an organized crime syndicate. Our adversary is the head of a prominent Russian crime family.”
Maria looked down at her clasped hands. She murmured, “I keep going over and over everything. He might never have been here until the night of the battle. What I was picking up might have been family members the whole time, but we kept looking for an individual.”
Josiah reached across the table to cover her hands. “I remember it differently. We kept looking until we found him.”
When she looked up, tears glittered in her eyes. “I was so sure.”
“You weren’t wrong,” Anson said gently. “We just didn’t have the whole picture.”
Sitting back, Josiah clasped Molly’s fingers and held her hand against his thigh. He drank some coffee, relishing the rich black brew.
“I’m out,” he said. “Officially, as of right now. We all knew this was coming. As long as Molly agrees with it, I’ll keep funding the coven’s efforts. I’ll be glad to strategize with any or all of you, and I would like to provide shelter if any of you need it. But I will not actively choose to go into battle again.”
Molly’s grip tightened, and a sigh went through the group.
“He may not let you just walk away now that we’ve played our hand,” Anson said. “But yes, we all knew this was coming, and it’s about time it did. You’ve done enough.”
“I’ll do whatever I have to, to protect my family, but I won’t initiate anything.” He shook his head as he replayed his memory of what had happened. “He was right there. I almost had him.”
After a moment, Molly stirred. “I have another suggestion. I’ve been talking with Sarah, the leader of the coven where I now live. A long time ago, she created Everwood as a kind of sanctuary for people who needed one. She has authorized me to offer each of you up to a year’s probation. You may come and live in Everwood to rest and recover while you decide what you’re going to do next—because taking on a large, powerful crime syndicate is a hell of a thing, and you’ll want to consider carefully how you choose to move forward. If this appeals, there would be ground rules you’d need to follow.”
Maria stirred. “That’s very generous of her to invite so many of us. What are the rules?”
Molly smiled. “They’re pretty simple. You don’t bring this fight to Everwood. Not ever. There’s a lot of vulnerable people in that town, and it must remain a protected space. Also, like every other coven member, you would tithe ten percent of your energy and finances to the coven while you’re there. Then you would get to enjoy the community resources along with everybody else. Exceptions are made for those who can’t afford to tithe. While you can discuss whatever you like, wherever you like, you don’t actively practice your coven’s mission in Everwood’s space, and at the end of the year you either need to leave or you need to join Everwood for real.” She made an apologetic face at Josiah. “You’d be under a year’s probation too.”
“Fair enough. Every coven has something similar in their bylaws.” He raised her hand to kiss her fingers. “I accept.”
As the others talked over the opportunity, Molly tugged Josiah’s hand. He rose with her and walked outside to a warm, sunny summer afternoon. Breathing deep, he lifted his face to the sunshine. When he looked at her, she was waiting patiently for his attention, her expression sober.
His simple enjoyment of the summer day faded. Eyes narrowing, he asked, “What is it?”
Her jaw tightened. “I have to go back. I was only waiting for you to wake up so we could talk before I left.”
“Why do you have to leave now?” he demanded, pulling her against him. “You were so insistent about getting here.”
“Well, for one thing, you’re alive,” she pointed out as she nestled against him. “That’s the most important thing. Also, I’ve been busy while you’ve been down. Steven and Henry helped me transfer the contents of my checking account to an offshore one that Steven swears is secure. And the dynamic shifted when the police discovered the magical sabotage in the toiletries. After talking with Frank and Rubio for some time on the phone, I’ve developed a… shall we say… cautious rapport with them. I created an email account dedicated to keeping in touch, and I’ve promised to return if they need me to testify.”
“I see,” he said grimly.
She looked baffled