Protector (The Witches of Cleopatra Hill Book 5) (23 page)

Caitlin leaned against Alex, making sure her hair fell partly across her face, just in case either of the two warlocks might look in this direction at exactly the wrong moment. Under her breath, she said, “Jorge and Tomas are here — standing over in front of the sub shop, with the dark-haired girl in between them. That’s Danica.”

His body went tense, but he kept his arm around her, maintaining the façade that they were just a couple out shopping at the mall, getting a little snuggly. “I see them.”

Miguel and Jack stopped a few feet away and pretended to be scanning the food offerings.

“Charlie’s subs,” Alex told them in an undertone. “The two guys with tats with the girl standing between them.”

“Got it,” Miguel replied.

In that moment, Caitlin’s view of the food court was blanked out, replaced by the parking lot, cars shimmering under the rays of the setting sun. A man and a young woman emerged from the glass-doored entrance to the mall, the woman lifting her arm and pointing, as if at one of the cars. The man nodded and bent toward her, smiling, and then Caitlin saw the flash of his teeth in the sunlight, the glimmer of hot pink in the girl’s long black hair, and she knew the couple was Matías and Zoe, slipping out, so close to getting away.

Where are they?
she demanded of herself.
Just an entrance isn’t good enough. I need to know which one!

She hadn’t really expected the scene to change. After all, her visions up until now had been terrible about providing any sort of actionable information, no matter how hard she’d tried to bend them to her will. But then it was as if she’d been watching the scene through the lens of a movie camera, one that seemed to swing on one of those boom devices, and the view panned to the right slightly, just enough to show her that the store behind them was Dillard’s. How that had happened, she wasn’t sure. Maybe she was just desperate enough to finally make her strange sight obey her, or maybe she’d now been using her power enough that it was becoming more malleable, more useful.

“They’re leaving,” she told Alex. “I just saw them. The mall entrance by Dillard’s.”

“Shit.”

Miguel must have overheard, because he pointed directly ahead of them. “That way. You’re in luck — it’s the closest exit. You go after them, and we’ll take care of these other two.”

How precisely they were going to manage that, Caitlin wasn’t sure, but Miguel didn’t look overly worried. Hadn’t Alex said earlier that Jack Sandoval was an expert at defensive magic? She’d have to let them handle the situation, as she and Alex had to catch Matías before the two runaways got in Zoe’s car and disappeared. What had happened to the
prima
-in-waiting’s civilian friends, Caitlin didn’t know, but she figured Matías had somehow maneuvered Zoe away from them so he could get her alone.

Walking quickly, Alex led Caitlin through the crowded food court and out into the parking lot. They paused on the sidewalk to get their bearings, Alex scanning the lot to see if he could locate them, Caitlin doing the same.

It was not her eyes that saved them then, however. A vision came to her again, this time an image of Matías and Zoe approaching a pale blue Fiat.

“Three rows over. Blue Fiat,” she told Alex, and they took off at a run, ignoring the startled looks from the civilians in the area. Right now, attracting attention was something they didn’t have time to worry about.

Even at almost seven o’clock in the evening, the heat rising from the asphalt felt merciless. How hot had it been here today? Caitlin supposed that it didn’t really matter, that her mind was distracting itself so it wouldn’t have to focus on the confrontation ahead. Because there they were, Zoe tossing back her head and laughing, Matías again leaning toward her with a smile on his face, all easy humor now that he thought he’d won.

Because of the way he was bending toward Zoe, he didn’t see Alex and Caitlin approaching. It was Zoe who spotted them first, her laughter dying as she apparently recognized her cousin.

“Alex? What the hell are you doing here?”

“Get away from him, Zoe.”

Her face was a study in puzzlement. “What’s your deal? Matías and I — ”

The dark warlock straightened and turned in their direction, his expression growing black when he saw Caitlin. Just looking at him like that, seeing him walking in the sunlight when Roslyn was dead by his hand, made her almost physically ill. But she couldn’t give in to any weakness now.

Before she had time to even worry about being afraid, a protective sphere shimmered into existence around them. Voice calm and cool, Alex said, “Zoe, you need to come in here with us. You have to get away from him.”

The
prima
-in-waiting was a pretty girl, but in that moment her mouth pursed into a distinctly mulish pout. “You’re not my big brother, Alex. You can’t tell me what to do.”

“That’s right,” Matías said, his tone coaxing, seductive. A tremor went through Zoe, and she turned back toward the warlock. “You don’t have to do anything they say. All you have to do is get in the car with me so we can leave.”

She blinked, but Caitlin could already see the familiar hated glassiness in her big dark eyes. “Okay.” Reaching into the slouchy studded black leather bag she carried, she fished around for a few seconds, then pulled out a set of car keys. “My cousin always was a goody-goody.”

“Zoe, please — ”

The desperation in Alex’s voice was clear enough, but Caitlin didn’t know what he could say, not with Zoe outside the protective sphere and already under the influence of Matías’ dark talents.

“He’s a murderer,” Caitlin said loudly, and Zoe blinked, then looked around uncertainly. Matías began to take a menacing step toward Caitlin, and then realized the dome Alex had cast would prevent him from silencing her. Scowling, he held back, hands clenched in fists at his sides, seeming to understand that he had to be careful here, or risk doing or saying something that would break his hold on the
prima
-in-waiting.

“Yes, Zoe. He killed your
prima
. And my friend.”

A shake of the head, the pink streak in her hair turning almost salmon-colored in the ruddy light from the setting sun. “No, that’s not possible. Maya is sick, but she’s not dead. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“It happened this afternoon,” Caitlin said. She hated to be so blunt, but she also knew she had to keep talking quickly while Matías’ hold on the other girl was wavering. “You were out with your friends. Your family’s been trying to reach you.”

“I-I was at the movies. I had my phone turned off.” Tears formed in her eyes, and she said, “Maya is really dead? Then I’m — ”

“Yes,” Alex said gently. “You’re the
prima
-in-waiting. That’s why he wants you. To take control of you.”

That seemed to be the remark which sent Matías over the edge. “They don’t know what they’re talking about,” he growled. “They’re full of shit,
chica
. I don’t want to hurt you. I want to make you feel good.”

“Like you made my friend Danica feel good?” Caitlin snapped, feeling bolder now that it was obvious Matías couldn’t do anything to penetrate the shield Alex had conjured. “Did you get tired of her that quickly, dump her so you could go after Zoe? I saw how you left her with Jorge and Tomas in the food court.”

The oddest expression flickered in Matías’ black eyes. Anger, yes, but also a sort of confusion, as if he wasn’t quite sure what precisely he felt about Danica. It didn’t matter, though, because Zoe rounded on him, hands on her hips.

“Is that true? You had another girl, right here in the mall, and you left her to come with me?”

“I — ” Matías straightened, and his jaw set. “Zoe,
chica,
I told you they’re full of shit. Don’t listen to them.”

For a second, she wavered, and Caitlin bit her lip, wondering what the hell they were going to do if they couldn’t extricate the girl from the warlock’s spell. But then Zoe shook her head, as if trying to rid herself of a persistent ringing in her ears. Comprehension seemed to dawn as she took in the implications of what Alex had told her, and she whirled away from Matías, began to run toward Caitlin and Alex, and the protective dome that enclosed them.

As quickly as she’d moved, it wasn’t quickly enough. Matías’ arm snaked out, grabbing her by the wrist and yanking her back toward him. At the same time, he reached into his pocket with his other hand, pulled out a switchblade, and pressed it against Zoe’s side. Caitlin wondered if it was the same one he’d used to stab her.

“I don’t think so,” he said. His black gaze settled on her and Alex, partly obscured by the shield that surrounded them, even as Zoe held herself still, clearly afraid that if she made a single move, Matías would strike. “You try anything, and your
prima
-in-waiting dies.”

Caitlin held up her hands, showing that she wouldn’t make any attempt at rescuing Zoe. Not that she would know the first thing about how to even do that. She wondered how Miguel and Jack were faring with Jorge and Tomas, and whether they’d subdue them in time to get out here and be of any help. Goddess knows, she felt useless enough at the moment.

To her surprise, Alex just laughed and shook his head. “Not thinking very clearly, are you, Matías? Your whole plan revolves around getting your hands on Zoe. Without her, what’re you going to do? You kind of shut the doors behind you in California when you nailed the
prima’
s daughter.”

Hate glittered in Matías’ eyes. “Fuck you,
pendejo
.”

“That the best you can do? It’s over, Matías. At this point, about all you can hope for is mercy from all the clans you’ve insulted — although I’d say the odds of that are pretty low, considering you’ve managed to get the McAllisters, the Wilcoxes, and the de la Pazes against you all at the same time.” Still smiling slightly, he added, “Actually, that’s quite an accomplishment. All three of the Arizona clans in one fell swoop? I’ve never heard of anyone else who managed that kind of feat.”

Caitlin listened, aghast. Just what the hell was Alex doing? He had no idea how volatile Matías was, how he couldn’t be trusted to react like a normal person. All he had to do was stick that knife into Zoe’s side, and then where would they be? Caitlin was no healer, and she’d never heard of healers being able to treat themselves. Also, she’d seen the dark magic the warlock was able to summon. Maybe it wouldn’t work without the ritual circle, but still —

Scowl deepening, Matías said, “You might want to shut your mouth,
cabron
. Unless you want me to make a hole in this little
puta’s
gut.”

“
Puta!
” Zoe flashed, her temper obviously getting the better of her common sense. “I’ll
puta
you, you asshole!”

One Doc Marten–clad foot came down squarely on his toes, and Matías swore. But Zoe had gotten him off-balance enough that she wrested her arm from his grasp and came running toward Caitlin and Alex. Now just a yard away — a couple of feet.

Then Zoe let out a howl of pain, and Caitlin saw that Matías had reached out and grabbed a hank of the girl’s long hair as it streamed behind her. A grin of triumph pulled at his mouth as he began to drag her back toward him.

“Alex, do something,” Caitlin pleaded. It was fine to stand here and know that Matías could do them no harm, but Zoe would be lost to them after all if they didn’t take swift action. And as much as Caitlin wanted to burst out of there and go running to the other girl’s aid, she knew even the two of them together probably wouldn’t be enough to overcome the dark warlock.

Beside her, Alex shifted, gritted his teeth, and then raised his hands. She didn’t know what he was doing…she didn’t even know if
he
knew what he was doing. Not exactly. He made a pushing motion, as if he was shoving against an invisible force. Around them, the dome shivered, pulsed, and then exploded forward in a flash of light, seeming to pass harmlessly over Zoe but knocking Matías back against the Fiat, where his head slammed into one of the rear windows with a
crack!
Caitlin both saw and felt.

He slid to the ground, unconscious…at least, she thought he must be, as he was limp and not moving. Zoe stopped in mid-flight, pink-glossed lips open in a round “O,” as if she still hadn’t quite processed what was happening.

And then Alex was moving, going over to where Matías lay. Caitlin jogged along behind him, not because she thought she could do anything to help, but more because she wanted to confirm for herself that the warlock really wasn’t about to get up again any time soon.

“Is he…?” she began, as Alex stopped and laid a couple of fingers against Matías’ throat.

At once Alex shook his head. “He’s alive. I’m not sure whether that’s a good thing or not.” He glanced past her to his cousin. “Zoe, are you okay?”

She put her hand up to the back of her head. “Well, I’m lucky that
pendejo
didn’t snatch me bald-headed, but other than that, I’m all right.”

Caitlin glanced past the car, saw that there were a few people at the end of the row shooting curious glances in their direction. All she could do was hope they hadn’t seen Alex’s last display, had only caught a glimpse of what looked like an altercation over a girl between a couple of guys in a parking lot. Otherwise, they’d have a lot of explaining to do.

“Hey!” she heard Miguel shout, and she looked over her shoulder to see him and Jack Sandoval approaching, Tomas and Jorge in tow, a bewildered Danica trailing along behind them. What they’d done to subdue the two other warlocks, Caitlin had no idea, but they both looked cowed, marching along meekly in front of their captors and keeping their eyes firmly locked on the ground so they wouldn’t have to look at anyone…especially not their fallen ringleader. And Danica only stood there, hand to her mouth as she stared down at Matías’ limp form.

“So you got him,” Jack said, gazing at them in approval. Alex straightened and nodded.

“Yeah, I don’t think he’s going anywhere anytime soon.”

Then Miguel glanced up the aisle, eyes narrowing. An electric cart with the words “Mall Security” on the side was moving toward them. “Alex, take Caitlin and Zoe and Danica, and get out of here. Jack and I will handle the mall cop.”