Chapter Four
Family Emergency—Unexpected Trip with Far-Reaching Complications
For the sixth time over the past couple of weeks, the phone call to her sister went to voicemail. Brandy tapped the red icon and ended the call, tossing the phone on the couch, where it bounced once. She paced the hardwood floor of her cottage, picked up a picture of her and Hannah off the fireplace mantel, and stared at it. Shaking her head, she replaced the photo, tracing the frame with her fingertip. “What are you doing, Hannah?” Brandy said to the empty room. Scooting back to the sofa, she picked up the phone, dialed her sister’s number again, and held her breath. This time Hannah answered on the first ring.
In an unusually quiet voice, Hannah said, “Brandy, how are you doing?”
“More to the point, how are you? I’ve tried to call you several times. Either it goes to voicemail or you put me off. Or you return my call when you know I’m on duty and leave a message. What the hell is going on? Ma and Da are worried sick.”
“I’ve been swamped with work. Got dual citizenship now, allowing my security clearance upgrade so I can work on government ops. Had to get out from under the civilian workload so I can start working at my new position.”
“What new position?” Brandy picked at the splatter of mud dried on the booted foot now resting across her knee.
“Didn’t I tell you? I’m sure I did.” Hannah paused. “Maybe I left you a message.”
“Tell me again,” Brandy insisted, getting to her feet, pacing across floor.
“I was promoted. In eighteen months or so, I’ll be based out of Colorado at the Shadow Hawk Cyber facility, heading up an R&D division.”
“That’s wonderful. Colorado is beautiful and much closer to Montana.” Brandy tapped her finger to her lips. “Oh, yeah, I remember that message. You also said you would be attending a wedding with your new man. Tell me about this new guy. Things getting serious?”
“I think so.”
“I would hope so. It’s the same man that took you to Hawaii on a getaway a few weeks ago, then to his sister’s wedding? I’d call that serious.”
“Yes. But I don’t want to say too much and jinx it. You know how my relationships go.”
“For God’s sake, Hannah, you’re nearly living with the guy and you don’t want to jinx it? Come on, I’m your sister. We’ve always told each other everything. I know when you are lying to me.” Brandy’s hand flew to her mouth. Shit, I shouldn’t have said that. She blew out a breath and tried to recoil her temper.
“I’ve got to go. I’ll be in touch. Don’t worry. I’m fine.” Hannah disconnected the call.
Brandy plopped on the couch in her cozy living room, phone held to her chest. Something wasn’t right. Since Hannah’s recruitment right out of college by the cyber ops firm and move to Misty Harbor, they’d talked at least three times a week, sharing their lives and experiences with each other by phone. Then suddenly Hannah stopped calling or answering her phone on a regular basis. Nope, something was terribly wrong. Hannah was hiding something.
Brandy drew her bottom lip through her front teeth and hissed out a breath. She shoved up from the couch, sprinted into the bedroom, and yanked her suitcase out from underneath the bed.
I shouldn’t interfere. Next she grabbed socks, jeans, shirts, and shoes and threw them in the suitcase. She bounced on the top, forcing the case closed, then she slung it onto the floor and rolled it to the front door. Pausing at the couch, she picked up her cell phone and called her boss at the ranger’s station.
After a couple rings, a cheerful voice said, “Hi there, Brandy. Enjoying your day off?”
“Hey, Randy, I have a family emergency and need to take a week off, starting now.”
He cleared his throat and was quiet for a beat. “Okay. I’ll rework the schedule this week. Will you be back by the beginning of next week?”
“I hope so. I’ll call you when I arrive at my sister’s place and get things sorted out.” She held the phone against her shoulder while digging her keys out of her backpack, and shoved them in her jeans pocket.
“Good enough. I hope things work out.”
“Me too. Thanks.” Brandy ended the call and looked up the number to the airport, then made reservations for the first flight available to Misty Harbor, Maine.
Snapping her fingers, she sprinted into the bathroom, scooped up eyeshadow, mascara, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, and shampoo. She shoved them into a small duffle she kept in the cabinet under the sink. After running a brush through her tangled hair, she tossed the hairbrush in the bag. “That should do it.” The thought of Stefan crossed her mind briefly. She slapped her hand on the counter. He’d have to wait.
Bags loaded in the SUV, she took off. Traffic was light and she arrived at the airport in record time.
Once settled in the plane, she riffled through her backpack for a book she’d stuffed inside earlier. Unable to concentrate, she pulled out her tablet and plotted directions to Hannah’s house. A street address was listed beside her sister’s cell number. I hope she hasn’t moved. Hannah had taken the job with Shadow Hawk Cyber and moved to a little cottage on the outskirts of town. At least that’s what Hannah had told her before she started being so secretive and hard to contact.
When Brandy arrived in Misty Harbor, it was overcast, and the rain pattered on the windows of the airport. Thankfully, her luggage arrived safely. She loaded her bags in the rental SUV, put Hannah’s address in the GPS, and followed the directions to her sister’s place.
The cottage was dark, though it was just as Hannah had described. A couple days’ worth of newspapers were stacked on the porch. Brandy pulled out her umbrella and walked around the back of the cottage. No signs of life. No footprints or tire tracks in the gravel driveway or path to the house. If she had to guess, Hannah hadn’t been here in a while. Time to find that boyfriend of hers.
On her way back to her vehicle, the neighbor who had been standing in the doorway of the house next door sprinted toward her. Brandy folded the umbrella as the rain had stopped.
“Hi, are you looking for Hannah?” The woman slid her sunglasses down her nose and studied Brandy. She shoved the glasses on top of her head.
“Yes. My name is Brandy Shaughnessy.” She extended her hand.
The woman took her hand and shook it vigorously. “I’m Tanna Rork.” She pushed her damp hair out of her face and peered at Brandy. “Are you her sister?”
“Yes. I wanted to surprise her. But I guess the surprise is on me. Any idea where she is?” Brandy shoved her hands into the front pockets of her jeans. The early spring air was crisp. The constant drizzle had her chilled to the bone even with the occasional moments of sunlight. She glanced at the sky, thankful for the sun trying to peek out again.
Taking her sunglasses off, she squinted at Brandy. “Best guess—she is at the house on the cliffs with her significant other. Doesn’t spend much time here anymore. I watch the house for her. Let her know if something needs her attention.”
“Oh, please don’t tell her I’m here. It would spoil the surprise.” Brandy glanced over at the two newspapers stacked on the porch.
Tanna made a zipping motion across her lips. “Your secret is safe with me.” She giggled as the breeze tugged at her jacket. Following her gaze, Tanna grimaced. “Forgot to pick those up yesterday after I piled them on the porch. Left my key in the house, went back for it, and the rain started.” She bent down and picked up the papers, shook the water droplets off, and stuck the newspapers under her arm.
“Okay, so this house on the cliffs, how do I get there? Since Hannah isn’t likely to return here in the near future.”
The woman ran into the house and returned with a piece of paper and a pen. She quickly drew a map with a “you are here” indicator. “It’s a couple of miles away. There are only two houses up on the bluffs. Can’t miss it. Just follow the main road.” She tapped the pen on the paper. “Until you get here.” She pointed to an intersection on her crudely drawn map. “Turn to your right, then take the first left up the winding driveway. There are gas lamps leading the way to the house. The iron gate is usually open.”
“Iron gate?” Brandy asked dubiously.
Tanna waved a hand dismissively. “Gate is mostly for decoration, I believe. He keeps a low profile.” She peered around, then lowered her voice. “People talk, you know. Say he’s involved in some type of black ops. Gone a lot. Me, I think he’s one of those that are married to their job. Until Hannah. She works government contracts too. But is always friendly enough. Works a lot of hours too.”
A phone rang somewhere in the distance. Tanna jumped, glancing in the direction of her house. “Oh, that’s mine. Gotta run. Nice talking to you. Hope you catch up with Hannah. She wouldn’t want to miss you.” She dashed up the walk, and flung open the screen door, letting it bang shut behind her.
Brandy opened the driver-side door and climbed in. She glanced at the map, started the engine, and followed the directions.
She turned left and stopped the vehicle. Tanna was right; the iron gate was open. Holy crap. That driveway leads to a frigging castle on the cliffs. It looked foreboding, or maybe her imagination was in overdrive. What had Hannah gotten herself into?
Brandy put the SUV in gear and slowly followed the winding drive, parking in the circular driveway lined by blooming flowers. Strange, the flowers in town were barely green sprouts. Glancing around, she saw two more garden plots with thriving plants. The grounds were well-kept, though only a few blades of green grass peeked through the brown.
She’d no sooner cut the engine than the massive wooden door to the house swung open. A tall, muscular man dressed in a suit stood in the doorway. He was nearly as tall as the framework; his wide shoulders almost filled the area. His movements, and the stare of his gray-blue yes, were predatory as he stepped onto the porch, watchful. The breeze tousled his blond hair, which reached over his collar.
After opening the vehicle door, she hesitated. In a blink of an eye, he was joined by several people peering out the entrance.
Wearing a light-green floor-length dress that hugged her curves, Hannah pushed her way through to stand beside the man. A halo of colorful flowers encircled her head as she covered her mouth with one hand. Recognition dawned. She squealed, sprinting down the stairs. “Brandy, what are you doing here?”
A flood of relief crashed through Brandy at seeing Hannah. She jumped out of the car and rushed toward her sister. “Can’t believe…Wanted to surprise you.” She engulfed Hannah in a hug. Releasing her, Brandy surveyed her sister, then glanced at the others. Everyone was all dressed up. “Am I interrupting something?”
Hannah pursed her lips and glanced from Brandy to the tall blond man and the others spilling out the door. “Sort of.” Tugging her sister up the steps, Hannah paused after making it through the door and turned to face Brandy. “Today is my wedding day.”
Brandy’s eyes rounded and her mouth hung open for a beat. A flood of words came rushing out before she could stop them. “Oh my God, you got married without telling me, Ma, Da, or the rest of the family? Hannah, what were you thinking? Ma and Da are going to be devastated.”
The teary-eyed look Hannah gave Brandy made her reconsider her words, and she clamped her mouth shut. She stared accusingly at the blond man now wrapping his arm around Hannah after following her down the stairs.
He offered a hand. “Brandy, I’m Tristian Shandie, Hannah’s husband. Welcome to our home.”
Brandy crossed her arms and glared at him.
Smoothly, he moved his hand to gesture her farther inside the house. “Please join our little celebration. Afterward, we’ll sit down and have a long talk. I’m sure you don’t want to spoil your sister’s wedding day,” he said in a calm, deep, soothing voice that had an edge of warning to it.
“Spoil her…Do you have any idea…” Brandy sputtered, then took a deep breath and closed her mouth again.
“Yes, I do. But we have guests and…”
Hannah put her hand on Tristian’s arm and caressed it. “Let me have a few minutes alone with my sister,” Hannah said firmly, her glance switching from Tristian to Brandy, then over to her guests. “Excuse us a moment. Enjoy the food. Rena, finish cutting the cake. We’ll be right back.” Hannah grasped Brandy’s arm and steered her to a study on the first level, closing the door behind them.
“Brandy. Please. I know you don’t understand and are hurt. But I have my reasons. Tristian is the love of my life, but it’s complicated. After our wedding guests leave, we’ll sit down and explain everything, or as much as we can, to you. Ma and Da can’t know. Not yet.”
“What do you mean? You expect me to keep your marriage a secret from them? What on earth are you thinking? Unless my talents fail me, he’s a warlock, not one of us.”
“We both left Ireland for the same reason. Don’t give me that crap. You no more wanted to marry our kind than I did, or you wouldn’t have left Kevin behind.”
“That’s different,” Brandy said vehemently, shoving her hands in her pockets.
Hannah fisted her hands on her hips, lips set in a thin line. “How?”
“For one, I didn’t cut off most communication with our family, then run off and marry a man…warlock without telling anyone I was seriously involved.”
“Wait a minute. I told you he took me to Hawaii, and we attended his family wedding together. Do you think I would…Oh, never mind.” Hannah huffed out a breath. “It doesn’t matter now. I’m married. End of story.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
Brandy paced the floor, then stopped to look out the window. She closed her eyes, and temper cooled. What in the hell am I doing? Ruining my sister’s wedding day, that’s what. Ma and Da would be ashamed of my behavior even given the circumstances. She sucked in a breath and rushed to Hannah, throwing her arms around her. “I’m so sorry. Didn’t mean to make a scene. I was…”
“Shocked. I know. And I’m sorry about that. But we’ll explain everything tonight. I promise.”
“This better be good,” Brandy said, trying to lighten the mood.
“Ready to go out and meet everyone?” Hannah asked.
“I’m a little underdressed.” Brandy tugged at the hem of her T-shirt, staring down at her black jeans and boots.
“Doesn’t matter. It’s a small group of friends and family.” Hannah led the way back to the intimate group. “Bruce and Angie, this is my sister, Brandy. Angie is Tristian’s younger sister. Bruce is his boss. Tristian and I attended their wedding a few weeks ago. Remember, I told you.”
Bruce stepped forward, his hand extended. “Nice to meet you, Brandy.” He kept his arm around Angie. She glanced up at Bruce, then smiled wide at Brandy. “Welcome to the family.”
Brandy’s eyebrow winged up. “Nice to meet you.” She offered her hand to each, then made sure her facial features didn’t give away anything. The magic signatures were all over the place. Angie was a witch, but Bruce…undetermined.
Seeing her sister’s confusion, Hannah’s voice whispered through Brandy’s mind. Yes, I know, but it’s a long story. She motioned to a woman with short jet-black hair styled in spikes tipped with bright blue. “This is Angie’s life-long best friend, Willow, and her husband, Caleb. They are newlyweds also. It was a double wedding with Angie and Bruce.”
Brandy shook hands with Willow and Caleb. Faerie…but can’t tell his. Magic signature is disguised.
Hannah waved a hand toward three individuals still out on the deck. “That’s Ruben standing next to the chaise, Terra is the woman walking toward the waterfall, and Bobby is leaning against the door. They are friends and co-workers.
“Birch and Freesia are Willow’s parents and Tristian’s surrogate parents after his were killed years ago.”
Brandy glanced at Tristian, her expression softened. “Sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you,” Tristian said quietly.
Freesia hugged Brandy as Birch grasped her hand. “Glad to meet you,” they said simultaneously, then looked at each other and laughed.
Freesia held Brandy at arm’s length and smiled. “Your sister is the best thing that ever happened to Tristian.”
Brandy nodded, not quite sure what to say given the circumstances. She decided to keep it general. “She’s a great person. I look forward to getting to know Tristian.” Yep, they’re both faeries. No disguising spell there. She glanced back at Bruce. Power and confidence rolled off him, but he’d disguised his magic signature. What in the world had Hannah gotten herself mixed up in? Brandy shook her head.
“Oh, Tristian’s a bit of a pain, but he grows on you,” Freesia said with a wink and moved off toward the cake table.
Hannah led Brandy to the food spread on the table nearest the sliding glass doors that opened onto the patio. Brandy put prime rib, boiled red potatoes with the skins on them, and a couple homemade dinner rolls on her plate, then stopped to look out the door.
Hannah pointed to the small waterfall in the backyard. “Tristian built the waterfall for our wedding. We were married in front of it,” she said dreamily.
“So the flowering plants, greenery…are all magic? It’s not warm enough for all these blooming plants. Yet.”
“Weddings are magical. Don’t you think?” Hannah answered vaguely.
Brandy knew her sister was sidestepping the question but let it slide for now. They promised to fill her in, and she intended to make sure they kept that promise. If I have to lie to Ma and Da, there better be a damn good reason.
Brandy sat observing the individuals that had come to celebrate her sister’s wedding. She kept the hurt to herself that she and her family had been excluded. These people seemed to care for Hannah, most of all Tristian, who was very attentive. The intimate touches and loving glances, relieved some of Brandy’s trepidation upon her arrival. But why all the secrecy?
Brandy shook her head and rejoined the conversation, trying to ferret out any tidbit of information. The conversation was cordial, and nothing unusual came to light.
Finally, the guests said their goodbyes, and she was alone with Tristian and Hannah.
“Okay, spill. What the hell is going on here?”
Tristian raised a butterscotch eyebrow. Hannah’s cheeks blushed red. “Brandy.”
“No, it’s all right, I promised an explanation and now is as good a time as any.” With a sweep of his arm, he motioned to the large room with a stone fireplace that took up most of one wall. “Shall we convene in the family room? Would anyone care for wine?”
“Yes, please,” Hannah said on a sigh and plopped on the couch with a pleading look to her sister.
“Sure…why not?” Brandy eased into the recliner nearest the roaring fire.
Tristian returned with a bottle of Cabernet and three crystal wine goblets. After setting the glasses on the table between them, he poured the wine and handed a goblet to Brandy. He lifted his glass. “To family.”
Brandy frowned, shifted her gaze from Tristian to Hannah, then touched the rim of her glass to each of theirs in turn. “Okay…Now tell me why all the secrecy…Are you a spy or criminal?” Brandy took a gulp of her wine. Wow, the expensive stuff.
“Way to go, Sis, assume the worst.” Hannah glared at her sister.
“Do I need to recap the recent events for you?” Brandy snapped.
“Ladies, this is my fault and I’ll explain what I can. But you must understand that anything said in this room will go no further. Do I have your word?”
Brandy looked into her glass, swirled the red liquid around, and watched it wink in the firelight. “I guess so. Unless it’s illegal. I am an officer of the law, you know.” Her gaze touched lightly on Hannah, then shifted to Tristian and held his.
“I’m well aware of that. My requirements remain the same. Our lives could depend on it.” His scalpel-sharp gray-blue eyes were unwavering. The silence in the room was deafening.
Brandy sucked in a breath. “What are you…Hannah, what have you gotten mixed up in?”
“Please, Brandy,” Hannah said in a soft voice.
“Your word.” Tristian remained standing, his expression unreadable.
Engaging in a test of wills seemed futile, so she relented. “Okay—fine. I promise.”
Tristian shifted his intense gaze from Brandy to Hannah. His expression softened, and he settled next to his wife on the couch.
He shook his head and sighed deeply. “The people that you met are part of a private security force. I am the top enforcer and manage the security teams. Terra, Bobby, and Ruben are my team leaders. Naturally, in my profession you make enemies who will stop at nothing for revenge. It’s a dangerous profession. Moreover, it was responsible for the death of my parents, leaving me to raise my sister, Angie, who was twelve years old at the time. Hannah came into this relationship with her eyes wide open to the danger.”
Brandy blanched. “So you say.”
“I did, and I’ve never been happier. Please listen to what he has to say without judging,” Hannah said softly.
Leaning back against the lounger, Brandy nodded, her lips drawn into a tight line.
“Coming to terms with loving another and protecting her was a big step for me. Extending protection to her family I haven’t worked out. Not yet. Therein lies the problem and why we were married with our circle of friends and family that know and keep my secrets. Now that protection must be extended to you.”
Brandy bristled. “If she’d…”
Tristian held his hand up. “It was at my request that she keep you at arm’s length. In retrospect, maybe not one of my best decisions. But we’re here now. The details of my profession will remain confidential. I have told you all you need to know. Someday in the future, I’ll deal with Hannah’s parents and extended family. I’ve promised Hannah we’ll celebrate our wedding with them in Ireland. Until that time, I respectfully ask you to keep our secret.”
She pushed up from the chair and paced, thinking better on her feet. Whirling around, she planted both feet and shifted her gaze from Hannah to Tristian. “Extended family I can handle. But expecting me to lie to Ma and Da—It’s out of the question.”
“Not lie, just omit a few facts. Only for a little while. I’ll tell them I’m seriously involved with someone and plan to marry. We’ll decide how much to tell them by phone to appease them,” Hannah said. “Just back me up. That’s all I ask. Can you do that?”
Chewing on her bottom lip, Brandy turned and paced again. “I guess so, but you had better tell them something soon. They are so worried about you.”
“We will. I’ll call them this evening.” Hannah glanced at Tristian, who nodded, though the muscles at his jaw worked overtime.
“I don’t want to intrude on your wedding night, so I’ll let myself out and find a hotel.”
“You’ll do no such thing. You came for a visit, so stay with us. We’ll catch up tonight. I’ll show you around the town tomorrow. We’ll stop by my cottage.”
“Are you going to keep the cottage? I assume you will be living here from now on.”
“Yes, I may rent it out or keep it for when friends and family visit, depending on what the future holds.”