Page 61 of Treachery in the Highlands
"Bod an Donais," I say, a bit dazed, "that was certainly worth waiting for."
Joey chuckles, resting his forehead against mine.
I smooth my skirts and clear my throat."Now that we've got that settled, will ye tell me more about your past, Joey?I want to know everything."
He exhales a long sigh, leaning back slightly but keeping his hand entwined with mine."It's not a pretty story, Rachel.I've done things I'm not proud of."
"Dinnae care," I reassure him."I'm asking for honesty, not perfection."
"Yeah, I know."He scratches his head, twisting his lips into an odd expression."Okay, you deserve the whole truth.Back in New York City, I...worked for some dangerous people.You know that already, since I told you about Damiano and Fulvio.But there's more.I started out just running errands and sneaking into pawn shops to steal a few things.But before I knew it, I was in deep."
I fold my hands around his, hoping the gesture will ease his anxiety.
"There was this one job," he continues."It was supposed to be a simple break-in, just grab some documents and get out.But things went sideways fast."
I move closer."What happened?"
Joey's eyes cloud with a sort of pain I've never seen in him before."The owner was there.He wasn't supposed to be, but...We fought.I didn't mean to hurt him, Rachel, I swear it.But in the scuffle, he fell.Hit his head on the corner of his desk.There was so much blood..."
I feel a stab of shock at his confession.But rather than pulling away, I squeeze his hand tighter."Oh, Joey..."
"The guy lived," he says quickly."And he was only in the hospital for one night.I sneaked into his room and slipped some money into his wallet, as if that made up for my horrible mistake.But that's when I knew I had to get out.I couldn't do that kind of work anymore.But you don't just walk away from people like Damiano and Fulvio.They don't take kindly to deserters."
My heart aches for Joey, for the pain I see in eyes.But at last, I understand why he behaved the way he did when we first met."So that's why ye came to Scotland?To escape from that den of savages."
Joey gives a hollow laugh."Yeah, you could say that.Fulvio kept hounding me, so I figured putting an ocean between us might help.Jumped on the first plane out of the US, which got me to Scotland.Never imagined I'd end up traveling through time too."
I cup his cheek gently."Ye didnae know about the portal when ye came here---and to me."
Chapter Twenty-Three
Joey
Rachel gazes at me with pure love in her eyes.How can she behave that way?As if I told her wasn't horrific?I injured an innocent man---by accident, but still.I don't deserve the love she's given me, yet I can't walk away from her.I need Rachel.That's not a good enough reason to stick around.We might have chased the MacLeods away, but the dark forces aligning against us won't be so easy to get rid of.
"Joey," she whispers, her lilting accent softening the edges of my name."Ye canna blame yerself for what happened.'Twas an accident, pure and simple."
I shake my head, unable to look her in the eye.The weight of guilt presses down on my chest, making it hard to breathe."But Rachel, you don't understand.Where I come from, injuring someone like that...it's not just brushed off.I should've gone to jail for that."
She glides her fingers over my cheek.The touch affects me like a shock of static electricity, a stark contrast to the turmoil in my mind.
Rachel clasps my hands."Aye, 'tis not something to brush off, but ye don't live in that world any longer, do ye?Yer here, in the Highlands, where a man's worth is measured by his intentions, not only his actions."
I finally glance up to gaze into those striking blue eyes.They're filled with fierce determination that both comforts and unsettles me.
"What about An Bodach," I ask, "and whatever other dark forces might be gathering against us?We can't keep ignoring them, Rachel.They're coming for us, and I don't know if I'm strong enough to face them."
Rachel's lips curve into a smile that's equal parts impishness and steely resolve."Bloody hell, ye must stop underestimating yerself, Joey Finnegan.And ye forget that ye've got me by yer side."She slides closer, her breath warm against my ear."We've got magic in our blood, you and I.The old ways, the power of the Highlands---it's all around us."
A faint shiver passes over me at her fervent words, and I feel a crackle of energy in the air.It's like the very earth beneath our feet is alive with ancient power.But I struggle to sense it the way Rachel seems to.For a second, I do feel...something.A faint pulse, like a heartbeat thrumming through the stones and soil.
"Holy cow, I think Icansense it," I confirm, opening my eyes to find Rachel beaming at me.
"Aye, that's it.Ye've got the gift, Joey.It simply needs a wee bit of coaxing."
I shake my head, still skeptical."But how can this magic help us fight against whatever's coming?I'm not exactly Merlin, Rachel."
"Ye dinnae need to be a sorcerer, ye daft man."She kisses my cheek."Ye just need to be willing to accept that you have dormant powers within you and that I can teach you how to access them."
