“Candace! Do you think the curse is attached to the key? Like how you can put protective spells on things and then give them to someone to keep with them?”
“Possible. I would need to see the key.”
They both looked at Tara.
She shrugged. “Okay. If you think it might help. Can I bring Jayden in, too, so you can fix him?”
“There is no overnight cure for a curse, Tara,” Candace said gently. “But if you can get him here, then it will definitely help.”
Adrienne listened to them talk, mind on Jayden. What were the chances the two of them were descendants of the same curse? Was this why she felt the instant connection to him, or was it simply hormones, as her daddy would say?
The idea Kimmie was robbing Jayden of his ability to think for himself infuriated her. Kimmie couldn’t know the damage she was doing by forcing Jayden to make decisions he wouldn’t normally make. She didn’t understand what the price was for her actions, either.
But Jayden’s cards from Saturday made sense. He fell recklessly in love with someone he shouldn’t have. She took some comfort in knowing there was hope in his future.
Eyes drifting to the iPad and the page of her sister’s journal she’d pulled up, Adrienne felt suddenly anxious to decipher the rest of the music. How long did she have until the Red Man came for her? How long to help Jayden and how long to regain her voice? What if she missed her chance to help Jax and her sister, if it were even possible?
The anger boiling within her turned to fury and desperation.
“It’s not fair!” she shouted, standing.
Candace and Tara both jumped.
“Kimmie is ruining everything!”
“Calm, child,” Candace said. “We’ll –”
“No! It could take weeks, months, to fix my voice and give Jayden his willpower back, if it’s even possible! It’s not good enough, Candace. We have to do more.”
“More? Like what?” Tara asked.
“Like I want to buy a hex to put on Kimmie, to force her to do what I tell her.”
“No, Adrienne. You don’t fight black magic with black magic. It will only cause you great grief,” Candace said.
“So, what? I wait for the Red Man to track me down and kill me when I know I have a chance to break the curse? Jayden ends up with someone he doesn’t like?” Adrienne paced.
“Tara will bring in the key. I can talk to Kimmie, if need be,” Candace urged. “Have faith, Adrienne.”
“I don’t have time for faith, Candace!” Adrienne snapped. “I can buy whatever I need. If you won’t sell it to me, I’ll find someone who will!”
Candace’s frown deepened. “Think this through, Addy. You inherited a curse from the actions of your ancestors. Would you risk doing the same to your family?”
Adrienne blew out a breath. “What if I never get my voice back?”
“We don’t know that.”
It’s not your life at risk! Adrienne kept the words to herself, doubting Candace could understand. By the mambos’ compassionate look, she wasn’t going to budge.
Adrienne grabbed her iPad and shoved it and her notebook away.
“I’m not going to let Kimmie ruin my life and Jayden’s,” she said and slung her bag over her shoulder. After a moment of thought, she yanked off the dog tags and slapped them on the table in front of Tara. “Take these. Maybe they’ll keep Kimmie’s curse from getting worse. I’ll find someone else to help us.” She pushed aside the curtain separating the shrine room from the front of the store and marched out.
“Adrienne, wait!” Candace called.
Adrienne ignored her. She hurried outside and paused, glancing both ways.
At home, she’d wouldn’t know where to get such a spell. Here, she just needed to find a legit bokor and not one of the tourist traps.
She wanted to scream out of frustration. Worry made her breath short, and she struggled to think clearly. There didn’t seem to be much of a choice now. She had to stop Kimmie. If it was only her life to consider, she might be willing to listen to Candace.
But not Jayden. The idea of Kimmie taking away the only guy ever interested in her, who was perfect in every way Adrienne could imagine, made her sick.
It wasn’t right for one person to ruin so many lives.
She was gritting her teeth hard enough to cause a headache. Adrienne rubbed her temples then picked a direction. She made it to the end of the block before she heard someone new call her name.
“Adrienne.”
She suspected Rene had hunted her down. She turned, not expecting to see Jax a few feet behind her. He moved too quietly for her to hear him approach. Today, he wore a t-shirt that displayed the tattoos running down his roped forearms. He wore no mask, though the creepy skeleton was drawn on his face with Halloween makeup.
“You look like Baron Samedi,” she murmured.
“It’s how I show my respect for him,” he said. “Where you going?”
“I know. Don’t walk alone,” she said, irritated. “But it’s broad daylight. Nothing’s going to happen.”
“You didn’t answer my question. Your daddy’s apartment is that way.” He turned and lifted his chin towards the opposite direction she was headed.
Adrienne crossed her arms. “I don’t have to tell you anything.”
The lean gang leader approached her, pausing less than a foot away. Adrienne tilted her head back to meet his blue-green gaze. There was an odd, predatory gleam in his eyes that made her wish Rene was there.
“You really wanna play this game with me?” he asked softly. “These are my streets, Adrienne. No one crosses me on my streets.”
“I’m not …” she drifted off then swallowed her anger.
Help Jax.
She began to doubt the latest piece of advice from her long-dead sister. Jax seemed completely in control, not the kind of man who needed help.
“I need to find a bokor,” she answered him.
“Why?”
“Um, there’s a girl at school bothering me.” She dropped her gaze to his chest as she spoke, uncertain why her instincts didn’t like the idea of telling him it had to do with the curse.
Jax was silent, still, long enough for her to doubt he believed her. She didn’t look up, instead studying his lean frame. Her sister had fallen in love with this man. The gentlest person on earth, how had Therese managed to tame someone who seemed so … hard? Cold?
“That’s my sister,” she said, eyes lingering on one tattoo on his arm. “She was happy with you.”
His tension was scaring her.
Adrienne withdrew the picture Rene gave her.
Jax took it. The sight of Therese had an instant effect. He took a deep breath and shook out his shoulders.
“Yeah,” he agreed. “We were happy together.”
Sensing his dangerous mood had passed, Adrienne stepped away until she was comfortable with the distance between them.
“You need a bokor,” Jax repeated, eyes on the picture. “C’mon. I’ll take you.” He pocketed the picture and started away.
Adrienne watched him, wanting to run, but suspecting he could find her, wherever she went, as long as she was in his territory.
Now would be a good time to show up, Rene, she said silently, dwelling on the younger brother’s warning not to be around Jax.
Jax glanced back over his shoulder, his gait slowing.
Adrienne scrambled after him, afraid of him without understanding what it was about him that scared her.
He went into the nearest alley, where a motorcycle waited. Straddling it, he tossed her the single helmet.