“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
