There’s a pause before she says, in that steely yet gentle way of hers, “I don’t think we’re the ones that need to know what’s at stake, Leith.”
I hang up the phone and shove it in my pocket.
Tate and Mac join me in the house, Mac holding a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and an enormous scone in the other.
“Y’alright, brother?” he says, spraying crumbs everywhere.
“No,” I mutter. “I’m bloody well not. Paisley’s gone into town without men on her.”
“Doesn’t seem like her,” Mac says. “Jaysus.”
“Not sure I agree,” I say.
Tate frowns. “Was she alone?”
“Might’ve gone with Fran.”
He rolls his eyes. “Fran’s more trouble than she’s bloody worth. I’ll find them.” There’s a flicker in his eyes, though, and he looks away from me. Have I grown bloody soft? Am I imagining things? Is everyone in this house affected or bewitched?
I agree. She’s more likely to talk Paisley into doing something reckless or dangerous.
My phone buzzes with a text.
Cairstina: she maybe wanted some space after the argument last night.
I sigh and nod.
“Okay, then, we’re ready,” Islan says. She comes downstairs with a bag over her shoulder, and a stranger beside her. Jesus, does she have a guest, too? Then I blink.
Wait. That’s Cairstina?
She’s wearing a skin-tight black leather skirt and a top with fucking chains in place of buttons, high-heeled boots that go to high heaven, and she has a short black wig on.
“Mother of God,” I mutter. “What the hell did you do, get her ready for a strip club?”
Islan laughs. “She won’t stand out in Inverness, Leith, you know that. But you have to admit. She doesn’t look anything like she did before.”
“You’ve got that fucking right,” I mutter. “Jesus.”
Cairstina’s eyes come to me, abashed. Is she ashamed of looking this way? Is she afraid she’s disappointed me?
“You look beautiful,” I tell her. “I just don’t want any other fucking eyes on you.”
She flushes and bites her lip.
“Who looks beautiful?” I look over to the high, reedy voice coming from the direction of the kitchen. Nan stands behind us, nibbling a chocolate-covered biscuit in one hand and holding a few more in the other.
“Cairstina,” I tell her. “Have a look.”
She looks at the girls, then looks around behind her. “I don’t see her.”
Mac chuckles. “She’s the one dressed like a—” He catches my eye and immediately thinks twice about what he was going to say. “The one who looks all dressed up and ready for a party,” he finishes.
Nan grins and takes another bite of biscuit. She swallows, and there’s a twinkle in her eyes as she grins at Cairstina.
“Now, I can’t say I don’t prefer the more wholesome Cairstina, but you do look lovely, my dear.” Her eyes grow wistful. “Aye, in my day….”
Cairstina smiles her thanks.
