Marked Clan #2 - Red Read Online Free PDF Page A

little fun, right?
    I padded to my bedroom and dug through the closet. I had to fumble on the top shelf for my “nice” pair of heels. I almost knocked myself out when a huge leather book fell off and slammed to the floor by my feet. I let out a tiny yelp, and looked around like I thought someone might have heard. The thick tome had a dark blue crest with a golden stag on the front. It was Poppa’s Genealogy and History of the Clan Mackenzie.
    I picked it up and brushed the dust off of it, then set it reverently back on the top shelf. I knew all the stories in it by heart—Poppa read them to me as a girl every time I came over. It wasn’t until Dreama’s situation that I realized the fanciful tales he told me of betrayal, revenge, and creatures that haunted the moors were real. I’d found out too late to save her.
    “Levity, PJ,” I drilled myself with Connor’s words, “For fuck’s sake, levity!”
    I retrieved my good pair of heels and pulled out a respectable-but-borderline-slutty dress. They were all some shade of green. I knew what I had to work with, and it was the most flattering color for me. I slipped on everything but the heels and went to the jewelry box on my dresser. I unclasped my silver cross and hung it up, picking the other silver necklace next to it. Three generations of Mackenzie women were represented in my jewelry box—my mother, her mother, and me. I chose Mam’s necklace for the night. It was silver, of course, with a dark teardrop-shaped emerald inset in a Celtic knot pattern. I debated wearing the matching earrings, and decided if I was going to glam it up, I’d go all out.
    Before I headed out, I checked that my gun was loaded and stowed it in my clutch. My hand hovered over the far right drawer of my dresser for a few seconds. The moon wasn’t full anymore, but that didn’t mean they went into hibernation. I opened the drawer and pulled out a pen, dropping it into my clutch with a clink. I went down the narrow stairs barefoot, and paused at the bottom to put on my heels.
    Connor was at the counter ringing up a customer. He turned to me and whistled. “Bravo, my girl. That’s a bonny lass. Your date’s name is Justin. I hope you have fun.”
    “If I don’t, it’s your fault,” I said. He laughed and waved at me as I went out the door. I was on the hunt again, but this time my prey was a little bit easier to handle. Maybe if things went well, he’d be the one giving me a good, hard injection for a change.
     

Chapter Six
    The night was cool, but still damp enough to suffocate my pores. I felt a sweat mustache forming under my nose before I had even reached my car. Oh well, that’s what air conditioning is for.
    Ambrosio’s was a fairly new Italian place near Rice Village. It emerged from the over-roasted corpse of a failed chain coffee shop and managed to make a name for itself with a quiet, date-friendly atmosphere. The same couldn’t be said for lots of restaurants in that area—unless of course your idea of a romantic time is standing in a line two blocks deep for gyros and hummus. I parked behind the restaurant in a lot that looked like someone’s converted backyard and walked toward the front. I had just realized I had no idea who to look for when a man in a nice turtleneck and slacks approached me. His eyes were frost blue in the glow from the street lamps, and he smiled like a little boy on Christmas.
    “Peggy?” he asked. I did my best impression of a goldfish out of water. Connor had outdone himself this time.
    “I’m Justin,” he said, and offered me his arm. I took it and managed to find my voice again.
    “Hi,” I croaked, “How did you know it was me?”
    He laughed. “Connor called me with a description. Said you were on your way. Plus, I figured there can’t be many gorgeous redheads out tonight.”
    He smiled in the most disarming way and lowered his voice. “I really hope you don’t mind that he arranged this. I’m…not really good at meeting