Serendipity (Bayou Magic 3)

It’s a busy place, but I like it.

“Dinner was good,” Daph says and swings our hands back and forth as we walk along the paved path. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

“So, are you going to tell me what you saw?”

I sigh and glance her way. She watches me with patient eyes.

“I’m getting really sick and tired of this asshole ruining my time with you.”

She just waits. Finally, I guide her to a bench and we take a seat.

“I was with him. Wherever he is. And I saw the girls.”

Daphne’s eyes round, and she holds my hand tightly.

“I’m sorry, Jack.”

“The frustrating part is, I don’t know that I can pin down where I was. It’s just a room. No windows. I couldn’t see outside. I have no idea where he’s holding them in the city. If he’s even in the city.”

“Cash might be able to ask the right questions to get more information,” she suggests. She fidgets in her seat and then stands. “Let’s keep walking.”

“What’s wrong with the bench?”

“Someone slept on it last night who was thinking about throwing himself into the Mississippi River. It’s not a happy place to sit.”

We’re quiet for a long moment, just breathing in the fresh air around us. It’s still winter, so it’s not too hot yet.

The night is a breezy eighty degrees.

“Do you still like to run?” she asks out of the blue. “For exercise?”

“Not really. I ran too much in the Army. Took the fun out of it for me. Why, do you run?”

“Only if something’s chasing me.”

I pull her closer, wrap my arm around her, and kiss her temple. “You make me laugh.”

After an hour of walking around, we make our way back to my car and then toward Millie and Lucien’s place.

“It was nice to steal this time away,” she says and reaches over to rest her hand on my thigh. “Thanks for it.”

“Anytime.”

We walk up to the front porch, and Daphne pauses, holding onto her stomach.

“What’s wrong?”

“I wonder if I ate something bad.” She scowls, and then her eyes clear. “No. Oh, shit.”

She hurries around me, and I follow after her.

Sitting on the doormat is an envelope.

We both sigh in frustration.

“What’s that holding it down?”

“A bloodstone.”

Chapter Nineteen

Daphne

Of course, this would happen now after a fun evening with Jack. I can’t seem to catch a break lately.

I walk around the envelope on the doorstep, open the front door, and call out for my sisters.

“Guys? Brielle? Millie?”

“We’re in the library,” Millie calls back.

“I need you out here.” Jack’s still on the porch, his hands on his hips, and his face set in grim lines. I want to run into his arms. I want to pull him away and go anywhere but here. Somewhere it’s only the two of us and we don’t have to deal with all of this mess. But I can’t.

“Is Cash here?”

“I’m here,” Cash says as all four hurry from the library. He sighs when he sees where I’m pointing. “Did you touch it?”

“No, we haven’t touched anything.”

“There’s a bloodstone,” Millie says and reaches for Lucien.

“He’s back to taunting all of us,” Brielle says, her eyes trained on the sidewalk. “I see a third girl.”

“It’s creepy, and a blessing that the girls can’t come inside,” Millie says.

Cash passes out gloves to all of us.

“Do you just carry dozens of these around in your pocket?” I ask as I slide my hand inside.

“These days, I do. I know there won’t be any prints, but I’m a cop. We do this by the book.”

I kind of love that he’s so strict.

Once his gloves are on, Cash retrieves the stone and the envelope, and we all file back into the library.

Millie moves to close the blinds on the windows. “I don’t want those girls looking in here. And I don’t want Brielle to have to see them, either.”

Cash sets the bloodstone and envelope on the table before us, and we’re all quiet as we look at them, each lost in our own thoughts—and so damn angry that this is happening.

“I guess we have to get this over with.” I pick up the envelope and frown. “I don’t feel a heartbeat on this one. Or any heat.”

I look up at Jackson, whose eyes have narrowed.

I glance at Cash.

“I have to take off the gloves. Sorry, Cash.”

I pull them off, toss them aside, and pick up the envelope once more.

Suddenly, not only can I feel the heartbeat and the heat, but I can also see.

Everything.

“Oh, Goddess.”

“What?” Lucien sits forward. “What is it?”

“I’m not blocked anymore.” I swallow hard and feel so many emotions swamping me that it brings tears to my eyes. “Oh, shit. Shit, shit, shit.”

“Okay, set it down.” Miss Sophia, who’s just come into the room, moves quickly to me, taking my hand. “Set that down and focus, Daphne. I want you to breathe.”

Mama comes in as well and sits between Millie and Brielle. Her eyes are full of concern and worry. She fiddles with the mother of pearl pendant that hangs from her neck.