Edinburgh, Scotland

NIALL MACMILLAN WALKED into his house and slammed the door, dragging his hands down his face in an effort to keep himself from picking up the table in the foyer and smashing it to pieces. His phone buzzed in his pocket... again. He ignored it... again. He knew who it was. It hadn’t been long since he’d discovered the truth about his sister’s death, something that had been kept from him, and because of that, he had no desire to speak to his bastard of a brother.

He made his way to the dining room and poured himself a whisky. Something he rarely did, but tonight, he was in the mood to drink, perhaps even to the point of oblivion. His phone buzzed again and he yanked it from his jeans pocket and smashed it against the wall.

Well, that was a waste of an expensive phone.

The voice came unbidden, and Niall froze. What?

Your phone. You just smashed it against the wall.

American. His mate was American. He knew it. Having felt her emotions, he’d tried to “speak” to her several times over the past few weeks, but this was the first time she’d answered.

I can’t believe I’m dreaming about Niall MacMillan... this is all I freakin’ need.

Niall set his glass carefully on the buffet and closed his eyes. You know who I am?

Of course I know who you are. Anyone with a radio, television, or Internet connection knows who you are.

What about you, lass? Who are you?

You can’t see me? But I can see you.

I’m picking up on that. He smiled. But, no, I can’t see you.

Ooh, this has possibilities.

He closed his eyes. It might if you tell me your name.

His doorbell pealed and he scowled.

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.

Niall raised an eyebrow. What do you mean?

You’re frowning.

Sorry, lass. That wasn’t directed at you. Someone’s ringing my doorbell.

Shouldn’t you get it?

The doorbell pealed again, but he ignored it.

No. He smiled and closed his eyes again. I’m all yours.

Oh, I wish!

Niall chuckled. If you tell me your name and where you are, I’ll find you.

“Niall MacMillan!”

Niall swore as the connection was broken and Payton Gunnach came storming into the room. “Where the bloody hell have you been?” she snapped.

The petite redhead had been his best friend since Brodie Gunnach had asked Niall to watch over her while he was in the Royal Air Force. Payton was fourteen at the time, and she and Niall had had an instant connection, even if it had been nothing more than friendship. She was Brodie’s mate and would have never been available to anyone other than him. Now that they were bound and expecting their first child, Brodie watched her even closer.

“Payton, lass. Lovely to see you,” Niall said. “Does Brodie know you’re here?”

Payton frowned and crossed her arms. “Niall,” she said in warning.

“How did you get into my house?”

She waved a house key in the air. “You gave me a spare.”

“For emergencies.”

“Niall, I have been trying to ring you for two days. You’ve no’ answered my calls! That’s the verra definition of an emergency.” Payton laid her hand over her expanding belly and closed her eyes.

“Does Brodie know you’re here?” Niall crossed his arms. “Payton?”

“What?” she said distractedly.

“Does Brodie know you’re here?” he repeated.

“He does now.”

“Who drove you?”

“I can drive a car, Nye.”

“You drove yourself?”

“Aye,” she snapped. “What’s yer point?”

“Pay,” Niall said with a groan. “You’re not supposed to be driving.”

“Oh, no, you’ll no’ give me the lecture about how I’m only a woman and I should nae drive meself. I’ll no’ take that chauvinistic crap from you as well.”

“I’d never say that and you know it,” Niall argued. “You’re trying to deflect because you know how Brodie feels about you going out alone. Especially being pregnant and dealing with fainting spells.”

“How did you know about the fainting?” She raised her hands before he could respond. “No, don’t tell me. You seem to forget you’re supposed to be my friend, no’ his.”

Niall smiled. “I’m both of your friends, lass.”

She wrinkled her nose. “It doesn’t matter. I haven’t fainted in over a week, and Gillian has given me the all clear.”

Niall relaxed a bit. “I’m glad your sister isn’t concerned, but that doesn’t mean Brodie won’t be.”

Payton waved her hand. “He’ll be fine. He knows where I am.”

Niall glanced at his watch. “Which means we have about ten minutes before he barges through that door.”

“You’ll no’ distract me from my questions, Niall,” she warned. “Now, tell me. What’s the matter?”

“Whatever do you mean, dear friend?”

“Nice try. You never drink whisky”—she pointed to the buffet—“unless something’s wrong, and since I happen to know about your fight with Max, I can only assume nothing has been resolved. Is that your phone?”

“Aye, ’tis.” She moved to pick up the shards of technology, but Niall stopped her. “Don’t, Payton. I’ll take care of it.”

“Well, that mess explains why you haven’t answered my calls.”

“That just happened, Payton, so it’s no’ the reason.”

“Okay.” She crossed her arms. “Well, then fill me in, please.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Pay, it’s not something I want to get into right now. Can I ring you later in the week?”

“No.”

“Payton.”

“No, Nye. You’ll no’ brush me off like someone who doesn’t give a flying—”

“Language,” Niall warned, interrupting her.

She narrowed her eyes. “Ye’ll tell me what’s going on with you, Niall MacMillan, and I’m no’ leaving until ye do.”

“Fine. Come and sit down, lass. I’ll not have your mate accusing me of not taking care of you.” Niall led her into the parlor and motioned to the sofa. “Can I get you something?”

“Answers,” Payton said as she sat down.

“Tea?”

“Niall!” she snapped, and burst into tears.

“Oh, Payton. I’m sorry, lass.” Niall knelt in front of her and took her hands. “I didn’t mean to make you sad.”

“It’s hormones,” she grumbled. “I’m no’ sad, you bampot.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“What?” she snapped. “I’m no’!”

“You never cry, Pay, so if you’re no’ sad, what are ye?”

“I’m mad that you’re shutting me out.” She sniffed back more tears. “You never shut me out.”

Niall sighed and handed her his handkerchief. “It’s bloody complicated, lass, and I don’t want you mixed up in it.”

She rose to her feet. “Fine. I’ll go.” She dropped his house key on the coffee table. “Apparently, we’re no’ as close as I thought. I apologize for giving a shite.”

Niall shook his head and stood. “Payton.”

“’Bye,” she said, and started toward the door. “Have a nice life.”

“Bloody hell, woman, get back here.”

She faced him and crossed her arms. “Tell me what the devil happened with your brother.”

He waved toward the sofa and she gave him a triumphant smile as she took her seat.

“Manipulation and guilt trips are new for you.”

“Are they?” she asked. “Hmmm, well, perhaps I need to use them more, since they seem to be quite effective. Now, best friend in all the world, tell me what’s going on with Max.”

Niall sat in one of the chairs facing her and sighed. “He lied.”

“Does this have anything to do with Abbott Martin?”

“What?” Niall bellowed as he stood. “Is secret keeping a new one for you as well?”

“Nye,” Payton crooned as she raised her hands and shook her head.

“No, Payton! Did you know about this too?”

“No, I don’t think so. Wait, Nye. Sit down, love. Brodie told me that Abbott was with everyone the night Moira was killed and that Max and Connall had a conversation a while back. That’s all Brodie knows.”

Niall swore again as he lowered himself back onto the chair.

Payton leaned forward, narrowing her eyes. “Tell me what’s going on.”

Niall squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. “Abbott confessed to Max.”

“He confessed what?”

“That he did it,” Niall said.

Payton groaned in frustration. “Did what? Killed Moira?”

“Aye,” Niall said, and scowled. “He had her ear.”

“What do you mean?” She waved her hand. “I need more information, Nye.”

He stared at her for several tense seconds, unsure how much he should tell her. “The killer cut off her ear, but we never found it. We know why now. Abbott cut off her ear and kept it.”

Payton gasped, her hand covering her mouth. “Oh, Nye. I’m so sorry.”

Payton was one of the few Niall had confided in about the death of his sister, but he had never given her particulars about the gruesome scene.

“No, lass, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have told you,” he said when he saw her face pale. “Are you going to be sick?”

She shook her head, but kept her fingers over her lips. “Brodie’s helping.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about Abbott?” Niall asked when she looked a bit better.

“Nye! If I’d known you didn’t have that part of the puzzle, I would have,” Payton said. “I was certain you knew. I would have never knowingly kept something like that from you. You do know that, right?”

“Aye, lass, I do,” he admitted, and grimaced. “I’m sorry.”

The slamming of the front door sounded, followed by the deep bellow of Brodie. “Payton Gunnach!”

“In here, love,” she called sweetly.

Niall shook his head. “I need a better security system, apparently.”

Brodie strode furiously into the room. “Don’t ever do that again, Payton. I’ve been worried sick! You left the office without telling anyone where you were going or what you were up to.”

“I told Karl where I was going, and you and I have been “speaking” all day.”

“I should fire him.”

“No,” she argued. “You bloody well should not. I told him after I was already here.”

“You’re supposed to be resting.”

“Like hell I am,” she countered. “Gillian said I was past the iffy point.”

“I want you to rest.” Brodie sat down beside her and laid his hand on her belly. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine, love,” she assured him. “I can’t stop living my life, Brodie, just because I’m pregnant.”

Brodie sighed. “You’re sure you feel well?”

“Aye.”

“The nausea?”

“Is gone.” She stroked his cheek. “Now, stop trying to distract me. I’m not finished grilling our friend.”

Brodie raised an eyebrow and shrugged. “Sorry, Nye. I tried to divert the conversation.”

Niall nodded. Once Payton sunk her jaws into something... or someone, it was virtually impossible to pry her loose.

Are you being bitten?

Close, he replied.

“Nye?” Payton said.

“Hmm?” Niall focused back on his best friend. “Sorry.”

“Are you...?”

Niall nodded.

“You’re talking to her right now?” Payton pressed.

He put a finger to his lips. “Yes, shush.”

Payton shifted in her seat. “Who is it?”

“No idea. All I know is she’s American.”

Are you talking about me?

Aye, lass, I am.

Are those your friends? They’re extremely good looking.

Niall chuckled. The big one’s a bit oafy, don’t you think?

What I think is that I’m going crazy.

No, love, you’re not.

“Nye? Are you all right?” Payton asked.

Niall nodded, frustrated that the connection was broken again. “I’m fine.”

“Let’s leave him alone, eh?” Brodie said. “You mentioned something about month-end numbers that you were going to finish at home.”

“They can keep.” Payton frowned. “Are you sure you’re all right, Nye? What are you doing about dinner? I can stay and cook if you like.”

Niall laughed. “Why is it you’re always trying to feed me, lass?”

“Probably because you’ve lost a stone in the last month.”

“I have no’,” he argued, tempering his irritation with a smile. “I’m fine. I promise I will call you if I need anything.”

Payton sighed. “Fine. I do have those figures to finish for Kade.” She pushed herself from the sofa, leaning against Brodie, who stood beside her. “I’ll tell Kenna to order you a new phone.”

Kenna McFadden was Fallen Crown’s tour manager and head of administrative services. She was also Payton’s sister, and the two talked daily.

Niall grinned. “I can do that, since she’s supposed to be on a bit of a holiday.”

“I know, but she’s coming over for dinner, so I might as well take care of that for you.” Payton smiled. “At the very least, she can delegate.”

“Thank you. That would be helpful.”

Niall walked the couple to the door, nodding to Karl, who stood by the black Mercedes. Payton’s car was gone from the driveway, so Brodie must have had one of his security team drive it home, in order to ensure Payton ride with him.

After hugging Payton good-bye, Niall closed the door, locking it securely, and then went about trying to contact his mate again.

* * *

Charlotte came awake with a start. She rubbed her tired eyes and groaned. Now she was dreaming about Niall MacMillan? And he was talking about someone named Abbott who had an ear? Lord, she must be tired... and morbid, apparently. Obviously too many episodes of Criminal Minds. The new dream fed into the one she’d been having since she was a little girl. She often wondered what was wrong with her. Her mind took her to places that just weren’t normal. She left her bed, padding to the bathroom and getting a glass of water.

Maybe she should contact a psychiatrist. She was obviously going insane. Certifiably insane. Projecting the voice she’d been hearing onto the drummer of Fallen Crown? Crazy.

She should be dreaming about Alec. Their dinner on Saturday night had been a blast, and he promised he’d call her in a couple of days to set up another date, which Charlotte was looking forward to.

With a sigh, she ran a brush through her hair, securing it with a scrunchy, and then splashed cold water on her face.

Maybe she should just drug herself into a stupor and get on a plane. She could meet the object of her fantasies, discover he’s an ass, and be done with all this idiocy.

But even if she gathered enough courage to get on a plane, or at the very least, managed to get enough drugs in her system so she wouldn’t care that she was in a large metal tube destined to crash, what would she say when she met him? She’d probably start talking nonstop, name every album the man had performed on, whether it be drums, guitar, or backing vocals, and then pass out just to be in his presence. Sleep. She needed sleep.

After drying her face, Charlotte slid back into bed and closed her eyes, praying sleep would come both quickly and dreamless.