He started to close the door, but Bale caught the edge. “This is important.”
Drake surged forward, forcing Bale backward on the porch until he hit the iron lace railing. “You wouldn’t know what was important if it bit you in the arse.” He pointed back toward the house. “Heather’s sleeping. Call back later and make a fucking appointment.”
Bale straightened, pushing into Drake’s personal space. “You can tell yourself whatever you want to about me, but having you and your crew anywhere near Heather puts her in danger. If you really care for her, you’d walk away like I did.”
“I don’t need either one of you to protect me.”
Drake looked over his shoulder to find Heather in a robe, her arms crossed tight. He stepped back, putting some space between him and Agent Bale. “Thought you were sleeping.”
“Not anymore.” Her gaze met his for a second before she turned to Bale. “Why are you here, David?”
“Because we need to talk. I’ve been tracking down a potentially dangerous relic, and last night I…” He glanced at Drake and back to her. “We should talk alone.”
Heather reached for Drake’s hand. His fingers laced tight with hers, sending a jolt through his heart.
“Drake stays.” She lifted her chin. “We don’t have any secrets between us.”
Bale clenched his jaw with an almost imperceptible nod. “Fine. May I come inside?”
“Please.” She gestured to the living room. “Have a seat.” Bale took the chair, and Heather led Drake to the couch. She released Drake’s hand and tucked her long hair behind her ear. “What happened last night?”
…
Heather tried to squelch her annoyance at David’s avoidance of mentioning which “relic” he was after, but ever since the night Drake stepped between her and a gunman, he’d been showing her what a partnership could be. He wasn’t perfect, but at least he trusted her.
That was more than David had ever done. And now she couldn’t un-notice that David was still keeping secrets from her.
She’d reached the bottom of the stairs in time to hear David’s warning to Drake about walking away to keep her safe. He could tell himself his sudden exit was noble, but there was nothing selfless about the way he broke her heart without so much as an explanation.
“You were right about a new coven forming in Savannah. I had an undercover agent infiltrate their order last night, but one of the Sea Dog crew botched her initiation.” His eyes narrowed at Drake for a moment, and then he focused on Heather again. “But before the high priestess escaped, I saw her face. My other agent is searching our databases now.”
“What’s that got to do with me?” Heather asked. “How can I help you find something when you won’t even tell me what we’re looking for?”
“I’m not here about the relic.”
Something moved in her peripheral vision. The boy. Thomas. She raised a finger to silence David and drew in a long slow breath, allowing her physical senses to fade into the background.
The boy wrung his hands, his voice more of a whiny whisper. “She lost my uncle’s dagger. She’s real mad.”
“Thomas is here.” Heather kept her voice gentle as she spoke to the ghost. “So, you’re free?”
“No, she still has the power, but she can’t focus it on Uncle Drake.” Thomas looked at his uncle. “Not without something of his. Tell him I’m sorry. They make me say awful things. She wants him dead.” He looked at Heather, pleading in his eyes. “I don’t want to hurt him.”
“We know.” Heather nodded. “We’ll stop her.”
“Good.” His form thinned, and his spirit was gone.
Heather blinked, her other senses returning to the present company. “The witch controlling the spirit of Drake’s nephew apparently lost the item she needed to focus the attacks on Drake.” She looked into his exhausted eyes. “I think it’s safe for you to sleep right now.”
“This is going to sound crazy.” David leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “The witch who can control spirits looks like you. Darker complexion, but she could be your sister.” He paused. “If you had one.”
Heather shifted a little closer to Drake, hoping he’d take the cue to stay silent about Ashley. Until now, she hadn’t realized that David wasn’t the only one to keep secrets during their relationship. It hadn’t been intentional at the time. He’d been a government agent knee-deep in paranormal events. She’d been eager to help him. Her relationship with Ashley was rocky, so she’d never thought to introduce him. He knew her parents were dead and her grandmother left her the house, but her sister had never come up in conversation.
And now, Ashley could have the Serpent Society and Department 13 after her.
It also meant that Ashley was leading a coven. Possibly the one attacking Drake. No. No way. Ashley would never hurt anyone. Not purposely.
“That’s a new one.” Heather shrugged, hoping her expression looked dubious. “No one has ever told me I look like anyone else.”
David didn’t look convinced, but his cell phone pinged, pulling his attention from Heather. She glanced at Drake and he took her hand. His strong presence calmed her nerves.
“I’ve got to go. We might have a lead on the relic.” He stood, his gaze fixed on Heather. “Are you sure this woman couldn’t have been your cousin or something? She looked so much like you.”
“I’ll dig through old family scrapbooks and let you know.”
David left, closing the door behind him, and Heather released a pent-up breath, sinking in to Drake. “There has to be a mistake. Ashley can’t be the one hurting you.”
He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, his thumb stroking her skin slowly. “I know you don’t want to believe it, but until we can prove it’s not her, we have to assume you’re in danger. I hired Greyson to help
