As Darkness Gathers (Dark Betrayals Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

before I could, ducked his head as he entered the plane, and flashed me a lethal smile. He stowed his bag—a simple duffel—and then closed the bin before standing with his head bent and shrugging out of his charcoal gray overcoat. He moved with such ease and confidence I couldn’t help but watch him. He glanced up as he took his seat—1A, directly across from my jump seat—and caught me staring. That disarming grin came out again, and I glanced away, flustered.
    I made the requisite announcements over the public-address system and did a quick walkthrough to verify everyone was in their seats and all bags were stowed. The exit rows were empty, so I was saved from giving the briefing.  
    As I secured my galley, William Beecher, the airline owner’s son and Sydney’s brother, tripped up the stairs and stood hesitantly inside the boarding door.
    “Hi there, Will.” I kept my voice soft and made certain not to touch his fingers when accepting the pink slip of paper from him.
    “That’s the . . . maintenance and . . . fuel report for the captain.” His words were slow and carefully enunciated, his tone dull and monotone. He’d survived a car accident as a teenager and the resulting head injury still affected him as a man.
    “Thank you, Will. I’ll hand it to them.”  
    He twisted his orange hat in his hands and shuffled his feet, refusing to meet my gaze.  
    My smile turned sad, and as much as I wished to reach out and calm the nervous tremor in his hands, I refrained. He didn’t care for anyone to touch him. “I’ll see you when I get back, okay?”
    He retreated down the stairs, planting both feet on each step before moving to the next.  
    When I turned, I realized the man in 1A had been watching the exchange. He didn’t bother looking away as I caught his gaze, and I felt his stare on my back as I leaned into the cockpit and handed off the slip.
    “You gentlemen ready for me to close you in up here?”
    Edgar smiled over his shoulder. “We’re good. In the back?”
    “Locked and loaded.”
    “All right, then.”
    “Let me know if you need anything.” I secured the flight deck door and received the final report and go-ahead from the gate agent to close the boarding door. I played the safety recording while most of the passengers ignored it.
    The older woman was sleeping, her head lolled to the side. The father and son ignored one another. One businessman stared out the window, and the other shuffled through his briefcase. When I glanced at the man in 1A, though, his gaze was fixed on me as he held the safety information card in front of him.  
    I hid a smile as I packed away the demo equipment. A rule follower .  
    “Good morning, folks, this is your captain speaking.” There was a crackle of static, and then Edgar continued. “We want to thank you for choosing to fly with Sylvan Air. There is some weather along our route today. We’ve just spoken with air traffic control, and they’re rerouting us to try to avoid the worst of it. That will, however, push back our arrival in Ottawa about an hour. We’re going to get you there as quickly and safely as we can, and you’ll be in the excellent care of the lovely Miss Finch for the duration.”
    “Rascal,” I said under my breath.
    “We’ve been cleared for takeoff, so we ask that you sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight. We’ll update you with more information as it comes to us. Finch, please be seated for departure.”
    I made one last check to make sure everything in the galley was secured and the lavatory door was locked. 1A had his legs stretched out in front of him, but he drew them back as I folded down the jump seat.
    “Finch is an unusual name.” His voice was a low baritone. “Does your mother have a passion for birds?”
    “A passion for literature, actually.” I adjusted the cabin lighting to dim and took my seat.
    “Atticus wouldn’t suit you as well as Finch does.”
    I raised my eyebrows as I drew the shoulder harness