Angus Read online

  Fletcher was correct, but Angus wasn’t in the mood to deal with watching the siblings argue. Again.

  “You think there is something that needs to be done? Something by one of us?” he asked.

  Phoebe’s grave expression didn’t change as she nodded. “I believe, from what I read, that all of you will be tested. I had thought at first it might just mean the clan would be tested, but this passage made me think it might be something each one of you will have to face.”

  She held up a piece of paper. Angus retrieved it.

  The one who questions everything will be the one who must find the green stone of fire. With the Witch by his side, he will succeed if he believes the answer.

  Something cold crossed over him, filled his blood, and chilled him from the inside out.

  “Angus?” Logan asked. He took the piece of paper out of Angus’ hand and read it out loud.

  “You’re the one who questions everything, Angus.” Phoebe’s voice was quiet, but it didn’t make any less of an impact than if she had yelled the words at him.

  “I don’t have a witch though.”

  Logan made a noise, but said nothing when Angus shot him a warning look.

  “And we’re going over all of this…why?” he asked, trying his best not to let the rest of the clan know how shaken he was.

  “We’ve found O’Connor’s widow. It wasna easy, let me tell you. When he was killed, she disappeared off the earth.”

  “Or so it seemed. With some outside help, we found her, in New York.”

  “Who is she working with now?” Anice asked. When everyone turned to look at her, she shrugged. “If it was a two-person team before, it seems that she would hook up with someone else, right?”

  “As far as we can tell, she hasn’t picked up with anyone new. In fact, she changed her name and is working in a pub there.”

  When Phoebe handed over the picture, Angus let a breath he hadn’t known he was holding release. This woman had dark hair, black, and her eyes were mud brown. There were similarities to the one he dreamed about, but they were common traits among people of Irish descent.

  “So, you call her, offer her a lot of money and get her over here.”

  Again the couple shared a glance.

  “Bloody hell, out with it.”

  Everyone looked at him surprised…except for Logan.

  “It isn’t that simple. She’s under an assumed name.”

  “And?”

  “We need you to go get her. This is your quest, you need to be in charge of it from the beginning.”

  “Then I say Fletcher can go get her.”

  “Not my type, cuz. She’s kind of dowdy.”

  Anger swelled out of nowhere and it was directed at his cousin. “We aren’t trying to get you laid. It’s a job.”

  “And it’s now yours.” The finality of Callum’s tone told him everything he needed to know. There would be no getting out of this.

  * * * *

  When they were alone, Callum finally gave into the need to touch Phoebe. He pulled her onto his lap. She settled there, nuzzling his neck.

  It calmed the worry in his heart…but not his head.

  “You’re worried about Angus.”

  Not a question, but Phoebe knew him better than anyone. He gently pulled her back and looked at her. A year earlier, he would have never thought it possible to find the woman he needed in a nerdy professor with a horrible English accent. But, she was now his life.

  “Aye. There’s something going on with him.”

  He wanted her to refute it, but she nodded. “I sensed it too. There’s something about this quest he’s not telling us.”

  It oddly calmed him that she keened it too. “Are you positive it’s him? He’s the one who needs to go?”

  “Who else questions everything?”

  He sighed. “I know. And now I sound like an old woman worrying about the kiddies.”

  She laughed and it danced through him and calmed his soul. “No one would ever mistake Callum McLennan for a little old lady.”

  He heard the deepening of her voice. It brushed along his nerve endings. “Is that so?”

  She smiled and lifted up off him so she could straddle his lap. “In fact, I have definite proof that you are very much male.”

  * * * *

  Angus had just shoved a pair of rolled up socks into his duffle back when he sensed a movement behind him. He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

  “What do you want, Logan?”

  His brother didn’t question his ability to know that it was he. After two centuries, it was easy to know each other’s movements.

  “You’ve got to take this seriously, Angus.”

  He glanced over his shoulder and inwardly sighed. His younger brother was being a little too serious for him.

  “I’ve taken it seriously from the beginning. I’m the one who found the diary, found the quest we need to take.”

  But why did it have to be him….and with a witch?

  “You don’t remember the witch’s remarks.”

  “Of course I remember them. It was the last time…” It was the last bit of their adolescence. A week later the Battle of Culloden had changed their lives forever.

  “Just know I remember.”

  “And the witch. Maybe she’s the one.”

  “First, we don’t know she’s a witch. Secondly, I don’t believe in the one. If I did, I definitely would think the universe would consider a witch the wrong match for me.”

  Logan opened his mouth but Angus shook his head. “I’ve got to get out to the airport before they ground the jet.”

  The sooner he got to New York, the faster this would be all over.

  Chapter Two

  Less than forty-eight hours later, Angus found himself sitting in a pub watching Maggie O’Conner work. She looked just like her pictures, with dark hair and dark eyes. She was also probably one of the tiniest women he had ever seen. She wasn’t small in height, probably more average, but she just seemed…delicate.

  It had been two hours since he’d stashed his bags at his hotel then found his way to her pub. He was damned tired and not in the mood to be charming. Approaching her in this mood wouldn’t prove useful for anyone, but he didn’t think he was going to have a choice in the matter. Something told him he didn’t have much time before she disappeared again.

  His mobile buzzed in his pocket and he knew without looking who it was.

  He pulled it out and answered. “Good afternoon to you, Callum.”

  “Have you spoken with her yet?”

  Angus rolled his eyes, thankful his cousin wasn’t there to see it. Since they had discovered a way out of their nightmare, Callum had become unbearable—even more than he had been before. But, truthfully, Angus was happy for the reason.

  “No. She’s at work.”

  “What the bloody hell are you waiting for?”

  He smiled at the question. It was so typical of Callum.

  “She’s busy with customers.”

  Which wasn’t exactly true. Most of the lunch crowd was gone, but he found himself watching, entranced by the way she worked the room. He had expected someone flashier. It was as if she had dimmed her light to hide it. But then, there was still something about her. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but it tugged at something deep within him. A part of him hoped he would never find out.

  “Get over there and ask her out or something.”

  Then he heard the phone being jostled.

  “Angus?” Phoebe asked.

  “Hullo, love,” he said genuinely happy to be speaking with his cousin’s new wife.

  “I take it she’s waiting tables right now? I say you get a table at her station.”

  Which made sense, but Angus hesitated. Something told him that this wasn’t going to be as easy as everyone thought possible. Being anonymous in New York was usually easy, but he was getting looks. Why, he had no idea, but he felt something brush against his neck every now and
then telling him someone was watching him.

  But, he knew part of it was the woman.

  For the first time in years, he found himself intrigued by a woman. Beyond intrigued. In their situation that wasn’t a good thing. Still, he had a duty to his family and he hadn’t wanted Fletcher going in his place. His cousin would make sure the witch returned with him, but not before talking her into bed.

  “That sounds like a plan.”

  She sighed. “Good. Don’t worry. You’ll convince her.”

  He heard the deep voice of his cousin in the background and her stern reply. “Callum McLennan, behave yourself.”

  “Why don’t you leave him and run away with me, Phoebe? A businessman like that cannot appreciate a fine scientific mind like yours.”

  She laughed. “It’s because he doesn’t appreciate it that I like him. Be careful.”

  “Sure. Give my love to the family.”

  He clicked off the phone. He wasn’t in the mood to talk to Callum again. It would just make Angus nervous about what he had to do. He had never been good with intrigue and lies. That had always been Callum’s department. Well, and Fletcher’s. They were both good at deceiving, especially the opposite sex.

  Straight forward. That was the only way around this. He pushed away from the wall and found a seat in what he knew to be her station. She hurried over, a distracted smile on her face and those damned gorgeous green eyes sparkling. She wasn’t looking directly at him and he found he didn’t like that. Angus wanted—craved—that she acknowledge him directly. It was odd to have this reaction to a stranger.

  Then, he realized she was asking him a question.

  “Excuse me, I didn’t hear you.”

  She laughed and then looked directly at him. Her smile faded and her eyes widened. For a second, maybe two, everything in the noisy pub seemed to fade away. It was gone a second later when she shook her head.

  “Sorry,” she said, and looked away. There was no hint of her homeland in her voice. “Want a pint?”

  “Yeah. A pint and is that shepherd’s pie I smell?”

  She nodded. “It’s pretty good today.”

  “I’ll take that.”

  “Thanks.”

  Then she hurried off. He watched her, enjoying the way her full hips swayed and how the denim hugged her ass.

  He shook his head trying to keep it on track. He had a mission and he would not screw it up.

  She approached with his Guinness.

  “Busy day?” he asked, trying to come up with something to keep her at the table.

  She nodded. “It’s odd because we aren’t usually this hectic, but thankfully I’m almost done.”

  Maggie set the pint down and he reached for it. For a single second, their hands brushed and something between them sparked. It was more than static electricity. This actually looked like a high voltage shock. And it felt like it too. Heat traveled up from his arm, through his blood and to his head, which was buzzing when he looked up at her. All the color had drained from her rosy cheeks.

  “Harriet.”

  He knew that was the name she was using now, but she didn’t respond when the bartender called her name.

  “Harry!”

  She shook herself and backed away from him then hurried back to the bar. He watched as she talked to the manager, then slipped into the kitchen. Something niggled at the back of his brain and he watched as another waitress came forward with his meat pie.

  “Where’s M…I mean Harriet?”

  She gave him a cheeky smile. “Had to run out because of some kind of emergency.”

  Angus watched the woman head off to another table as irritation crawled through his veins. Maggie had apparently picked up on his reason for being there. Well, dammit, he wasn’t any happier about it than she was.

  He threw some money on the table and pulled out his phone. Angus realized he was going to have to hunt her down at home before she skipped town.

  * * * *

  Magdalene Maria O’Conner ran up the stairs to her flat as she tried to think of the best way to disappear this time. She had been so sure that they wouldn’t find her, that she was safe from the prying eyes of the O’Conner family. She was out of breath when she burst through the door.

  The smells of colcannon filled the small flat. No. Apartment. Americans called these things apartments. Even after a year of surviving in the miniscule dwelling, she still couldn’t get used to using the right language.

  “Harriet,” Mrs. Dolan said with a smile. “You’re early.”

  “Yes. It was a slow day at the pub.”

  “Well, Jack is busy in his room. He said he had things to ponder.”

  Maggie smiled. Normally, she would laugh, but now…it told her he knew of the coming move. Jack had always sensed what was going to happen before it actually did.

  “Thank you. Would you like to stay for dinner?”

  Mrs. Dolan shook her head. “I’ve got my book club meeting later. I’ll see you tomorrow morning, dear.”

  Maggie wanted to tell the woman the truth. That tomorrow the sun would rise and she would disappear off the face of the earth. Mrs. Dolan had been a Godsend when she arrived here to work. Maggie hated that she’d had to lie about her past, and even about her name.

  “Mrs. Dolan.” She stopped and looked back at Maggie. Her faded blue eyes filled with questions. “Thank you so much. I don’t know what we would do without you.”

  The older woman smiled. “Of course, dear.”

  Then she shuffled out the door. Maggie waited for the click before giving into the terror that had been riding her back since she’d run from the pub.

  “He’s the one.”

  Jack’s little boy voice echoed through the silent apartment and she closed her eyes and prayed for guidance. When she opened her eyes, she turned to face her son. He was so small, even for the age of four. And she really hated when he made proclamations like that.

  “Who are you talking about?” she asked.

  “You saw him today. He’s tall. And a Scot. He’s here to save us. To save you.”

  Something cold tingled down her spine. “We don’t need a man to save us, Jack.”

  He shook his head. His gray eyes, so much like the father he had never met, were filled with sadness. “Death will come.”

  A four-year-old shouldn’t have to deal with these things. He should be playing Legos or trucks or something. Instead, he dreamed of death and the man who had scared the bloody hell out of her today.

  She tried smiling but even without being able to see it, she knew she had failed. “Let’s not think about that right now. Are you hungry?”

  She wasn’t. Not even close, but she needed to pretend things were normal. Even as good as the potatoes smelled, her stomach churned with worry.

  Was the man there to kill them? To report back to her late husband’s family? She had thought she had lost them. Now though, she knew she and Jack would have to disappear. Again.

  “Yes. Mrs. Dolan has some bangers in the pot too.”

  Of course she did. As much as Maggie had tried to Americanize them, to make sure that people didn’t look at them and see Ireland, Mrs. Dolan had done her best to keep their home country alive for Jack. Her son hadn’t spent any time in Ireland, but he spoke with a thick accent.

  Just as she walked to the kitchen area, there was a loud knock at the door. Cold fear drenched her and a strange heat threaded through her blood. Damn, it had to be the man.

  And if she was getting her abilities back after ignoring them for so long…there was something really wrong with the man. He had to be Magickal, and he had to have been sent to get her. Kill her.

  Mother Mary, if he found out about Jack….that would be the end of everything.

  “Get in your room.”

  Jack gave her a disgusted look. She wanted to scream at him to hurry, but couldn’t. Not without the man hearing her. If they could get out on the fire escape, then they could get away.

  “I’m not hi
ding. He won’t hurt us.”

  Then, he turned and walked to the door. She scrambled after him, but she couldn’t catch up with him before he opened the door.

  There was a beat of silence, and then a dark, sexy Scottish voice said, “I think I might have the wrong flat.”

  “No, sir, you don’t. You’ve come to save us.”

  Chapter Three

  Angus looked down at the small boy, who could be no more than four years of age and then saw Maggie step up behind him.

  “Jackson Michael, come away,” she said, her voice tight with fear.

  The little boy leaned closer and Angus bent down to be able to hear him.

  “She only uses my formal name when I’m in trouble, but you can call me Jack.” Then, he stepped back and looked up at Maggie. “You know I’m correct.”

  He slipped past Maggie and went running off, looking more like the little boy that he was.

  “I think you need to leave.”

  He glanced at the woman he had tracked down to New York and then had to find her again after she fled the pub. He wasn’t in the best of moods. Chasing after her had been bad enough, but it had started to pour. Cold, wet and thoroughly ticked off…he wasn’t in the mood to play games. Still, he tried to soften his tone.

  “I’m not here to hurt you, just like the boy said.”

  Her spine straightened. “You leave Jack out of this.”

  The danger in her voice made all the tumblers fall into place. “He’s yours.”

  Again, the color washed out of her cheeks. He rushed forward; worried she was going to pass out. She scrambled back from him and held out her hand as if to ward him off. He stopped and studied her for a moment.

  “No. Leave. I don’t have anything to give you. You can report back to the O’Conners but I’ll be gone.”

  He shook his head, trying to come to turns with what she was saying. It didn’t sound correct. “What are you talking about?”

  “I’ll not go back to that pit of vipers. I will not let them near my son.”

  “I have no idea who you’re talking about, but I dinna know you had a son until now. I’m not here for him. I’m here for you.”

  “Do you have an order of extradition?” she asked, her voice barely audible.