Chapter Seventeen

Heather was grateful she changed into long pants and grabbed a windbreaker. While the days were still warm in October, the nights hinted at the winter to come, and it was always breezy along the Savannah River.

She’d already crossed paths with some of the crew during the fight at the Bonaventure Cemetery, but she hadn’t been formally introduced. Drake helped her onto the deck and took her hand, walking her over to a tall man in the center of the ship.

“We’ve got nine in our original crew, ten if you count One-Eyed Bob. We recently added three women, too.” He looked at his crewmate and back to Heather. “You already met Colton. He’s our quartermaster.” Drake’s lips curved into a crooked smile. “And contrary to what Flynn believes, Colton and I built this replica of the Sea Dog, and that makes Colton the captain of this vessel.”

A woman approached, sliding her arm loosely around Colton’s waist. She offered her hand. “I’m Skye.”

Heather smiled. “I think we may have met before. You own the Magnolia Mystic shop, right?”

“Yep, that’s me.” Skye glanced up at Colton. “I’m also the quartermaster’s wife.”

Colton’s grin widened. “I’m the luckiest pirate on the Atlantic.”

Drake started to introduce her to the ship’s pilot, when a tall, broad-shouldered man with striking red hair came aboard, drawing everyone’s attention. “Thanks for coming, crew.”

This must be Captain Flynn. Heather scanned the crew’s reactions. Some were tense, some hostile, and some cautious, but regardless of the lack of eagerness to see him, Flynn wore the coat of leadership like a second skin.

Drake had made it clear he didn’t consider the man a friend, but she figured the crew didn’t have to like him. They had to trust they were better off with him than without him.

The rest of the crew circled around Flynn, and Heather glanced over at Drake. His jaw was tight, his forehead lined, and his gaze kept sliding over to the gangplank. Were they still missing someone?

Greyson stood across the circle from them and tipped his head in greeting when he noticed her looking his way. She smiled and focused on the captain again, only to find him staring at her.

Flynn’s eye twitched as he turned to Drake. “Aren’t three female crew members enough? What is she doing here?”

“She’s under my protection. I won’t leave her behind.”

Flynn rolled his eyes. “Have her wait in the captain’s quarters.”

Drake growled. “If you called this meeting to discuss her sister, or how you’re trying to buy her house out from under her, then I think she has every right to be here.”

Flynn brushed off Drake’s aggression and cocked his copper brow. “I suppose there’s a chance she could be helpful.”

The captain looked her over from head to toe, and she half expected a snide comment about her appearance, but he surprised her.

“You’re the one Agent Bale uses to gather information from the dead.”

Heather nodded slowly. “I’m a subcontractor for Department 13 when they need my services.”

Drake’s hand slid free of hers, and he jogged over to the gangplank. Heather blinked as Agent David Bale stepped down onto the deck. He wore his usual black suit with a white shirt and black tie. Department 13 did their best not to stand out among the public. She had no doubt she was the only person on this boat who knew David’s socks were some type of striped and colorful pattern. It was the only part of his uniform he could personalize without jeopardizing his anonymity.

“What the fuck is he doing here?” Flynn pointed directly at David. “Get the hell off this ship. You ended our partnership. You have no place here anymore.”

“He stays.” Drake turned around, narrowing his eyes at Flynn. “I asked him to come.”

Heather’s jaw dropped before she could stop herself. Drake asked for David’s help?

Flynn’s eyes widened in shock and possibly anger. “Is this mutiny, carpenter?”

“No, it’s not fucking mutiny.” Drake shook his head. “A witch has been sending a ghost from my past to attack me, and she’s using a relic to do it.”

Now it made sense. Drake must’ve figured they could end the attacks if they could find the figurehead and lock it away. That was David’s specialty.

Flynn shrugged. “Not our problem. Agent Bale thinks he can handle it without our help. Let him.”

“You bastard!” Heather stormed into Flynn’s personal space. “Drake was laid out on the floor of your house from one of those attacks. You witnessed how bad they are. How many more do you think he can take before he doesn’t come back to us the same man?”

David squared his shoulders. “My department found evidence pointing to Ashley, Heather’s sister, being the elusive Robin of the Digi Robins, too.”

Heather spun around. “You don’t know that. She fights digital pirates and hackers.”

“You don’t know your sister as well as you think you do.” David met her gaze, regret in his eyes. “I can show you the proof later if you’d like.”

Heather shook her head, stepping back until she stood beside Drake once more. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. She didn’t want it to be true, any of it. But it was getting more difficult to find excuses. What if they were right? What if she didn’t know her sister at all?

David took a step toward her but then stopped short with a shake of his head. He faced Flynn again, and while David didn’t display the aggressive stance of the pirates, he had his own aura of power. There wasn’t a trace of fear in his eyes. “Drake persuaded me to come here tonight because he thinks we can help each other. I need that relic, and you need it locked in a vault where the witch can’t get it.”

“No.” Flynn shook his head. “We’re through stealing for the government.”

“Shut the hell up, Flynn.” Greyson rubbed a hand down his face. “Drake is crew. We protect our crew no matter what. Bale’s plan is solid.”

Flynn looked at each of the pirates. “Don’t you understand? I’ve already made an arrangement with Robin. We can put our piracy to use for the Digi Robins and we’ll each make a healthy share of the profits.”

A woman broke free from one of the others and shoved Flynn back a step. Heather recognized her from the Bonaventure. She was the woman who nearly died that night.

“Are you an idiot? She’s playing you.” She crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. “I stole for her for years and almost died because of her greed. No way am I going back, and you shouldn’t, either. She’ll sell whatever relics or antiquities you steal and she’ll vanish. You’re her last big payoff so she can disappear. She doesn’t care about you or any of the Digi Robins team who work for her. We all thought we were helping people get medical miracles they could never afford, but she set us up. Wake up, Flynn!”

The woman was talking about Ashley. Heather couldn’t wrap her head around it. They had it all wrong. It was the Serpent Society that imprisoned two people underground, not her sister.

As if he heard her thoughts, Flynn turned, facing Heather head-on. “Is she right about your dear sister? I’d say you know her much better than a woman who worked for her without ever meeting her in person.”

Heather swallowed. “Ashley has always been driven, but she’s not violent.” She glanced at the woman she’d seen in the Bonaventure Cemetery. “The Serpent Society buried you alive, not Ashley.”

The woman came closer, glancing at Drake first and then back at Heather. “I’m Harmony, by the way, I don’t think we got to meet that night.” Her expression softened slightly. “When I was trapped in that underground chapel with Chris, we discovered we’d been set up. Robin gave Chris the contact information for Dr. Trumain to open Pandora’s Box. She had to know he was part of the Serpent Society. She promised the Serpents the box, and they wanted to verify it was authentic.”

“That makes no sense.” Heather shook her head, still unable to see her sister in this new light. As if sensing her turmoil, Drake started rubbing circles on her back. She sent him a grateful smile. “Why would she do that? Ashley is all about the money.”

Agent Bale moved around the pirates to stand beside Harmony. “I’m working on the proof, but my working theory is that Pandora’s Box was never her real target. It was a stepping stone to the figurehead from the Flying Dutchman. The one thing she hadn’t counted on was that a band of pirates had convinced Harmony to sell a replica of the box and return the actual artifact to me. Your sister must’ve had the figurehead, but the Serpents ended up with a forgery.”

Heather’s stomach twisted. “If that’s true, why would she have risked them seeing her at the Bonaventure?” She grasped at one more straw, desperate to reconcile her sister’s behavior. “Maybe she came to the cemetery that night to rescue her Digi Robins team.”

Drake squeezed her hand and waited for her to meet his eyes before he spoke. “I don’t think she knew it was a fake, love. I think she was there that night to be sure Trumain got the trade. When it all went sideways, she knew they’d be coming for her, since she had the figurehead.”

“That would mean she…” Her words faded away.

It meant her sister didn’t care that two people working for her underground charity were buried alive. If she was also the high priestess of the coven that had been attacking Drake, she definitely had enough magic to cast a spell and slip past the Department 13 cleanup crew to take the serpent ring off Dr. Trumain’s finger.

What possible use could Ashley have for that ring? A trophy? Or was it a token to use to attack them like she did with Drake’s dagger? Her stomach soured. This couldn’t be Ashley. There had to be another explanation.

Her grandmother’s spirit swamped her senses with love and regret. “The darkness was always there, child. You could never see it, but we did. I tried to change her path, but she’s a stubborn girl.” In a whisper no one else on the ship could hear, she added, “And she has always wanted what you have. Be careful.”

Flynn cleared his throat, all his attention on Agent Bale. “Does your presence on this ship mean you want our help again?”

Agent Bale smirked. “Or you need mine.” He pointed at Drake. “It’s your pirate she’s after.” Facing Flynn again, he said, “I know about the coven, and we’re in the process of locating the figurehead. Since the relic technically belongs to an American citizen, unless I can prove she procured the relic illegally, the rule of law keeps my team from stealing it.”

Flynn raised a brow. “And what would we get from this deal?”

David crossed his arms. “They wouldn’t be able to attack Drake anymore. He’d be safe.”

“We’re a band of pirates.” Flynn stroked his impeccably groomed copper goatee. “We need a better offer.”

Agent Bale let out a humorless chuckle. “You got paid for finding Pandora’s Box, and one of your employees had it all along. I’d say this one would make us even.”

Their stonewalling wasn’t getting them any closer to the figurehead and keeping Drake safe. She needed a bargaining chip. Fast. Heather stepped forward, her hand sliding free of Drake’s as she approached Flynn. “You’ll get my house.”

“What?” Drake huffed, pushing his way through to her side. “No. He’ll tear it down and build a hotel. Don’t do this.”

The thought of her family’s legacy being demolished made her sick to her stomach, but what other option did she have? She looked up at Drake. “If it’ll get all of you to work together, then it’s worth it.”

He shook his head, his voice softening. “She can’t kill me.”

David interrupted. “And who will she come after when she figures that out?” He stared at Drake. “How can she hurt you the most?”

A chill shot down Heather’s spine.

She would be the next target. No. Her own sister wouldn’t attack her. They still didn’t know why she was going after Drake. Until they did, this was the only way to protect him.

Heather held her hand out to Flynn. “Do we have a deal?”

His blue eyes flicked toward Drake and back to her, his lips curving into a feral smile. “It’s a deal, lass.” He straightened up, facing David. “How soon will your team have the location of the figurehead?”

“We’d already know if your master gunner hadn’t blown my undercover operation into the coven.”

“Fuck off.” Greyson stormed into David’s personal space. “Drake has his dagger back so she can’t cast her magic on him. I did that while you were hiding in the shadows watching.”

“This isn’t getting us anywhere.” Heather scanned the four men’s faces and waited for them to focus on her instead of the raging testosterone swirling around. “David, will you let Flynn know when you have the location? I’ll reach out to some of my spirits from the other side and see if they can find it.”

He gave her a stiff nod. “All right.” He pointed at Flynn. “Keep your crew organized. Another loose cannon, and this could blow up in our faces.”

As David left the ship, Drake led Heather farther down the deck, keeping his voice low. “I can’t let you lose your house.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat as the weight of her bargain settled onto her shoulders. “We need Flynn and your crew to work with David. There’s no other option.”

When this was over, she’d have nothing left. If everyone was right about her sister, Ashley could be in jail, and Heather would lose the only home she’d ever known. Her birthright.

But Drake would be safe. She studied his weathered face, the concern lining his eyes. No man had ever put her needs ahead of his own. Maybe that’s why she hadn’t hesitated to make the deal with Flynn. It made sense. She had no doubt Drake would have done the same for her.

“I’ll be all right as long as you are. Our souls found each other again. We deserve a better ending this time.” She reached up to cup his cheek, her thumb stroking his tanned skin. “Will you…tell me what happened between you and Lucy?”

His shoulders tensed and his voice dropped to a raw whisper. “I set sail to earn enough money to prove to her father I could be a good husband. Flynn filled my head with tales of pirate treasure and assured me we’d be back at port within two years.” He stared up at the stars. “Kissed her goodbye at the dock, and I never saw her again.” His gaze locked on hers. “I want a better ending this time, too.”

“If my sister figures out you’re immortal, we both know the best way to hurt you would be to come after me. I still can’t imagine she’d take it that far, but I’ll admit my judgment might be clouded where she’s concerned.” She rested her hand over his heart. “The sooner David locks that figurehead in the Department 13 vault, the better.”

Drake turned away from her, breaking eye contact as he stared out at the dark water. “There is another way. You’d be safe and keep your house if I walk away right now. She can’t kill me, and she wouldn’t have a reason to go after you to get to me.”

Heather’s heart twisted. Was he right? Even if the plan worked and David locked the figurehead away, what kind of future did they really have? She would age and die, leaving Drake behind, alone and heartbroken. Again.

Maybe their souls were never meant to be together.

The song from the attic wandered through her mind. Johnny Mercer’s song about the angels asking about the thrill of being alive and she would remember…Drake. Every kiss, every touch, every smile.

She stepped in front of him and waited for him to look at her. “There is nothing noble about walking out on someone you care about. You wouldn’t walk out on any of your crew. You’d fight beside them. I’m asking you to do the same for me. For us.” She searched his eyes and reached up to caress his stubble-covered jawline. “There will be other houses, Drake, but there’s only one you.”

…

Drake lost himself in her ice-blue eyes. Who was he kidding? He couldn’t walk away now. But as long as she was mortal, her vulnerability would be the end of him. He bent to taste her lips, to reassure himself she was real.

She wrapped her arms around him, her body pressing tight to his. Gods, she fit perfectly in his arms. Made for him, his safe port in the storm. After lifetimes apart, he’d found her again.

And he wasn’t going to lose her. Whatever it took.

He broke the kiss, resting his forehead on hers. “I’ll build you a new house.”

Her smile had his sea legs swaying. “I’d love that.”

“So we fight.”

She nodded with a determined glint in her eyes. “We fight.”

He took her hand, their fingers lacing together. “Then I better introduce you to the rest of the crew.”

Keegan, the ship’s pilot, and his raven-haired historian, Char, approached with Caleb, the navigator, and John, the boatswain trailing behind. They quickly introduced themselves and then made room for the first mate, Duke.

Drake never had much interaction with the hulking first mate. It was clear from the start that Flynn chose this mountain of a man to be his personal bodyguard, and until now, that had been all Drake needed to know.

Duke offered his large hand to Heather, taking hers in a gentle grip. “Good to meet you. Officially.”

Heather arched a brow. “Have we met before?”

“Aye.” He nodded. “You helped me with a ghost problem a few years ago.”

“But I’m sure I’ve never seen you before.” Heather chuckled. “Trust me, there’s no way I would forget you.”

Drake rolled his shoulders back against an unfamiliar spike of jealousy.

Duke released her hand. “We talked over the phone. You connected with the spirits on the property I bought and told me how to help them move on. I never would have slept again without your help.”

Heather chuckled, releasing his hand. “I’m glad my suggestions worked for you.”

Duke straightened, making eye contact with Drake. “She’s legit.”

Drake caught her hand, lacing his fingers with hers. “She’s the best.” Duke made his way back to Flynn’s side, and Drake turned to Heather. “I think you’ve already met everyone else.”

“I’ll never be able to keep them all straight,” she murmured.

“Pirates rarely give tests, lass.”

Heather rolled her eyes, laughing, and damn it all, he would never get tired of hearing it.