Wicked Release (Wicked 3 3)

When Lorie undid his jeans, thrusting deep because he couldn’t hold back any longer, Con caressed her hair, murmuring garbled words of endearment until she tasted his release on her tongue.

Right here in the open, where anyone could see, Sarah shared all she was with them.

It was a memory she would never forget.

Chapter Seven

She was here at last. Lorie had found the book in Salem, just as he said he would. Or, under Salem, to be more precise.

Lorie’s call to Harrison had him promising to wait for her arrival—told them the location they’d found was already under investigation. It was one of Tucker’s cases.

Sarah might not have the “spidey” sense Thalia’s descendant referred to, but she didn’t get the best feeling about this. The longer they waited, the more anxious she became.

“Harrison and Callie looked into the way the spell adapts, and they can only draw one conclusion.” Lorie rubbed the back of his neck roughly, sharing a hard look with Con over her head. “Whoever has it not only knows about it, they’ve been adding to it somehow.”

Sarah paled. “I told you it was a living spell. Could it be Aaron?”

“Unless he found the fountain of youth or cursed himself into a salt shaker, that son of a bitch is dead by now,” Con snarled. “If not, I’ll be happy to correct that mistake in the timeline.”

Lorie took her hand, caressing her palm. “It could be someone who has no idea what they’re doing. For all they know they’re just writing in a magic book, with no idea of its effect.”

r /> No idea. She wished she believed that. “Maybe they purchased it through a dealer. If so, we could find out who sold it and discover where the Winstons disappeared to.”

Lorie quirked his lips. “You planning on joining Tucker’s ranks when this is over?”

She shook her head. “Just trying to think it all through.” She wasn’t sure what would happen when this was over. If she had her way, she’d spend the rest of her days with Lorie and Con, healing the people who needed help. Living her life.

“I’m here,” Harrison came striding around the corner, her long legs eating up the distance between them. “Sorry I’m late, but I’m in a dirty tunnel under the city. In my new shoes.”

Sarah smiled at Harrison’s wrinkled nose. “I didn’t know anyone lived here anymore.”

Con lifted a golden brown eyebrow. “Anymore?”

“There were always those elements who preferred to live away from humanity instead of beside it. Or those who wished to avoid Magian law.” Sarah looked around at the water-soaked walls. “The tunnels have been restored, but they’ve been here for as long as I remember. There was an orphanage my grandmother and I used to visit. They always needed more growers and healers.”

Harrison nodded. “Tucker knows about this place, too. In fact, he admitted something to me I’m not sure Jacob is going to forgive him for anytime soon.”

Sarah tensed at the mention of Jacob Gryffin’s name, but Lorie’s hand squeezed hers and she took a deep, calming breath. “What did he say?”

“Jacob’s sister, Leah, is here. Instead of visiting friends, which was what she told him she was doing, she volunteered to spy on our perp.”

Sarah made a face. “Our perp?”

Con winked. “The bad guy with the book. But it couldn’t have been about that, right? We just found out about it ourselves.”

Harrison nodded. “Exactly. Tucker says he shouldn’t be violent, he just sells things that don’t belong to him. But Leah’s mother did business with him from time to time, and he knows her. She came to him with something she needed to sell. Fast and quiet.”

Lorie whistled. “Are Jacob and Tucker going to have a problem?”

“Not if I can help it.” Harrison rubbed her temple. “Jacob’s protective, you know how he is, but Leah is literally a fireball. And she’s got something to prove these days.” She opened one grey eye and looked directly at Sarah. “Something about clearing up the family name.”

Sarah lowered her chin, studying her already scuffed shoes. “So where this guy? What’s his name?”

“Get this,” She lowered her voice. “Maris. His name is Winston ‘Winnie’ Maris.”

“Shit.” Con studied Sarah, his expression mirroring Harrison’s. “You don’t have to do this, you know. We can get the book without you.”

Her grandmother had never raised her to believe in coincidence. After all these years, the same families that had started this were still right in the middle of everything. The Abbotts, the Gryffins and one slimy, underhanded Maris. The only one missing was Aaron. One way or another, they would find their answers. And then all those silent dead who’d been forgotten could be at peace.