want to do this? If we sneak in, that’s trespassing. If we knock on the door, he might not let us in.”
“He’ll let me in,” Lex said. “I could just go in and get her.”
“No,” Grace said firmly. “Not after those texts. It’s likely he’s been drinking, and I don’t trust him. Besides, he’s not going to just let you take the cat. She’s one of his bargaining chips to get under your skin. And if he’s been terrifying the cat, who knows what else he’s willing to do?”
“True,” Lex said. “But he’s not going to let you in either. He isn’t a fan.” She grimaced. “Sorry, Grace.”
Grace chuckled. “He’s not my favorite either, so we’re even. How about I go to the door to distract him? Then you guys can find a way into Lex’s old bedroom and get the cat out.”
“Not by yourself,” Hope said. “Joy? Can you help Lex with the cat while I help Grace keep him distracted?”
“Definitely.” Joy slipped her arm through Lex’s and said, “Lead on. We have a cat to rescue.”
Grace watched the two of them round the house and tried to tamp down her fear. Joy was an experienced witch and a fierce mama bear. She’d never let anything happen to Lex. She turned to Hope. “Let’s do this.”
Chapter Sixteen
Grace strode right up to the door and pressed the doorbell three times. She already knew that her sister had the most annoying door chimes in history and snickered when the clanging just kept going, seeming as if the noise were never going to end.
“What the ever-loving fu—” Charlie’s angry voice boomed from within as the door was flung open. He stopped mid-word and let out a growl when he spotted Grace. “What do you want?”
“Is my sister here?” She already knew Alyssa was at work, but she needed to start the conversation somewhere.
“No.” He started to slam the door, but Grace flung a hand out, stopping him.
“When will she be home?” Grace asked, peering at him. His eyes were bloodshot, and he reeked of stale beer and cigarettes. She wondered how long it had been since the man had seen a shower. Why was Alyssa still with him?
“How should I know?” His gaze landed on Hope, and his lips curved up into a creepy smile. “Who’s your friend, Grace? She looks like she’d be fun.”
Grace’s skin started to crawl. She was getting ready to bark out something about keeping his eyeballs to himself, but Hope jumped right in to play along.
She held her hand out. “Hope Anderson. And you are?”
“Someone who wouldn’t mind spending a little time with you,” he replied.
“Charlie, what the hell? You’re living with my sister,” Grace said, barely refraining from kneeing him in the balls. She could hardly believe that the man was flirting with Hope right in front of her.
“Your sister won’t care. In fact, I bet she’d be thrilled if your friend took care of my needs.” He raked his gaze over Hope and then licked his cracked lips. “She’s gone frigid in her old age.”
Frigid? Grace almost laughed. Alyssa was anything but frigid. More likely, she was disgusted with the do-nothing lowlife she lived with who was more trouble than he was worth.
“As flattering as that is, I actually play for the other team,” Hope lied. “Plus, my girlfriend is pretty possessive. I’m sure you know how it is.”
It was exactly the right thing to say to a sleaze like Charlie to keep his attention. His eyes nearly bugged out as he actually wiped drool from the corner of his mouth. “Is she as hot as you are?”
“She’s way better looking than me. I lucked out in that department,” Hope said cheerfully.
“Just like Lex and her hot little piece of ass. What I wouldn’t do to get in the middle of the two of them,” he said, sounding wistful in the creepiest way possible.
Grace’s stomach turned, and a snarl escaped her lips as she said, “That’s your girlfriend’s daughter you’re talking about. Have some respect.”
“I’m not related to any of them,” he said with a shrug.
Heat crawled all over Grace’s body, but she knew it wasn’t a hot flash. No, she was ready to burn the man alive with her magic. She was vibrating with the need to let her magic fly, to take him out with one electrifying bolt. The mental image of him twitching on the ground was so satisfying she felt her lips curl up into a hint of a smile.