Read Tied Bond (Holly Woods Files, #4) for Free Online

yells.
    I catch her smile before she walks out the door.

T here’s a devil on my doorstep.
    Actually, there’s a box of devils on my doorstep.
    And Lucifer’s head is poking out of the top.
    I rub my eyes and stare hopelessly at the box. I know exactly what this means. Nonna woke up extra early just to remove every demon or devil decoration outside the Bond family home. I don’t even need to look in the box to see that they’re there. I just know they are.
    “What the...” Drake pokes his head over my shoulder. “Is that Lucifer?”
    Slowly, I nod, my lips flattening into a grim line. “If you open the box, you’ll probably find Asmodeus, Beezlebub, plus all of their buddies.”
    “I’m not even going to question that,” he says—wisely. “Why are they here?”
    “Nonna has taken matters into her own—never mind.”
    Mom’s car comes speeding down the street, and I turn my head. Drake’s eyebrows shoot up so high that they’re almost going into orbit, but he doesn’t say anything as Mom parks at the end of my driveway, tires squealing against the asphalt.
    “Where are they?” she yells, slamming her car door. “What’s the crazy bat done with them?”
    I point down at the box in front of me.
    “Kellie, were you just speeding?” Drake asks.
    “Oh, bite me,” Mom snaps. “It’s not my driving you should be worried about. It’s whether or not Liliana Bond will be alive by dinner tonight!”
    From anyone else, that’d be a legit threat. From Mom though? Same shit, different day.
    “That’s a little drastic,” Drake offers. “Do you want coffee?”
    “No, I do not want coffee. Unless it’s laced with arsenic and being given to my mother-in-law!”
    “Mom, maybe you should calm down,” I try.
    “Calm down?” Mom responds shrilly. “Do you know what that woman has done, Noelle? Do you know how far she’s gone?”
    “No, but I’m pretty sure you’re about to tell me.”
    She points her finger at me and waggles it around. “Garlic hung over every doorway and window. Crosses erected in every room. The Lord’s Prayer cross-stitched and hung above the fireplace. Every horror movie disc snapped in two. And the best? The best? Holy water in my coffee machine to ‘wash-a out-a the-a devil-a eating-a my-a soul-a!’ Well, the joke’s on her, because I live with the devil and she already ate my goddamn soul! I love God, but He is going to have to reserve me a bucketload of forgiveness, because so help me, I am at my wits’ end with this dang woman!”
    Drake breaks out into a coughing fit behind me.
    “Drake Nash, I hope you’re not laughing!”
    “No, ma’am. Tickle in my throat,” he rasps, beating his fist against his chest.
    I roll my eyes. Liar. The holy-water-in-the-coffee-machine thing is kinda funny.
    “What has Dad said?”
    “He locked away his guns and changed the combination on the safe,” Mom grumbles.
    “Smart man,” Drake says under his breath, turning away and walking into the kitchen. “I don’t think I should listen to this any further.”
    I’m glad he has the option to walk away. Lucky bastard.
    “Mom, I don’t know what to tell you. She’s still shaken up after what happened in the summer. Why can’t you just put away the demons for this year?”
    “Because she’s like a dang child, Noelle. Habits are learned, and the second I give in to her, she’s going to expect it all the time.”
    “But you’re driving me insane and Halloween isn’t for another three days.”
    Oh, shit.
    Halloween is in three days.
    “Uh-oh. Amelia’s bachelorette party is in three days.”
    “Oh, no,” Mom whispers, her hand flying to her chest. “Why didn’t you notice?”
    “Me?” I cry, turning and walking back into my house. “Mother, I run a hectic business! Why didn’t you notice and tell me?”
    “Tell who what?” Drake holds a cup of coffee out toward Mom.
    She takes it. “This smart cookie booked Amelia’s bachelorette party on Halloween!”
    “At