Page 60 of Haunted Hearts

“I’ll need a day or so to prepare. I still need a map, and numbers. If they stay there, we’ll at least be ready.”

“I’ll send over the blueprints and camera feeds, I should have them to you by the time you’re ready to travel. You should take baby sister into hiding, she’s the one they’re after.”

“That’s already been done…” I sigh.

“I’ll get back to you when I know more. Is Gen with you?”

“Yeah.” When I hand her the phone, Gen’s small hand reaches out and takes it, the motion almost timid.

Her face softens, the corner of her mouth lifting into a smile.

“I love you too,” she says in a small voice. Then Gen hands me my phone and looks up at me, worried.

I guess it’s time.

“Our location may be compromised. I’m going to tell Calli to stay away for a bit while we make a plan.”

She quirks a brow.

“Shut up,” I say, knowing the ironic contradiction from our earlier conversation.

“Everything happens for a reason, that’s all I’m saying.” She puts her hands in the pockets of her sweater. “So, what’s our next move?”

“I’ll need your shield, and we have to wait to receive their location. But if we plan this right, by the time their best hunters are here—my blade will be slicing through Rosa’s throat.”

“A bit grim, don’t you think?”

I look down at her. “After what the Covenant has done, what they did to me—and plan to do with Calli? Rosa is lucky that’s all I have planned.”

“Fair point.”

The door swings open and Jack comes outside, pulling out a cigarette as he walks slowly over to us.

“I found her; they checked into a hotel about a half hour away. I texted you the number,” he says, sparks flying as he lights the cigarette and inhales.

“You and I need to have a talk.”

“About?” he asks, confused.

“They have a team of hunters on the move.”

Jack’s eyes widen. “How? No, that’s not possible. My system is rock-solid.”

“So there has been nothing suspicious?”

“No fucking way, not how I run my shit.”

“The man with the golden eyes.” Gen speaks up as if having a realization.

Jack and I look to her. “What about him?” I ask.

“I was the only magic user they had. But the guy Ben mentioned. He no doubt has the capacity to use tracking spells. But they would need a personal item of yours. Even a strand of hair would work.” She looks up at me.

“But that would mean they would be tracking Cade, not Calli. They could have easily gotten a hair from him when…” Jack trails off. But he’s right. “So, if they are using magic, how the hell are you going to get to Rosa without them knowing?”

“Illusion magic, like the kind I used before,” Gen says. “I can use your pendulum, Cade.” She stalls.

I grip the pendulum tightly, looking down at it. “No. Is there anything else you can use?”