Forgotten (Shattered Sisters Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

again. "Look, the girls and I will go to the park instead. I'm really sorry I—''
    "I think you'd better stay," Ash said in a deep, steady voice. "Joey and I have some news."
    Joey swallowed hard, feeling as if a fist had just punched her in the solar plexus.
    "News? Joey, what does he mean?" Caroline's voice went a shade higher. "Is anything wrong, honey? You're not sick are you?" A hand immediately went to her sister's forehead, then her cheek. Why was that always the pattern with mothers? Any mother, anywhere in the world, would do it in exactly the same manner. Palm to forehead, then to cheek. And not just to her own brood, but to anyone, friend or foe, who showed signs of having a fever.
    Joey shook her head. "Nothing's wrong. I'm not sick, Caro."
    “Is it Toni? She’s not in trouble again, is she?”
    At Ash’s curious look, she said, “Toni’s another sister,” Joey said.
    “Half sister,” Caroline corrected. “Joey and I have the same mom. Joey and Toni have the same dad.”
    “Toni’s fine,” Joey told her sister. “She and Nick have set a date, and they’ve narrowed their dream house search down to three Victorians. One of which is down this side of Ithaca, so that’s the one I’m obviously pulling for.”
    “So what’s wrong then?” Caroline asked. And then she frowned. “It's this Slasher thing, isn't it? You've gotten yourself into some kind of trouble and—"
    "No, Caroline." Joey glanced up—because Ash was at least a foot taller than her—and knew there was no way out of this. Next she looked into her sister's blue eyes and felt her own sting. Caroline might never forgive her for this when she learned the truth, but it would be worth it to save her life. There was no one in this world closer to her than Caroline.
    "I...that is, Ash and I..."
    She couldn't go on. Her mouth felt as though she'd rinsed it with ashes. Caroline would never believe this. She knew her too well.
    Ash's hand closed around hers and lifted it. "I think this says it all."
    Frowning, Joey glanced down to see the simple gold band she'd bought and placed on her left hand. It was a prop. Nothing but a prop.
    Caroline's eyes widened. Then she made a face. "This is a joke, right? It has to be a joke. Look, Mr. Coye, no one knows how much my sister detests the institution of marriage better than I. You can't seriously be standing here trying to tell me that she...that you... Oh, my God, you're not kidding. Are you?"

    When he saw the tears pooling in Joey's eyes, Ash thought maybe he'd taken his challenge a bit too far. He didn't have a clue why she wanted him to believe she was his wife. He'd thought she would cut the act if forced. He'd been wrong. Whatever was going on in her head, she must be damned serious about it. Otherwise, she never would have continued the charade in front of her sister. It was pretty obvious how close they were.
    It was also increasingly and uncomfortably obvious that Joey had some kind of involvement in the murders. He'd wondered about that from the beginning, and her sister's cryptic comment about the killings added credence to his suspicion. But, damn, it was tough to look at her and suspect her of being a serial killer.
    A moment later he found himself enveloped in a hesitant but genuine hug. Then Caroline hugged Joey even harder. Fiercely, really. And she was crying, too. She sniffed and straightened. "I never thought it would happen." She sniffled some more. "Joey, honey, didn't you even have a wedding?"
    "It was a...sort of a...spur-of-the-moment decision."
    Caroline frowned, this time at both of them, finally settling her gaze on Ash. "Did you get my sister pregnant? Is that what this is—?"
    "Caroline, please!" Joey diverted the woman's attention. "Look, you've been after me to settle down for years. You ought to be happy for me."
    Her lips thinned as her gaze moved downward to Joey's admirably flat belly. "I'm sorry. It's just that it's so sudden. I'm in shock, that's all." She took