“She said this mysterious, terrible person who hurt me so badly all those years ago has eaten me up inside.” He sighed. “And she was right. I made him my mission. I let him eat me up inside. I gave him decades of my life, and I don’t mean just the ones he took when I was in prison. I need this to be over.”

Anson looked down at the amber liquid in his glass and swirled it around. He murmured, “I would have given up everything for my wife. Our lives didn’t lead us down that road, but I would have if I’d had to.”

What was Anson trying to say? Josiah frowned and yanked himself back on course. Lately the need to do that happened all too often. “Maria’s visions have consistently led us to Atlanta, Anson. He’s here. He’s got to be.”

Anson finished his scotch. “Maria’s made mistakes before, and he’s too good at covering his tracks. If something doesn’t shake loose soon, maybe we should think about doing something to shake it.”

“Maybe,” Josiah said. “All I know is, I believe I’ve acquired an expiration date.”

“What does that mean?” Anson studied him closely. “You’re not just our coven leader. You’re also our bankroller.”

“I don’t know what it means.” He gave Anson a reassuring smile when the other man hesitated. “When I have it figured out, I’ll let you and the others know. Don’t worry, I’m not going to pull the rug out from anybody. The mission still matters.”

When the older man left, Josiah thought about eating his takeout, but he’d lost his appetite, so he went to take a hot shower. Later, when he finally dumped cold food onto his plate, his phone lit up.

The highlight of his days was texting with Molly. Smiling to himself, he checked the screen.

I found my teacher. And it’s too soon to tell for sure, but I might have found the baby’s and my new home.

Jealousy seared him. He punched her number, listened to it ring. And ring.

She finally answered. “I don’t know how I feel about this. Texting and keeping you up to date about the baby is fine, but where’s the line?”

Don’t hold a line against me! he almost roared. His body clenched. Gently, go gently now. “Don’t hold a line against me, milaya.”

“Josiah,” she whispered.

Just as she had whispered too many days before, pressing her lips against his skin. His body caught on fire. Closing his eyes, he whispered in reply, “I respect your boundaries. I am asking you to change them.”

He listened to her breathing. Don’t hang up.

She didn’t hang up.

“Tell me about your teacher,” he coaxed.