Hallow Be the Haunt (Krewe of Hunters #22.5)(15)

“We actually came to plan the wedding, Sammy. You’ll be invited.”

“At Donegal Plantation?”

“Yep.”

“Ah, man, I’ll be there.”

Sammy waved and continued on his way. Jake hurried to the car, pulling out his phone as he went. A feeling of fear registered in his gut and he suddenly wished he hadn’t urged Ashley to come into the city.

It made no sense. One victim, sweet, talented, and beloved. Another, a dangerous hood.

Ashley was bright, smart as a whip. Through the years, when she’d been in meetings or just working with some of the agents one on one, she’d had an insight the rest of them hadn’t fathomed.

She’d be fine. She was smart. She was prepared.

But he began to worry. She’d also had a dream, a nightmare. It was being back at Donegal.

Memories were popping up.

They’d visited Donegal before. But this was…

He dialed her number.

“Hey, Jake,” Ashley answered with her normal enthusiasm. He decided to bury his fears. For now.

“Antoine’s? That’s romantic, right?” It took everything in him not to beg her to stay at the plantation.

“Antoine’s would be great. See you there.”

He heard the background noise and realized she must already be in the Quarter. “Where are you?”

“Just leaving Fifi Mahony’s. I ordered some new wigs for the next re-enactment and met up with some old friends.”

“Nice. Okay. Well, the streets are a little crazy.”

“A little? Yes. Actually, the streets are always a little crazy.”

“Crazier.”

“I’m fine, Jake. See you there.”

Ashley rang off.

She was fine, Jake told himself.

Witches…

Like Sammy had said, the witches just might not be out. They knew they’d been seen.

Which just meant that they’d be dressed up as something else. And he wanted to stay in the city to see what he could see.

It was a big city. If there were witches about…

They might plan on attending a big party.





Ashley loved a number of the restaurants in the French Quarter and surrounding area, but Antoine’s had always been a favorite. Her parents had brought her here when she’d been a child after she’d seen the movie Dinner at Antoine’s. The memory was a good one, and coming back always reminded her of them in the best way.

She sat at the bar with a soda while she waited for Jake. It seemed as if she shouldn’t imbibe, but she wasn’t sure why. Except that she didn’t want any dreams or visions that weren’t…

Real?

Fueled by alcohol?

She pulled out her phone to check the news—and to see if she could discover what the whole thing about witches was.

The first thing to pop up on her screen quickly told her.

She read about the murder of the young artist Shelley Broussard, and then about the man who had seen his friend—a man with a record—murdered by witches.

It wasn’t that New Orleans was crime-free. It was a big city and had never been immune to violence. But she hated to see what had happened. Hated that a beautiful young woman had been murdered.

Hated that it had happened around Halloween.

And by witches.

“This seat taken?”

She turned and smiled. Jake was there, looking exceptionally handsome in a casual jacket and trousers. No tie, shirt slightly open. He was very tall—six-four—and his shoulders were nicely broad, but he could appear almost lean. His hair was at a rakish angle over his forehead.

“I’ll make room for you, sir,” she said.

“Soda?”

“Yes. With lime. Makes it fancy.”

He ordered for them both and took her hand, twining their fingers. “Should be champagne.”

“Not tonight.”

“No, not tonight,” he agreed. “But, I promise…”

She heard the guilt in his voice and tightened her grip, willing him to understand. “Jake, it’s all right. I promise. This isn’t just what you do—it’s who you are. And, I’m proud of that.”

“You’re doing okay, right?”

“Of course. Oh, because I was dreaming.”

“I really don’t like what’s going on.”

“With me—or the murdered girl and the slashed hood?”

“All of the above,” he sighed. “But for now, let’s focus on dinner.”

“What did you do? You think these are associated? Tell me—”

“After.” He brushed her lips with his. “Let’s have an almost romantic dinner first.”

The ma?tre’d showed them to their table. Ashley loved the sense of history at Antoine’s. And the food was amazing too.

Once they were seated and had ordered, Jake smiled. “Wedding plans. How are they going?”

“The space is all cleared out for the wedding. We have plenty of room—luckily, a lot of our friends come as couples, so doubling them up won’t be a problem. No rooms are rented out for the weeks before and after. Oh, and you know how the main hall has the winding staircases on either side? I’ll come down the left with Frazier. He’s so excited. We’ll be married at the base of the stairs, and then take the reception out to the grounds. It really should be beautiful. Actually, whatever we do will be beautiful. You know, I’d be fine with a justice of the peace.”