, then they can truly be together forever?”

Glade snickers, but Bilda just gives me a look. “We shouldn’t go killing anyone, and her magic is powerful - all healers are masters of the magical arts.”

“Not all of them,” Rain mutters, looking at me.

“She has a point.”

“Your magic is powerful, too, but it’s been suppressed for too long.”

“Jones offered to teach me,” I say quietly.

“I’ll bet.” Rain again.

I cock my head and glare at her.

“Cut her some slack,” Glade pipes up, swiping his floppy hair off his forehead. “She just found out who murdered her parents.”

Bilda is smiling. “I like Jones,” she says. “He’s so handsome. There weren’t many handsome men in Harte.”

I rub my temples. “Can we focus, please?”

We’re all getting grumpy, not just me. “OK, first of all, are we safe here?”

“Oh, yes.” Bilda waves a hand. “I’ve already done cleansing and protection spells on the house.”

“So she can’t get in?”

“Right - well, not unless she’s invited.”

“That reminds me. Why would Rachel need an invitation to her own office? I mean, she was there when we discovered her, so why would she need Wisp and Scott to invite her back in?”

“Ooh, that’s easy. The property was only hers as long as her name was on the lease. Angelo probably had the lease transferred, so that made her unwelcome. I’m sure that made her less than happy. I’d guess she got Maggie to invite her in, then just stayed there until we showed up.”

“So now the lease is Wisp’s? Because Wisp let her in...”

“Nope.” Glade looks excited to offer information. “Wisp’s daddy owns the building.”

“Ahh,” Bilda says. “So she circumnavigated the lease altogether. Smart cookie.”

I’m thinking...  “And Wisp doesn’t like me anyway, so she was fine with letting Rachel get rid of me.”

“Why doesn’t she like you?”

“I’m not sure, but I think that has something to do with Jones. I mean, his interest in us.”

“But she’s engaged!” Rain snaps. “That’s just being hateful.”

“And greedy,” Glade finishes for her.

I shrug. At least that’s one mystery solved. Now if I could just figure out how to banish my sister witch, figure out why she gave me a fantastic house that now scares the crap out of me, and understand this whole dad-popping-up thing, I’d be able to sleep again, ever.

As if she can read my mind, Bilda smacks both hands down on the tabletop and stands up. “I think we all need some sleep,” she announces.

I agree. I trust that the house is secure, because Bilda might be a little bit cuckoo, but she knows her magic. I stand up too and look at the twins. I’m about to offer for them to spend the night when Bilda clears her throat.

“Ah, Trinket?”

“Yeah?”

“I’ve invited Glade and Rain to live here.”

“Oh.” I blink at them and then her. “Um, OK.”

“They don’t really have a permanent home, and all teenagers need one of those, no matter what.”

I glance at the twins. “She’s going to drive you crazy, too, you know.”

Glade grins. “I won’t complain.”

It’s not like she has to ask my permission, so there’s no reason for me to feel as hurt as I do. Besides, if I can figure out what to do about Rachel, I’ll be moving out.

“Well, goodnight, then,” I say, and go to bed.

I climb into bed, thinking. I have a father and a sister now. That’s strange - it’s been just Bilda and me for so long, and I haven’t been a very good daughter.

I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep, but I do. Unfortunately, my sleep is full of Angelo, Jones, and a dark brooding man that I haven’t met yet - even though I know exactly who he is.

Did you love
Convicted Witch: Jagged Grove Book One
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Read the series in order:

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