Hecate's Own: Heart's Desire, Book 2 Read Online Free PDF Page A

spell, Zach’s
disembodied voice whispered back from the keyhole. “Not by the hair of my
chinny-chin-chin.”
    “Aw crap.” She felt her feet lift from the ground and prayed
there wouldn’t be too much damage when she landed.

Chapter Three
    Jo opened her eyes to a bright white light and a hell of a
headache. That son of a bitch killed me.
    “She’s coming around.”
    She blinked as the light moved away, only to be replaced by
the concerned face of a man in a dark jacket. Behind him she could see flashing
red lights.
    “Can you tell us what happened, miss?” The paramedic grabbed
hold of her arm, preventing her from feeling the lump on the back of her head.
Traffic was blocked by the ambulance some kind soul had called.
    She wondered if morphine worked on headaches this big.
    “Miss?”
    “Slipped and fell.” She closed her eyes and hoped they’d buy
that explanation, because there was no way in hell she could tell them the
truth.
    “Sure you did.” The paramedic sounded resigned and she knew
he didn’t believe her. “We’re going to need X-rays and an MRI, make sure
there’s no serious damage.” He turned to a female paramedic. “Let’s get her
loaded.”
    It was only when they lifted the gurney that she realized
she was strapped down. She hadn’t even realized it wasn’t the paramedic holding
down her arm, it was the restraints.
    “Let’s get that IV started. Ma’am, you’re going to feel a
little pinch.”
    “No needles!” Too late. She barely beat back an unmanly
squeak of terror as the sharp, pointy object was stabbed into her unwilling
flesh.
    Darkness began to cloud her vision. Oh, Zach. When I
catch up with you, you are so dead.
     
     
    Zach picked up a rental car and GPS system at the
Philadelphia Airport and headed straight for Annabelle’s. He was exhausted; it
had taken him all night to get his shit together, arrange the flight and rental
car and head out. He’d spent a good portion of it sitting in the airport. For
some reason he’d had no desire to remain a minute more than necessary in the
townhouse the Prince had rented for him.
    If he had his way he’d never go back to it. The place was
cold and unwelcoming, and Zach was sick of it. He’d go back to Pittsburgh and
his own home soon, but for now he wanted to talk to Annabelle and meet with his
brothers.
    Luckily it wasn’t far from Philly International to
Annabelle’s, just a half-an-hour drive on I-95. He hoped Annabelle would let
him rest once he got to her place, but he knew it was probably a futile hope.
She’d want to know why he was on her doorstep, but it was the first place he
could think of to go. He needed her advice, especially since she was the one
who insisted he head to court in the first place.
    He was just starting across the Girard Point Bridge when his
attention was caught by a small island in the Schuylkill River. It was a small
one, with what looked like the remnants of lots of trees. It was completely
dark. At first he thought it had been in some sort of fire, since the
surrounding islands looked green and inviting. Slowing down, he quickly
realized that the island wasn’t burned, just…dark.
    It was a bright, sunny day. So why was the island in such
deep shadow? Zach shivered, but the honking of a car behind him took his
attention off the island. When he checked it again in his rearview mirror,
everything looked fine. The trees were green, and the island looked completely
normal.
    “Maybe it was a passing cloud.” He turned up the music,
blasting Rob Zombie, and tried to ignore the weird feeling coursing through
him. The sensation gradually left him, but the memory didn’t.
    Maybe he should check it out while he was in the area. It
seemed wrong somehow.
    Zach shook off the thought and pulled onto Annabelle’s
street. For once luck was with him and he quickly found a parking spot. He got
out of the car and walked to her house, eager to see her again. Annabelle knew
how to make someone feel at