Read Repossessed for Free Online Page B

salt-and-pepper-colored dog. “I got her. Go get the dog.”
    She turned around to see the schnauzer sniffing among the cars parked along the street. The royal blue leash was easy to spot as it plopped along the ground. The small dog darted from one interesting smell to another.
    “Here, boy. C’mere, sweetie.” The dog edged closer to the street.
    “Stop!” As Tessa clamored toward the dog, it took two steps closer to the curb. She froze, watching as cars zoomed by, hoping and praying the little dog stayed put. She inched closer. Without many options, a compulsion spell seemed like the best option. The magic gathered in her mouth first, forming into an airy bite of cinnamon on her tongue as she spoke. “Calm down. No one will hurt you. How about you come here?” The dog’s ears perked up. About time her last-minute spell casting showed some promise.
    Something bumped her back. Her head whipped around to see two humans closing in like a zombie horde. Smoke and booze lingered on their breath. The range of her spell went a bit too far. A couple dressed for a night of clubbing stared at her with glazed eyes. They stood shoulder-to-shoulder with their faces about a foot from hers.
    Now that didn’t go as planned.
    “Everything’s fine. Head on home,” she managed.
    From behind them on the sidewalk, the smiling elderly lady called her dog. Ignoring Tessa, and her kind efforts, he went obediently to his owner. Rob frowned. As the human couple marched to the west, he glanced at them, then turned to her.
    Ugh! There was no way he was going to let her follow him on the job if she acted like this.
    “Where are we going?”
    “East River. Where no one will see when I drop kick you in.”
    She crossed her arms and turned away from him. As far as impressions go she didn’t set the finest example, but he could cut her a break.
    They jumped into a cab. “982 River Road—Roosevelt Island.” Rob instructed the driver.
    After a forty minute-ride to the Roosevelt Island Bridge, they reached the island. She’d never visited the area before and was pleasantly surprised by the beautiful apartment buildings along the main street. In the distance, the lights from the bridge cast a bright glow on the river.
    Once they reached their destination on River Street—a brick multi-level residence--Rob paid the driver.
    A tingle of power cascaded down the walls. One that Tessa has encountered before. A distant relative, who somehow avoided Grandma’s wrath since she’d lost her mind in a game of cards during the Spanish Inquisition, hid herself away in farmhouse about fifty miles outside of Chicago. She wanted no intruders so she used magic to keep the curious away. Another powerful witch used a warding spell to protect this home, but this one was for warlocks only. Tessa confidently walked forward as Rob took a step back to the curb.
    “You coming?” she teased.
    “Yeah.” Rob retrieved his trusty peacock feather and mumbled an incantation to counteract the ward spell. Power radiated from him as his first steps scraped against the sidewalk, but eventually he crossed the threshold. Quite a handy little trick he had there. Inside the lobby, a young Indian woman sat behind the concierge desk. She peeked up from her book. “Can I help you?”
    “We’re friends of Madame Tuliere.”
    The young woman checked her notes on the desk. “Mrs. Tuliere is away on business—”
    Rob leaned against the counter and fixed his gaze on her. His compulsion magic bathed the counter in white. “Mrs. Tuliere has left something behind for me. You’ll let us pass to retrieve it .”
    The woman blinked. “Of course, Sir,” she blurted. “Feel free to call down to the main desk if you need assistance.”
    “Thank you.” Rob left a ten on the counter and headed for the elevators against the back wall and clicked the up button.
    “Are we breaking and entering again?” Tessa mumbled under her breath. As well as coercing people without their