Heather sighed, resting her head on his chest. “Thomas wanted me to tell you he’s sorry. He doesn’t mean the things they’re making him say.”
“Doesn’t make them any less true.”
She straightened, meeting his eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s my fault he’s dead.” Pain shone in his blue eyes. “It should’ve been me. I asked God to take me instead.”
“You didn’t sink that ship, and you only brought Thomas along because your sister asked you to look after him.”
He ran a hand down his face. “Either way, he ended up at the bottom of the ocean.” He cupped her face in his hand. “If anything happens to you…”
“I’m not going anywhere.” She glanced at the door and back to Drake. “And before you start giving David’s words any weight, that was the first I’ve ever heard that he left to protect me. He just stopped calling and didn’t return my calls or texts. He ghosted me. Months later, he needed my help communicating with one of his informants after the Serpent Society killed him. I helped him, but he never offered any explanation, just a reimbursement check for my time.” She stared down at her pale hands in her lap. “There was nothing noble about the way he walked out of my life.”
“I can’t have your blood on my hands, too.”
She kissed his palm. “You won’t.” Her lips brushed his cheek as she whispered, “I’m not helpless. I can protect myself.”
A knock on the door had them both looking up. Heather stood to answer it, but Drake caught her hand. “Let me.”
Did he really believe someone would grab her off her own porch in broad daylight? She followed him to the door, relaxing when Greyson grinned back at them.
“Found something I thought you might like returned.” He held up a dagger with a scrimshaw handle.
Drake took the blade while Greyson came inside, eyeing Heather.
She frowned. “Is something wrong?”
Greyson shook his head, raising a brow. “Pretty sure I met your sister.”
“You were with David, I mean Agent Bale. You were with him last night?”
“Shit. Did the lubber beat me to it this morning?”
Drake glanced at Greyson, tearing his attention away from the dagger. “Bale already stopped by.” He turned the knife in his hand. “Where did you find this?”
“The witch had it.”
“Impossible.” Drake lifted his chin, his eyes narrowing. “I keep it in the bottom of my tool kit. How would she have found it?”
Greyson shrugged. “No idea, mate, but I figured you would want it back.”
Heather moved closer to Drake, inspecting the dagger in his hand. “Could that be the item she needs to focus the power on you?”
He glanced her way. “To make Thomas haunt me?”
She nodded slowly. “Does it have a sentimental meaning for you?”
“It was my utility knife.” He stared down at the blade. “I used rope to tie myself to Thomas as the ship sank. I promised I wouldn’t leave him alone. When I woke up on the bank of the Savannah River, the ropes were cut and this dagger was in my hand. I don’t have any memory of cutting the lines, but I must have. We didn’t know the Grail had made us immortal. Not yet, anyway.”
“So this blade represents your tie to Thomas.”
He lifted his gaze. “I suppose it could.” He set the dagger on the coffee table. “How would she have known to steal it?”
That was the million dollar question.
Chapter Sixteen
David stared at the photo and cursed under his breath. Ashley Storrey, CEO of Cybernet Securities. No denying this woman was the high priestess they’d tangled with, and judging by the last name, she was Heather’s sister.
Heather lied to him.
David shoved the stab of hurt and guilt aside and nodded. “This is her.” He glanced at Kingsley. “How’d you find her?”
“I can’t take the credit this time.” Kingsley shook his head. “Agent Henderson wisely wore a micro body cam. She brought me pictures, and facial recognition software did the rest.”
Even though Agent Henderson had been hesitant to take on this detail, her undercover work was impeccable as usual.
David headed for the door. “Send me the digital file once you complete it. I want to know everything about this woman down to her favorite cereal.”
Once he was alone in his office, he took out his cell and started scrolling through his contacts. When he got to Heather’s name, he set the phone aside. This needed some finesse. Why would Heather be protecting her sister if she was the one attacking Drake?
Hell, Heather had been the one who told him about a coven controlling spirits in the first place.
She must not have known her sister was involved. Did she know now? Maybe she still didn’t believe it. That would explain why she was trying to defend her sibling. The key would be proving to Heather that Ashley was using magic to hurt others.
There was more to it than just the coven.
He had a hunch Ashley must be the head of the Digi Robins thievery ring. On the dark web everyone called the leader of the group Robin, but she wouldn’t use her real name anyway. And if Ashley was also the high priestess of the new coven, then she had the Flying Dutchman’s figurehead. King had traced the relic to the Serpent Society, and their antiquities were not for sale. The figurehead would’ve had to be stolen. Right up the Digi Robins’s alley.
He put his cell back in his pocket. Time to connect the dots. He needed proof tying Ashley not only to the coven, but also to the Digi Robins. Then he could show Heather the truth.
Normally he wouldn’t work so hard to prove a case to anyone other than a judge, but his gut warned him he’d need Heather on his team to bring down her sister. Ashley had an impressive grip on her magic, and with the figurehead in her possession she could torment her enemies and then send her
