A Job From Hell (Ancient Legends #1)

table. With my evening
routine finished, I climbed between the sheets and switched off the lights. I
had been asleep for barely an hour when something woke me up.
    Sitting up in the darkness, I strained to
listen. Something moved outside my door. Then I heard the faintest giggle and a
loud thud, and feet shuffling away. Maybe Aidan had guests over, or he and
Clare were fooling around. They made a stunning couple, I had to admit that.
Wrapping my covers around me, I closed my eyes, but I lay awake for most of the
night, not quite able to shake off the image of Aidan McAllister’s muscular
arms wrapped around a giggling Clare. I was still in love with Cameron, so the
sudden jealousy made absolutely no sense.

Chapter 4

 
    For the next two days I saw and heard no
one. The house was so quiet, it felt as though I lived alone. My new boss—I
cringed at the prospect of calling someone my own age that—clearly liked
to keep his distance and I appreciated it. No need to speak to him at all if he
didn’t want to. But I wanted to. I wanted him to notice me so much that I even
applied makeup and put more effort into the household chores. I hadn’t thought
about Cameron in a day, setting a new record. To claim it had nothing to do
with Aidan would be a lie.
    “I’m being silly,” I muttered to myself as I
inspected myself in the mirror for the umpteenth time. The blue skinny jeans
looked really good on me, making my legs seem so much longer. Shame Aidan
wouldn’t be in the woods to watch me break into the hut dressed in my best
outfit.
    On Friday, the house was deserted as usual.
No voices, no slamming doors, no sign of anyone living here whatsoever. I left
through the back, leaving the kitchen door unlocked. No one bothered to lock it
anyway. As much as McAllister liked his privacy, he didn’t seem too concerned
about the possibility of burglary.
    Dallas’s car was parked down the street. I
hoped his loud muffler wouldn’t draw anyone’s attention, but then again who
would hear it in the middle of nowhere? I jumped onto the passenger seat,
pushing a black backpack aside.
    “You’re late,” Dallas said.
    I glared at him. “You said to wait until
everyone’s asleep. That’s exactly what I did.” Irritated, I peered inside the
backpack. “What’s with the compass?”
    Dallas started the car and sped off. “I
couldn’t get my hands on a pair of night vision goggles, so I figured a compass
was the next best thing.”
    “You don’t know where we’re going?” I
turned to face him, flabbergasted.
    “Of course I do.” He hesitated for a moment
before adding, “Sort of.”
    “Great. What better way to spend a Friday
night than with my half-wit brother, trekking through the freezing Highlands,
looking for a shed to break into? You’ve really topped yourself this time.”
    He shot me a glare. “You only get thirty
per cent since you keep insulting me. I know the way.”
    I held up the compass. “Sure you do.”
    “Hey, that’s for peace of mind. Do you have
any idea how dark it’s going to be in those woods?”
    “What did I get myself into?” I sighed.
Expecting him to change his mind and give up on his grand plan made me the
bigger idiot out of the two of us.
    “Twenty per cent,” Dallas said.
    “Gee, why am I not doing it for free? I don’t
mind scrubbing toilets for the rest of my life.”
    We drove in silence for half an hour before
Dallas cleared his throat and resumed a conversation, still scowling. “How’s
the job?”
    I shrugged. “Okay. I’ve done worse.”
    Dallas smiled and steered the car onto a
narrow path, then killed the engine. “You definitely have. I remember when you
glued tattoos all over yourself in the hope to get the receptionist job at a
tattoo parlor.”
    “I looked ridiculous.” I returned the
smile. “Shame they realized my body art was fake.”
    He gave my hand a quick squeeze. “This is
our chance, Amber. We’ll make it.”
    With a groan, I buttoned up my coat and
exited the warmth of the car. The inclining track was narrow, surrounded by
tall trees. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a soft glow on my brother’s
face. A cold wind whipped my hair against my skin. Dallas pulled out the
compass, threw the backpack over his shoulder, switched on the flashlight and
locked the car. I looked at him with raised eyebrows.
    “Come on.” He motioned me to follow and set
off up the winding trail.
    “Are you sure this is safe? You’re not
going to get us