Page 3 of Highballs & Hexes

“There are worse things.” As he knew all too well.

CHAPTER 2

“Yer brother’s gone.”

Fionola Bohannon closed her fatigued eyes. Her mother wasn’t telling her anything she didn’t know. Two nights ago, she’d gone to check on Tadhg only to find his flat ransacked and no trace of his whereabouts. She’d tried to keep it from her mother as long as possible, but like the proverbial saying, the cat was out of the bag.

Last year, her only brother had been abducted by Loman O’Connor. The evil fucker had randomly plucked and imprisoned members of the magical community, much like a scientist collecting rare butterflies, and he’d put them in cages. Tadhg was one of many held at a compound on a remote island off the coast.

The Aether, Damian Dethridge, along with a small contingent of his magnificently magical friends, saw to it that Loman was put down like the feral beast he was. This time, never to return.

Thank Anu!

But Tadhg was missing.

He didn’t go willingly, based on the state of his flat.

“Did ya hear me, girl?” Mam demanded, her voice pitched to raise the dead.

“Yeah.” Fi expelled a heavy sigh. “I’m after finding him, Mam. I’ve called that man who came around to help Tadhg. He’ll be arriving today to see what he can uncover.”

Face tragic and tears brimming in her large blue eyes so like Fi’s own, Mam nodded. “That’s grand, then.” With her mouth pressed into a thin line, her mother patted her shoulder, smoothed down her apron, and shuffled her way to the stove.

When it came to confronting their troubles, the Bohannons excelled at total avoidance. Da would hang about the pub, and Mam would make enough food for the entire village. Fionola and Tadhg had learned from the best, and they, too, refused to discuss their feelings. Snarky comebacks and work kept the worst of their emotions at bay.

And having considered their inability to communicate, Fi realized Tadhg might be missing for that very reason. If he felt threatened or was scared someone was after him, he’d quite likely jackrabbited for the hills rather than give her the details. Even now, he might be burrowing in and hiding from the world.

Guilt or something similar crept in.

Fi should’ve pushed harder for her brother to speak to someone about his trauma. He wasn’t all right, but she chose to believe him when he said he was. If the worst happened, it was on her. Scrubbing her palms over her face, she unfurled from a sitting position with a check of the clock.

Goddess, she was tired. But rest was for the wicked, and she had a shift to cover for Marta at the pub. And if her father was sober, she’d break the news about Tadhg to Da while she was there.

Within ten minutes, she was heading for the door.

“Are ya not eatin’, then?” Mam demanded.

“I’ve got a shift. Marta’s off to Dublin for the weekend.”

“That feckin’ girl’s gonna find herself with aweenon her hip if she’s not careful.”

Fi hid a grin. “She’s careful, Mam. Marta’s not interested in a life like ours. She’s got grand plans, she does.”

“Aye. Too grand, if ya ask me.”

Fi kissed her mother’s cheek. “Is there any such thing as too grand? I’d take a villa in the south of France and be happy for it.”

A twinkle lit her mother’s pale blue eyes. “You’re as batty as Marta.”

“Sure, but I’m better at hiding it.” Slinging her bag over her shoulder, Fi reached for the door handle. “Do you want me to send Da home?”

“Nah. Let him drink until he’s pickled his liver. What care I?” Mam’s snappy response lacked heat. In truth, she loved her husband, flaws and all. And who didn’t have flaws?

Feeling particularly sentimental, Fi paused to say, “I love you, Mam. I’ve not said it enough, but I do.”

Gesturing with her chin, Mam said, “Hurry now, girl. You’ll be late for work.”

“Is that your way of telling me you love me, too?” Fi asked dryly.

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