The Fey Read Online Free PDF Page A

through her red curly hair. Erin and Matthew dated
off and on since she was sixteen years old. They were currently in
an “off” phase while Matthew was out of the country.
    “ When did he get back?”
Erin said between her teeth.
    “ Yesterday,” Alex said.
“He called me when we were at the old ladies’ boutique.”
    “ The fashion consultant?”
Rebecca said.
    “ Hmm,” Alex said. “He’s in
a martial arts tournament tomorrow and wants to spar. I invited him
to lunch. I’m sorry. I didn’t think it was a big deal. Have I met
Marcos?”
    “ No,” Erin said with a
shake of her head. “No, you’d have to leave the house for
that.”
    “ Don’t get up,” Matthew
said to Alex in Irish Gaelic.
    “ Hello ladies. May I join
you for lunch?” he asked in English.
    “ Matthew, of course,
please join us,” Rebecca said.
    He leaned to kiss Rebecca’s cheek while he
stroked Erin’s neck with his fingers. Erin turned to look up at
him. Erin’s face flushed with longing, then something else,
something foreign to her vibrant sister, crept into Erin’s eyes.
Her eyes flashed with fear. Matthew’s eyes asked the question, but
Erin shook her head and looked away. He gave Erin a peck on the
cheek then sat next to Alex. Under the table, he reached for Alex’s
hand.
    “ What a surprise,” Rebecca
said. “Erin was just telling us that she’s engaged.”
    “ But it’s not done,” he
asked Alex in Gaelic under his breath. Matthew nodded slightly. He
smiled at Erin, continuing in English, “Congratulations
Erin.”
    Erin squinted her eyes at Matthew then
looked away.
    “ It’s not done,” Alex
replied in Gaelic.
    “ So this is Alyssa?”
Matthew said. He turned in his chair to get a better look at
Alex.
    “ She’s kind of a dud,”
Alex said.
    Matthew laughed. Turning to Rebecca, he
said, “God, the eyes creep me out. What do you think?”
    “ She’s beautiful,” Rebecca
said. “But you’re right. The blue eyes are a little
disconcerting.”
    “ And the hair?” Erin
said.
    Matthew touched Alex’s blonde locks then
laughed.
    “ What a difference a few
years make,” he said. “Did you even wash your hair in
training?”
    Alex laughed. She and Matthew met on a
martial arts sparring mat during their Special Forces training.
They became sparring partners and, prior to Alex’s injuries, won
every tournament they entered. Alex rotated in her chair to look at
him. He was now competing, and winning, without her. Like so many
things, life had moved on while she remained stuck in one
place.
    When the waiter cleared the plates, Alex
asked Rebecca to help her to the bathroom giving Matthew and Erin a
chance to talk. Even with Alex’s slow movements across the
restaurant, Matthew and Erin were arguing when they returned.
Rebecca stopped for a loud conversation with an acquaintance to
announce their arrival. Squeezing Alex’s hand, Rebecca helped her
sit then insisted on ordering desserts to celebrate the
engagement.
    Taking over the conversation, Rebecca
chatted about their brother Colin and his wife Julie. Two years
younger than Max and Alex, Colin was Rebecca’s favorite child. His
siblings called him the “Golden Child” as a reference to his white
blonde hair and his special spot in Rebecca’s heart. Also a Green
Beret, Colin left the Army around the time of Alex’s injury. He now
had his own elementary school classroom.
    Rebecca’s chatter did nothing to decrease
the tension at the table. Looking at Matthew’s blank face, she knew
that he was very upset. But her sister? She hadn’t spent any time
with her since she was seventeen years old. She had no idea what
was going on between Matthew and Erin. She slipped her hand into
Matthew’s hand to encourage him.
    The waiter was placing their desserts in
front of them when a short, dark haired man stormed toward them.
Catching the movement out of the corner of her eye, Alex’s hand
went to the handgun she wore in a holster at her sacrum.