Westerham Witches and a Venetian Vendetta by Dionne Lister (top rated books of all time TXT) 📕

to lie on my back. Mum rose from the chair at the small table and came and sat next to me, the mattress dipping slightly. For some strange reason, we were still in the hotel in Venice. “Yep, I’m awake and blessedly pain-free.”

She smiled, her eyes glistening with what I figured were tears. She bent, wrapped her arms around me, and squeezed tightly. “We were beside ourselves with worry when you disappeared. I would’ve died if we didn’t get you back.” She sat up and looked down into my eyes. “How are you?”

“Tired.”

“Beren healed you at that place. That young man, Francesco, he came and got us. Thank God he’s a decent person. His grandmother… what a witch.”

“There’s stronger language I could use.”

“Yes, I’m sure there is. Anyway, he came and got us. Will forced Isabella to dismantle that spell on the house, and then Beren healed you. You were so burnt that no one wanted to move you. Beren insisted he heal you first.”

“What about Angelica? Is she okay?”

Mum shook her head and growled. “That evil cowpat almost killed her with all those sedatives, but she’ll be okay. She’s in bed, resting.”

“Why are we still here?”

“Will thought you might want to have better memories to take home, and we’re still supposed to be vacationing, so we agreed it shouldn’t stop us from trying to enjoy the rest of our holiday… that is, if you’re still up to it.”

I wasn’t sure if I was, but I smiled anyway because I didn’t want to disappoint Mum. “I sure am. I wanted to go on a gondola, and we haven’t been to the Rialto Bridge yet either.” Maybe if I tried hard enough, I’d convince myself?

Mum chuckled. “You always were good at bouncing back.”

The door opened, and Will walked in. He halted halfway into the room, his hand still on the door, and a grin spread across his face when he saw me. He quickly shut the door and sat next to me on the other side of the bed. He kissed my forehead, lingering there for a moment before sitting up again. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine. Just the usual tiredness.”

“Can you lie on your side so I can take a look at the back of your neck?”

That was one of the spots the snake had been touching. I did as asked. He knelt on the bed, his knees resting against my back. His fingers brushed my hair away. After a moment, he moved back and pulled my arm gently as an okay to lie on my back again. “There’s only a bit of pink where it’s healed. There’s not going to be any scarring. Beren’s a miracle worker.”

“You’ll get no argument from me.” We were lucky to have him.

There was a knock on the door. “Come in,” said Will.

Imani walked in, followed by Sarah and Lavender. “She’s awake!” Imani grinned and stood at the foot of the bed, shuffling over so everyone could fit into the room.

“I am, and I’m fine. No pain.”

Sarah pushed Will out of the way and leaned on the bed to give me a hug before standing next to the bed. “You had us so worried.”

“I know. Sorry. And it wasn’t even my fault this time.”

Lavender snorted. He knew me so well.

“When Will and I got back from our evidence-gathering expedition, Isabella invited me for a drink and food. Francesco ended up joining us, and I think he almost spilled their secrets. She smashed me in the head and sent me to that house. When I came to, I went looking for Angelica, but then Isabella came back, and there was a spell on the house, so I couldn’t use magic. It was a disaster.”

“Well, love, we’re just lucky that Francesco is a good person, or this would have had a terrible ending. He told the PIB that he didn’t want to betray his grandmother—they were very close. But when he was about to step through his doorway, he realised he couldn’t live with himself if she killed you. It was a struggle for him, but he made the right decision in the end.”

“Thank God. He must’ve been so torn. Confess and have your grandmother, who practically brought you up, thrown in jail, or let her kill someone you don’t know. It would have been difficult.” It took some strength to stand up to her, considering he knew she was capable of murder not to mention, he loved her.

“Oh, and thanks for the clue you sent.” Will raised one brow.

My forehead tightened. What was he— “Oh, that’s right. I had concussion, and I vomited. I wanted you to know I was still alive, plus I needed to send it somewhere. It was stinking out the room. I thought here was as good a place as any.” I grinned and sat up. Talking to everyone whilst lying down was just weird. “So, did Elena get cleared?”

“Yes,” said Will. “Agent Tondato arrested Isabella. Lorenzo is also off the hook.”

“So us getting those awkward photos was a waste of time.”

“Yep. But it was worth it to see you blush.”

“Oh, those photos.” Lavender laughed. “You’re such a perv, Lily.”

My mouth dropped open. “I am not! I didn’t ask for that to show up. Sheesh.”

My mother grinned. “He’s just having a lend.”

Lavender scrunched his forehead. “A what?”

Mum chuckled. “Ah, that’s right. You lot don’t have that saying here. It means you were joking.”

He smiled, then smirked. “Ah, right. So, were you having a lend last night when you said you didn’t remember your daughter being into porn?”

My mother blushed. “I did no—” She must’ve realised he was kidding.

I grinned. “Don’t worry, Mum. He’s just having a lend.” Everyone laughed. God, it was good to be enjoying a joke with this lot, even if I was the butt of it. I yawned.

Imani smiled at me. “Oh, looks like Lily needs her beauty sleep.”

Mum gave me a kiss on the forehead and stood. “We’ll leave you to it. We’ve got the gondolas booked