Eliza Gayle Witch Bundle (paranormal romance) by Eliza Gayle (free children's online books TXT) 📗

Jake leaned across the table, lowering his voice so the other patrons couldn’t hear him. “Don’t even try to threaten me again, old man. I have done more than I ever signed on to do, and I’m here, aren’t I, so don’t go giving me your melodramatic bullshit. Save it for your blind sheep.”

Jake watched the fire of anger stoke in the other man’s eyes as the atmosphere in the room changed, becoming almost stifling with a blast of power. Jake laughed. “Careful, old man, your true colors are showing. You do remember we’re in a very public place, right?”

“Enough! I will not accept such insolence from the likes of you. Either tell me what I came here to find out or deal with the consequences. Are you prepared for that, my boy?” Scott leaned close to Jake’s head. Close enough for him to smell his putrid breath. “And believe me, boy, when I am done, even the fire and brimstone of Hell won’t want the remains.”

Jake swallowed hard, remembering all too clearly why he was here. Because of that he refrained from either laughing in the man’s face or beating him to a bloody pulp right here in front of the customers. One of these days…

“Are you ready to order, sirs?” the waiter broke into their conversation and Jake decided restraint the best course of action. He glanced up at the young man and saw the drawn worry lines across his forehead and the embarrassment in his eyes. Apparently he and Scott had been making more of a scene than they realized if the waiter looked that frightened.

“I’ll take coffee, thick and black, if you don’t mind, and a beignet, warm.”

“Certainly. And you, sir?” He looked hesitantly at the Reverend.

“I’ll have a triple shot mocha espresso and some of your homemade sweet cake.” He turned a smile on the waiter, full of his trademark charm, and the waiter visibly relaxed.

“Yes, sir, right away.” He took the menus from the table and hurried off to the kitchen.

“Start talking, boy, and quit giving me a hard time. You're embarrassing yourself.”

Jake let the comment pass. “Raven is awake now and working hard to find a way free.”

“About damn time. Now tell me what you’re going to do to help her. Actually, I need to speak with her.”

“That’s going to be a little hard to do at the moment. Denn is watching her like a hawk and that house is magickally locked down tight. She is helpless against it.” Jake watched the other man's nails tap against the table as he processed what Jake told him.

“This only affects her obviously. You got here okay. I have someone who can help with that. Bring me a copy of the spells he used to ward the house and I will get it taken care of. Then you can bring her to me.”

“I-I don’t know what spells he used. Hell, I still have trouble understanding the power he can yield.”

“Don’t give me that, boy. Dennison Scott writes every thing he does in his blasted journal. He is meticulous about it, always has been, and I’m sure you know exactly what I am talking about. So get it done and done fast, I’m tired of wasting my time in this Godforsaken city. It really is the gathering place for the blackest souls.”

Jake snorted. “Then it should be the perfect place for you. Besides, shouldn’t you be out trying to convert those dark people or something? You do claim to be a missionary of God on a regular basis.” He enjoyed taunting the old man. Especially here in a place like this when he was trying to maintain his ridiculous façade. Jake watched Scott’s eyes dart around the café yet again, but this time something caught his eye and he lingered on something over Jake’s shoulder.

He twisted a little to the side to see if he could get a look at what he was focusing on. A group of college coeds sat at a table not far from theirs, chatting and giggling and constantly sending not so furtive glances in their direction. They were the kind of girls who were always around town, probably from Tulane, looking for trouble in between classes. They must have recognized Scott. He may be in his fifties but he aged well, and his charisma was palpable when he turned it on.

Kind of scary when you thought about it.

“Here, give her this.” Scott slipped a tiny cell phone into the palm of his hand.

“I can’t—”

“Jake, I’m growing tired of your resistance. Do you need another motivator?”

Jake’s stomach wrenched. “No,” he seethed through clenched teeth.

Good. Then don’t forget your mission. There are consequences for betraying me, you might want to keep that in mind.” Scott stood and walked in the direction of the girls and Jake heard the outbreak of giggles as he approached them with his introduction.

He stood up and walked over to the bar, asking for his coffee and sweet to go. After paying for his food, he headed out the door without another glance behind him. He didn’t think he could stomach the adoration on those girls' faces for a man he knew to be pure evil.

Chapter Five

“Breathtaking.”

Denn stood at his study window and studied the woman in the courtyard. Raven had gone out there after breakfast this morning and paced back and forth for hours. She reminded him of a dangerous predator on the prowl. Jake had picked up some clothes for her when he went out yesterday afternoon, and she had chosen to wear black yoga pants and a thin matching black tank top. Unfortunately, the outfit showed off every delectable curve of her lush body. Denn had barely stifled his groan when he spied her coming down the stairs, and all through breakfast he shifted around desperately trying to find a comfortable location for his hard dick. Now, with the way her body tensed and moved with grace