Out of Mind

Chapter 13

Willow couldn’t help admiring three of the four Fortune siblings in one place. They were striking, all tall, all dark-haired with a tanned gleam to their skin. Ben, Liam and Ethan—the brother who wasn’t there—were blue-eyed. Then there was Poppy, whose dark gaze was a knockout and made more so by the shadows her thick lashes cast.

“What’s the story, bro?” Liam asked. “I couldn’t believe it when I picked up on you here. At first I thought I was slipping, but nope, it was you. Your patterning isn’t even close to anyone else’s.”

“I intend to come home,” Ben said, “and visit everyone.”

Willow didn’t miss the emphasis on the word visit. In other words, Ben probably didn’t have plans to move from the Court of Angels as long as he was in New Orleans.

She blinked eyes that suddenly stung. The prospect of not seeing him again, for however long, tore at her. But as tempting as it was to encourage him to stay, she would have to let him go—or insist he did.

Ben was a sun in comparison to her tiny light. He had power she could always feel, strong enough to make her almost fear that strength. And already he was taking over, or trying to take over for her. She would have to find out what had happened moments before his siblings arrived. The sickly tap and slither on her neck had been more insistent this time, but there had been an instant while she stood there, watching Ben watching her, when she had imagined him gone.

Just an instant.

Gone, yet not gone, it happened so fast.

Poppy Fortune touched Willow’s arm. “You okay?”

Willow looked up at her. “Not so much right now.” She hadn’t intended to be quite so truthful, but making things up got exhausting.

“It’ll work out,” Poppy said.

This wasn’t the woman Willow remembered from two years earlier when she and Ben had broken up. Poppy hadn’t been sympathetic; in fact, she had been in the forefront, pushing Willow to end the relationship with Ben because “There’s no way you can keep on being what he needs. He’s a major psychic talent and you’re an afterthought in a psychic family. You’re not up to Ben, Willow. Let him go—for his sake if not for yours.”

Poppy’s cruel put-down replayed for Willow, word for word, but she said, “Thanks,” and nodded. In fact, she didn’t know what Poppy meant by “It’ll work out.”

“You can’t let all the stuff about these murders get to you,” Poppy said. “We know how big a part coincidence plays in everything. Obviously, you aren’t involved in anything. Look at you. Who could think you’d be capable of hurting anyone? Or anything.” Her eyes fell to Mario. “Oh, will you look at that dog, Liam! What a little angel.”

“He’s Mario,” Ben said. “And he’s a good guy.”

Mario actually showed his teeth and they all laughed.

Unfortunately, the mirth was very short-lived. “How do you know about the case—and Willow?” Ben asked. His expression was grim now.

“It’s all over the TV and papers,” Liam said. “I was glad not to read your name anywhere.”

“I don’t give a rat’s ass where you read my name.”

Ben silenced the group again. A muscle twitched at the corner of his eye. He reached for Mario, who went willingly into his arms.

“What just happened?” Poppy said. “We…well, we came this way just to see if we could run into you.” She hadn’t explained away their arrival at this exact spot and time.

“Nothing just happened,” Ben said promptly.

“But you were…” Poppy glanced upward, and Willow followed that glance up the side of the nearest building.

I was right, you did something really weird, Ben. Poppy saw it and so did I—sort of. Willow looked from sister to brother.

“You used remote imaging,” Ben said. He held Mario up and peered into his face. “And you used it inappropriately. It’s for emergencies, remember?”

“It was an emergency to me,” Poppy said quietly. “I was looking for you. Okay, let’s not argue. Have you two had breakfast?”

“I have to get to work,” Willow said, hearing the lack of civility in her voice. “But it’s nice of you to mention it.”

“It’s been too long since I had a chance to talk to you, Willow,” Poppy said. “I’ve seen you around, but…” She let the sentence trail off.

“We’re both busy,” Willow said.

Poppy’s smile looked genuine. “Another time soon, then?” She sobered. “I should have come to you a long time ago.”

Willow felt uncomfortable—and curious.

“I’ll go back by the shop with you,” Ben told her. “Then I’ll run you to your office.”

“I’ve got my scooter.”

He gave her a hard look. “I’ll run you in today, okay?”

“We were hoping you’d come back with us,” Poppy said. “We’ve got a lot of catching up to do, and Liam and I have an idea we want to run by you. Ethan, too. We could all walk Willow home, Ben. Then you could come with us.”

“Poppy—” Liam began.

“Don’t worry, sis,” Ben said, tight-lipped, but sounding pleasant enough, “You’ll probably see more of me than you want to. I’ve got to do something about getting you married off.”

Poppy’s mouth fell open. It was still open when Ben led Willow rapidly away.

Liam’s laughter followed them.