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But as she looked around at the destruction that surrounded her, she knew that their work was far from over. The city was in chaos, and they needed to do everything they could to help those who were in need.
Layla turned to the firefighter and took his hand. “Thank you for saving me,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
He looked at her with a small smile, his eyes filled with affection. “I’ll always be here to protect you,” he said, squeezing her hand gently.
Layla felt a warm rush of emotions as she looked into his eyes. She knew that they had both been through a lot, but she also knew that they had each other. And that was all that mattered.
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting an eerie glow on the deserted streets as Layla and the others made their way to a local Tex Mex restaurant. The wind had ceased its mournful whispers for now, giving Layla a brief reprieve from her visions. As they entered the dimly lit establishment, the delicious scent of spices filled the air.
“Table for five, please,” Max said, his voice full of authority even in casual situations. The hostess led them to a comfortable booth in the back, the soft flickering candlelight dancing across their faces.
“Can I start you off with some queso?” the waiter asked, a warm smile on his face.
“Absolutely!” Fiona exclaimed, her eyes lighting up at the mention of her favorite dip in the whole world. “I can’t resist a good queso.”
“Make that two orders,” Jake added, winking at Layla. She felt her heart flutter at his playful expression, yet couldn’t help but worry about the task at hand.
“Thanks, Jake,” she murmured, offering him a small smile.
“Anything for you,” he replied softly, his gaze locked onto hers.
As the group engaged in lighthearted conversation, laughing and sharing stories, Layla glanced around the table. Bella, her eyes glowing with the power of the moon, leaned in close to whisper something in Fiona’s ear, making her giggle. Max listened intently, occasionally interjecting with a comment or a chuckle, his strong arm wrapped protectively around Fiona’s shoulders.
Layla couldn’t shake the feeling of unease coiled in the pit of her stomach. How could they banish Charles Harrington’s malevolent spirit? And what would it mean for her relationship with Jake?
Looking around at her friends, she felt confident they could banish Charles. No matter how much he had scared them all a short while before.
As they enjoyed their meal, the conversation flowed easily, laughter filling the air. For a few precious hours, they were just friends enjoying a night out—no ghosts or curses to haunt them.
But as the evening wound down, Layla couldn’t help but feel the weight of their task settling back onto her shoulders. She knew that soon they would have to face the challenge head-on, and she could only hope that their love and friendship would be enough to see them through.
“Are you ready to go?” Jake asked, sensing her shift in mood.
“Yeah,” she murmured, forcing a smile. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Seventeen
