Sacred Circle Read Online Free Page A

We’re talking about you walking back into the lion’s den when you’ve vowed to never go into the den again. Bad blood doesn’t dissipate over the years, you know; sometimes it just hibernates.”
    Brianna began chewing on her lower lip, her eyes darkening with pain.
    “I have to go home, Tommy, and that’s that.”
    He didn’t offer any other comment aloud, but she saw him frown. She looked away, clamping her lips to imprison a sob. The past was the past, and though she needed it to stay dead, she couldn’t sit and wait for word of her mother’s death. She felt ice spreading through her stomach at the thought, and she suddenly burst into tears.
    Alarmed, Tommy sprang to his feet and circled the desk. He threw his arm over her shoulders, comforting her with his warm embrace and sly wit.
    “Here now, blue eyes, forget what I said. If you have to go home, I’ll support you. I’ll even find one of those magical books of yours and conjure up a spell for you to use.” He squeezed her shoulders, and Brianna slipped her arms about his waist and hugged him.
    “You’re the best, Tommy. I knew you’d understand.” She brushed her cheeks against his belt buckle. “If I don’t go, and Mother dies, I’ll never forgive myself.”
    “And if they slam the gates in your face?”
    “I’ll lose my soul.”
    “What’s one little soul among many?” Tommy teased, shaking her shoulder.
    Brianna squeezed his waist.
    “You are treading on sacred ground with that statement, Tommy. Every soul counts in the scheme of things.”
    “Even your damaged one?”
    “God, I hope so,” she said, slipping her hands from Tommy’s waist. She leaned back in her chair, swiping her drenched cheeks with a tissue. “All better now,” she said, tossing it under her desk. A long sigh emanated as Tommy re-circled the desk and fell into his chair again. His sly wit re-surfaced at once.
    “I know we’ve bantered about witches and warlocks over the years, but just how good of a witch are you, anyway?”
    Brianna’s head shot up, a mischievous glint entering her eyes.
    “Change the subject, Tommy, or you’ll find out first-hand just how good I am.”
    He held up his hands, making a cross with his fingers.
    “Stay back, you evil, blue-eyed vixen.”
    Brianna laughed at his sarcasm.
    “Crisis averted,” she croaked.
    “And without using black magic against me.” He gave her a toothy grin, dropped his hands, and hopped from his chair. He hauled up his briefcase, rapping it on the edge of her desk before turning.
    “Just say the word, and I’ll fly home with you, Brianna.”
    She studied his serious expression.
    “This is something I have to do alone, Tommy. And,” she pointed a finger at him. “You need to find a buyer for the company ASAP.”
    He nodded, then turned from the desk, and exited the door. Watching him go, Brianna gave a relieved sigh. Thank goodness, Tommy knew when to push, and when to back off. If he had pushed things, she would’ve come unglued, for sure.
    Torn by an influx of conflicting emotions, Brianna began drumming her fingers along the desktop. What had really happened to her mother in the circle? She didn’t know; she only hoped that when she arrived in Green Sapphire, she’d find that the Elders had misread the signs, and things weren’t as bad as her father implied. Her mind replayed Tommy’s words: “And if they slam the gates in your face?” She frowned immediately. If, when she arrived, she was barred from the property, she would work her way south along the back roadway, and enter the compound through the outer property bounds. She was going to determine for herself what happened to her mother, and nothing and no one was going to stop her. No one was going to hurt her mother and get away with it.

CHAPTER TWO
PRESENT DAY—DALLAS, TEXAS
    The “ Do Not Disturb ” sign hanging on the doorknob came loose and flew away as the door slammed open, and Jake Rogers, Devlin’s partner, strode to his