And if she did take the figurehead from the Serpents—David rubbed the S-shaped scar over his heart—this could be his chance to smoke out the last of the fanatical order and take them down.
For good.
…
Drake sat in the other room while Heather conducted two mediumship appointments. Hearing her work gave him a glimpse into her world. Her ability to connect with those souls who had crossed over was uncanny, and her gentle spirit shone through as she delivered the messages to her clients with healing and hope.
She amazed him.
He wandered into the kitchen to hunt for a snack when his cell phone buzzed. He took it out of his pocket and raised a brow when Flynn’s name lit up his screen in a text. These days their quartermaster, Colton, called the crew together for meetings. Why would Flynn be making this demand? He was their captain in name only.
All crew will meet me on deck of the Sea Dog tonight at 8 p.m. Urgent.
What the hell did that mean?
Now that Drake had his dagger back, he’d been hoping for a restful night’s sleep; instead it looked like he had a date with Captain Flynn.
He glanced at the door. Fuck. He couldn’t leave Heather alone. He might be safe from the mental attacks for now, but her sister could come for Heather anytime. She still didn’t believe Ashley would hurt her, but Drake had been on the receiving end of her sister’s assaults, and he wasn’t so certain.
Heather came in, her smile easing his worries. “I’m done for the day. Want to play some Skull & Crossbones before dinner?”
Staying in with her sounded like heaven. He wanted to feel her body against his, to hear her laugh and taste her lips. Instead, he held up his phone. “I’d rather spend time with you alone, but Captain Flynn has called an emergency meeting of the crew, so we need to head to River Street.”
Heather tilted her head. “Unless I missed something, I’m not crew.”
“Aye.” He nodded. “But I’m not leaving you here alone. If Flynn has a problem with it, I’ll toss him overboard.”
She came closer, stopping in front of him. “We have to talk about Ashley.”
“All right.” He rolled his shoulder back and pulled the dagger free of his belt. He laid it on the table. “I still can’t figure out how she got this. We must’ve crossed paths. Do you have a picture of her?”
Heather glanced at the fairly blank walls. “Not anything recent.” She focused on him again. “I could show you pictures from her company’s website.” She started for the door and stopped. “Do we have time?”
Drake nodded. “We don’t need to leave for another hour.”
“Perfect. I’ll be right back.” She returned with her laptop and placed it on the kitchen table. She kept her eyes on the keyboard, speaking as she typed. “None of this makes sense. Ashley has a successful business. Why would she risk it all to run the Digi Robins? And if I’m wrong, and she does head up the dark web group, if they really give all the money to help people without insurance pay for medical treatment, then it proves she’s got a good heart. She wouldn’t hurt anyone.” She met his gaze. “She’s dabbled in magic before, but never with a coven. I just can’t believe it’s her.”
She turned the laptop around, and Drake’s blood ran cold. He recognized her face. Those eyes. Gods, he hadn’t thought about her or seen her in at least eight years. He studied Heather’s face, suddenly recognizing the resemblance. With her colorless skin and hair and her bright blue eyes, he’d never connected her with Ashley, but seeing the picture of her sister with Heather, side by side, it was clear they’d been twins. One light, and one dark.
Heather frowned. “Are you all right?”
“No.” He ran a hand down his face and took the chair next to her. “I’ve met her before. Almost ten years ago.” He shook his head slowly. “I wonder when she stole my knife. ”
She scanned his face, questions in her eyes. “How did you know Ashley?”
The suspicion and worry lining her face stabbed his heart. Telling her the truth right now might kill him. Half of him wished the fucking cell phone would ring and interrupt them, and the other half wished he’d never seen the picture on the laptop.
Heather’s words to Agent Bale came back to haunt him.
There are no secrets between us.
Fuck. He took her hand, needing the connection. “Your sister hired me to do some interior work on her office when she first opened in Savannah. I kept the knife in a false bottom in my toolkit.”
Heather’s eyes welled with tears as she understood what this meant. “How could she have done this?”
He hated the deep hurt this was causing her. “You said you weren’t close. Maybe…you don’t know your sister as well as you think.”
Heather sniffed, lifting her chin a notch. “And you do?”
“I’m sorry, love,” he said and continued to hold her hand, letting her work through the emotional storm reflected in her eyes.
After a moment, she took a deep breath. A crease formed on her brow. “That would have been eight years ago. Ashley was only twenty-two. She graduated college, but she hadn’t opened Cybernet Securities yet.”
“The work I completed was in a loft over the candy store on River Street. Her boyfriend had contracted a virus of some kind, but he couldn’t go to the hospital,” he said. “She told me no one should have to watch someone die because they don’t have insurance.”
“Oh my god.” Heather put a hand to her lips. “I remember that. His name was Bryce. She met him in college.” As the second realization dawned in her eyes, his dread swelled. “That’s when she started the Digi Robins.”
“I didn’t ask what kind of business she was starting, but it’s possible.”
Heather’s gaze went distant as silence swelled between them. When she looked at
