Grim Offerings (Aisling Grimlock Book 2) Read online

  “I think someone is hiring people to kill him,” I said.

  “Why do you think that?” Griffin asked.

  “One murder might be random,” I replied. “Two murders in two days? That’s design.”

  “See, you are smarter than you look,” Aidan teased.

  “She has a point,” Dad said. “The guy who tried to kill Reid yesterday had a lengthy record. That means he wasn’t a novice. You have to be gutsy to go after a guy two days in a row.”

  “Or desperate,” I said.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Maybe Reid has dirt on someone,” I suggested. “He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who’s above blackmailing someone. Why else would someone go after him? He’s not married. I mean, if he were married I could see his wife wanting to kill him, but his file says he’s single.”

  “Did he touch you?” Griffin asked pointedly.

  “No.”

  “Did he want to?”

  “He definitely wanted to,” Cillian said. “The dude just feels slimy.”

  “Let’s get back to this afternoon,” Dad prodded. “What happened after you left Aisling with the human piece of filth?”

  “It’s probably a good thing I almost died, huh?” Cillian said, his eyes twinkling through the weariness. “I’d be in big trouble for leaving you if things had gone differently.”

  “That’s exactly right,” Dad said. “What happened after?”

  “I … I just remember rounding the building,” Cillian said. “I didn’t see anyone right away. It was more like … I could feel someone moving in behind me. I didn’t see anyone. There were hands on my shoulders, and then everything went black.”

  “He couldn’t have been down long,” Redmond said. “Wraiths can kill us in less than a minute if they want to.”

  “Aisling must have been there within a few seconds,” Aidan said.

  “You found me?” Cillian’s eyes landed on me. “How did you … ?”

  I shot him a reassuring smile. “I’m tougher than I look.”

  “But how?”

  “She beat it to death with a brick,” Redmond said.

  Cillian’s eyebrows shot up. “A brick?”

  “There was one on the ground.”

  “How did you get close enough to hit it with a brick without it putting its hands on you?”

  “I threw the brick at it first,” I said. “While it was stunned, I grabbed the brick and beat its head in until it dissolved into dust.”

  “I … I remember something,” Cillian said, his face grave. “It talked to you.”

  “I thought you were unconscious?”

  “Wait, it talked to you?” Aidan was on his feet. “You didn’t tell us that.”

  “I kind of forgot,” I admitted.

  “You forgot the wraith talked to you?” Redmond was incensed. “How does that happen?”

  “I was worried about Cillian.”

  Dad held up his hand to silence everyone. “Okay, calm down.”

  We all waited.

  “Seriously, how could you forget the wraith talked to you?” Dad exploded.

  I shrank back, bumping into Griffin as a never-ending sea of lavender eyes landed on me. He put a reassuring arm around me. “Do we have to yell at her?”

  “This is big,” Braden explained. “Wraiths rarely talk. I mean, I guess they talk to other wraiths, but I’ve never heard of one speaking before.”

  “I didn’t know they could speak,” Redmond admitted.

  “What did it say?” Dad pressed.

  “I don’t … it said my name,” I said, flummoxed at the memory.

  “It recognized you?”

  I nodded. “It said that I couldn’t be touched.”

  “Be more specific,” Jerry said, speaking up for the first time. “Did it want to touch you in your naughty place?”

  “Jerry!” Dad was beside himself.

  “There are different kinds of touching,” Jerry said. “They’ve done after-school specials about it. Watch something other than Downton Abbey for a change.”

  I couldn’t hide my smirk. “It didn’t want to touch me that way. It did recognize me, though.”

  “What else did it say?” Braden asked.

  “It just kept looking at Cillian and saying ‘mine.’ I was waiting for it to call him ‘my precious’ and jump into the fiery pits of Mount Doom while cuddling him close to his chest.”

  Jerry made a face. “It’s a good thing you’re pretty, because most men would not tolerate a Lord of the Rings geek in their bed.”

  I glanced at Griffin.

  “I don’t care what kind of a geek you are,” he said. “It does help that you’re hot, though. It helps more with your family than anything else.”

  Redmond grinned as my father scowled.

  “We still don’t understand why the wraith was in the area,” Cillian said. “We’re not even sure it was the same wraith that killed Grant Spencer. Of course, we can’t be sure a wraith killed Spencer at all.

  Griffin wasn’t happy with the insinuation. “You’re saying there are more wraiths here, aren’t you?”

  “I think we have to assume that,” Dad said.

  “And why would they recognize Aisling?”

  “I don’t know,” Dad said. “Maybe they recognize us all.”

  “It didn’t appear to recognize Cillian,” Griffin pointed out. “They seem to specifically be fixated on Aisling.”

  “Let’s not jump to conclusions,” Dad said.

  “You’re always the one who jumps to conclusions,” Griffin argued.

  Dad made a face. “Calm down.”

  “You calm down,” Griffin shot back.

  “You calm down.”

  “Everyone calm down,” Jerry snapped. “We can’t freak out.”

  I tilted my head as I regarded him. “Really?”

  “I don’t freak out, Bug,” Jerry chided. “I calmly ascertain a situation and then enthusiastically voice my opinion. That’s not the same thing.”

  I rolled my eyes. “We need more information,” I said.

  “I know where to get it,” Redmond said, his eyes resting on me. “And you have to come with me.”

  “Where?” Dad asked.

  It took me a second to grasp what he was suggesting, and I immediately started shaking my head. “No way. That woman hates me.”

  “Who hates you?” Griffin asked. “And, by the way, I’m not sure I buy that ‘every woman in the world hates me’ motto you keep espousing.”

  “Women hate me,” I said. “It’s a fact.”

  “You’re going to Madame Maxine, aren’t you?” Dad asked.

  Redmond nodded.

  “I’m not going to see that woman,” I said. “She always tells me awful things about my future.”

  “Who is Madame Maxine?” Griffin asked.

  “She owns a magic shop on Woodward,” Braden explained.

  “She’s a psychic,” Aidan added.

  “She always tells me I’m going to be rich and famous,” Jerry said, beaming.

  “Why don’t you like her?” Griffin asked.

  “I already told you. I don’t like her because she tells me awful things about my future.”

  “She said that you were wasting your time when you became a secretary,” Redmond interjected. “How was that awful?”

  “It was the truth,” Jerry pointed out.

  “Shut up, Jerry,” I grumbled.

  “You need to be there,” Redmond said. “She’s more forthcoming when you’re there.”

  “She loves you,” I said. “She thinks you’re the greatest thing since the iPad. She’s mean to me.”

  “I am the greatest thing ever,” Redmond said. “The iPad isn’t even in contention. She’s not mean to you. She’s … matter of fact.”

  Griffin’s gaze bounced between Redmond and me. “Why does she have to go?”

  “Madame Maxine likes to see her,” Redmond said.

  “Is she in any danger?”<
br />
  Redmond shook his head.

  “Then I think you should go,” Griffin said.

  Oh, great, now he was turning on me, too. “You’re just letting me go? I thought you wanted to watch over me?”

  Griffin smirked. “I have no doubt your brother will protect you from this Madame Maxine. As long as you’re not taking on a wraith, I’m happy.”

  “But … .”

  “It will only take an hour, Ais,” Redmond prodded. “We need information.”

  One look at Cillian’s wan face told me I was outnumbered. I crossed my arms over my chest. “Fine. If she tells me one bad thing … .”

  “You’ll listen and have a fit, like you usually do,” Redmond finished. “We should go now. The shop will close in two hours.”

  Griffin ran his hand down the back of my hair and gave me a quick kiss. “I’ll meet you at your place. I’ll bring pizza.”

  “I don’t want pizza,” I sniffed.

  “I’ll get Chinese.”

  “I want Crab Rangoon … and spring rolls.”

  “Fine.”

  “And sesame chicken.”

  “Fine.”

  “And fried rice.”

  “I’ve got it, Aisling.” Griffin pinched the bridge of his nose.

  “We’ll put together a list,” Jerry said, patting Griffin’s arm. “We like choices when we have Chinese.”

  “I can’t wait,” Griffin deadpanned.

  The door to the hospital room opened and Maya entered. “How is everyone doing?”

  “We’re fine,” Griffin said.

  “I want to go home tonight,” Cillian said.

  “The doctors want you to stay overnight for observation,” Maya said. “I think you probably should.”

  “He is,” Dad said.

  Cillian opened his mouth to protest.

  “When you get home I’ll have the cook make whatever you want,” Dad said. “You’re staying here tonight, though. We’re not taking any chances.”

  Braden shot him a thumbs-up. “Don’t worry. I’ll stay here with you.”

  “Oh, good, you two can cuddle together and watch television,” I teased.

  “We’re not you and Aidan,” Braden shot back.

  “I think the patient needs rest,” Maya said. “I don’t think an overnight guest means he’s going to get rest.”

  “Yeah,” Cillian said, smiling weakly. “I’m sure Maya will be willing to soothe me if I have any bad dreams.”

  “You stop that right now,” Griffin ordered.

  I pressed my eyes shut briefly. Things were back to normal. Everyone was okay. Now we just had to keep everyone that way.

  Fifteen

  “Come on.”

  Redmond held open the door to Tea & Tarot and waited.

  “She’s going to be mean to me,” I said, pushing a faux pout on my face as I regarded my eldest brother. My brothers don’t often fall for my emotional manipulation, but Redmond is the one who gives in easiest.

  “She’s not going to be mean to you.”

  “She is.”

  “She’s not.”

  “She is.”

  Redmond growled. “Get your behind in this store!”

  I made an exasperated sound in the back of my throat and strode through the door, stopping long enough to fix Redmond with a pathetic look. “You’re the meanest man I know.”

  Redmond flicked the end of my nose. “I give in to you most of the time because I can’t tell you ‘no,’” he said. “But we need information. Cillian almost dying trumps you feeling uncomfortable.”

  “Fine.”

  Redmond pushed me the rest of the way across the threshold. Because the door had been open so long we’d drawn the attention of the proprietress. Madame Maxine floated from behind the counter, her floor-length skirt billowing as she crossed the room.

  “Redmond Grimlock,” she said, giving him a big hug. “It’s been too long.”

  “It’s only been a month and a half,” he said.

  “That’s still too long,” Maxine said. She turned her attention to me. “Hello, sourpuss.”

  I scowled. “Madame Maxine.”

  “You look … pouty.”

  “I’m not pouty.”

  “You look pouty.”

  “Well, I’m not.”

  “You look it.”

  Redmond clamped his hand on my shoulder. “We’ve had a long day,” he said, glancing around the shop. Thankfully, it was empty. “Cillian was attacked by a wraith in Detroit this afternoon.”

  Maxine’s face turned serious. “Is he all right?”

  “Aisling got to him before the wraith could kill him,” Redmond said.

  “Did it run?”

  “Aisling killed it.”

  Maxine gave me an appraising look. Her overlong hair was tucked in a messy bun, strands of gray shining under the overhead lights. “How did you kill it?”

  “I beat it to death with a brick.”

  Maxine was impressed. “I didn’t think you had it in you.”

  “She’s being mean!”

  “She’s not being mean,” Redmond said, exasperated.

  “You’re too sensitive,” Maxine said. “That’s always been your problem.”

  “Oh, are you going to tell me I’m going down the wrong path again? Isn’t that your shtick?” Maxine had told me on two different occasions that I was due for a world of hurt before finding happiness. I hated her for it.

  “No, you’re done going down the wrong path,” Maxine said, moving over to her tarot table. “You’ll still make some missteps, but that’s life.”

  I faltered. “What?”

  “You’re on the right track now.”

  “See, Ais, you were worrying for nothing,” Redmond chided. “I told you.”

  “Oh, shut up,” I grumbled.

  “You were on the wrong path when you were trying to separate yourself from your destiny,” Maxine said. “That’s not a problem anymore. It will take time, but you will find yourself.”

  “Well, great.”

  Redmond shot me an admonishing look. “We need to know what you’ve heard about wraiths in the area.”

  “Not a lot,” Maxine admitted. “Some people have claimed to see them, but no one has seen them in groups like before. The sightings have been sporadic. I thought that meant things were back to normal.”

  “We can’t be sure, but we think there has to be more than one in the area,” Redmond said. He recounted the past few days for Maxine while I watched nervously.

  While he told the story, Maxine shuffled the tarot cards. When Redmond finished the story, she handed the cards to me. “Cut them.”

  “No way,” I said. “I don’t want to hear anything bad.”

  “Aisling,” Redmond growled.

  “Cut them.”

  I sighed, exasperated. I reached out and grabbed the deck, holding it close to my chest to hide my actions from Maxine before handing the cards back. Maxine flipped the first card up and studied it.

  “What do you see?” Redmond asked.

  Maxine ignored him as she continued to flip cards. When she had them assembled to her liking, she finally turned her attention back to us. “Things are shifting.”

  “Well, great,” I muttered.

  “You have more than one enemy,” she said. “One you know. One you will … struggle with.”

  “What does that mean?” Redmond asked.

  Maxine shrugged. “The future isn’t written, and what I’m seeing here is clouded. Things are going to be in … flux.”

  “So, you’re saying you don’t know,” I said.

  “I’m saying that your family is at a crossroads,” Maxine corrected. “Aisling is at the center of the crossroads.”

  “Is she in danger?” Redmond asked, instantly alert as his gaze shifted to the front door.

  “You’re all in danger,” Maxine said. “You’re also poised for greatness.”

  “How do we fight our enemy?” Redmond asked.
/>   “You have to wait for it to show itself,” Maxine replied. “When it does, decisions have to be made quickly.”

  “What does that even mean?” I sputtered.

  “You’re the one who will have to make the decisions,” Maxine said, fixating on me. “You’re the one who holds the key.”

  “I can barely keep track of my car keys,” I said.

  “Don’t second-guess yourself,” Maxine cautioned. “Your first instinct will be the right one.”

  Well, I was done here. “I’m hungry,” I announced.

  Redmond shot me a chastising look. “When?”

  “Not today. Not tomorrow. Soon, though.”

  “So, I have time for dinner?” I knew I was being petulant. I couldn’t seem to stop myself.

  Maxine’s expression wasn’t dark, as I expected. The sympathy washing over her face was almost enough to bring me to my knees.

  “You’re going to be all right,” she said after a moment. “You’re stronger than they give you credit for. When the time comes, that’s what you need to remember. Push everything else out of your mind.”

  “I’M never going back there again!”

  I slammed the front door of the townhouse for dramatic emphasis as I made my grand entrance, expecting the three occupants to fawn over me. I was disappointed.

  Griffin glanced up from the chair at the edge of the living room. “Hello, dear.”

  “What happened?” Aidan asked.

  “She was a pain in the ass, as I predicted,” I said. “Oh, wait, maybe I’m a psychic now.”

  “Get some dinner,” Jerry instructed. “We’ve been keeping it warm in the oven.”

  I pulled up short. “Have you guys already eaten?”

  “You know I have blood-sugar issues,” Jerry whined.

  “I was hungry,” Aidan said, nonplussed.

  I shifted my gaze to Griffin.

  “I waited for you,” he said.

  “And that’s why you’re my favorite,” I said, channeling my father.

  After shoveling an obscene amount of food into my mouth – and then cleaning up the mess I’d made under Jerry’s watchful eye – Griffin and I returned to the living room.

  “What are you guys watching?”

  “Sports Center,” Jerry said, making a face. “It’s not very entertaining. No one is singing and no one is making snarky comments.”