The garage door hinges squealed. “She’s back. Everyone out.”
Without a sound, the team cleared the space, and David replaced the lock. Carefully, he bent down and removed the shamanic talisman from the door. Department 13’s dark magic division would be thrilled to hear their trinket worked. The talisman was shaped like a bat, and its charmed wings kept Ashley’s magical wards intact, allowing his team to pass through undetected.
Or at least he thought it had. Ashley was already back, so maybe the new tool hadn’t succeeded as much as he thought. He needed to find out.
He turned to the team. “Get out of here. I’ll meet you back at headquarters.”
David took a handkerchief from his suit-coat pocket and dabbed his face again as he made his way around the house. His team had freshly oiled the side gate when they came in, so he didn’t have to worry about squeaking hinges alerting her to his presence.
Once he was out of the yard, he peered into the garage window. The car sat alone. Good. He straightened his coat and went to the front door. He rang the bell and waited. Nothing. He knocked. Still no response. Damn it. He banged on the door again.
“This is Agent Bale. I need to speak with you, Ms. Storrey. It’s urgent.”
Seconds ticked by. He tried the knob. Locked. She could be sneaking out the back door right now. He dug his hand into the pocket of his pants and withdrew his lock-picking kit.
“I was called here for a welfare check. I’m coming in.” All lies, but it covered his ass either way. Being part of a top secret division of the government didn’t make him immune from the rule of law.
He opened the door and stepped inside. “Ashley?”
“Get the fuck out of my house or I’m calling the police.”
“I am the police.” Not exactly, but he did have a badge. He followed the sound of her voice and found her in the spacious white living room, sprawled on her couch. Blood soaked through her pant leg on the side of her knee. “You’re injured.”
“Great detecting, officer. I fell down earlier. Happy?” She glared up at him, and again the resemblance to Heather was striking. “I know you were the one snooping in my yard, and you work with my sister. I could pick up the phone right now and have you arrested.”
“You could try.” He glanced at her cell phone over on the coffee table. “But I’m pretty sure I could get to that phone before you.”
She lifted her hand, and he bolted forward, catching her wrist before she could finish reciting the spell. “No blur spells. We need to talk.”
She shook her head. “You don’t have anything I want.”
He tightened his grip until she flinched. “That figurehead is going to get you killed.”
Her eyes widened, and he forced himself to release her. This was the woman who headed up the Digi Robins. She was the reason his great-great nephew was dead. But revenge wasn’t going to bring him back.
David needed to play this by the book. He couldn’t allow his emotions to get the better of him. Vengeance might feel good for a moment, but he had a job to do, a higher calling.
She rubbed her wrist. “Thanks for your concern, but I’m tough to kill.”
David sighed. She was tap dancing all over his last nerve. “Look, I already have the proof I need to arrest you for grand larceny. You can either work with us, or we put you away for being the ringleader of the Digi Robins. The choice is yours.”
“No thanks.” She pushed herself up on the couch. “I’m not much of a team player anyway, and if you really are a government agent, then you need a warrant to arrest me in my own house.” Her gaze slid all the way down his body and back up again. “Honestly, you’re pretty to look at, but I have no clue what my sister saw in you.”
David blinked. Heather had never mentioned her twin sister to him. It never occurred to him that she would’ve discussed their relationship with her sister. His surprise must’ve shown on his face before he could bury it because she cocked a brow.
“You didn’t know she told me.” She shook her head. “You’re lucky she’s so forgiving. You abandoned her, and yet she still helps you when you call.” Her eyes narrowed. “I’d kill you.”
He shrugged. “You wouldn’t be the first to try.” The posturing was getting him nowhere. “I can protect you from the Serpent Society.”
“I don’t need protection.”
“Judging by the bloody scene back at your sister’s place, I’d say you do. If Drake hadn’t killed one of them, you’d be at their mercy right now.”
“Bullshit.” Her eyes sparked with defiance. “My magic is all the protection I need.”
“They have religious relics that your magic can’t touch.” He jerked his tie loose and popped the top couple buttons on his shirt.
She raised a brow. “Is it hot in here?”
He ignored her and pulled his shirt open to expose the scar over his heart. “They put this S on my chest and nearly took my heart. Magic kept me from dying, but it couldn’t protect me from them. And it won’t protect you, either.”
He buttoned his shirt again. “Give me the figurehead, and I can keep you safe.”
She smirked. “Did you honestly believe it would be so simple? It wasn’t in my shed, was it? Maybe it doesn’t even exist.” Her attempt at an innocent smile made him clench his fists to keep from jerking her right off the sofa.
“I don’t have time for games. The next time I see you, I’ll have a warrant handy.”
He slammed the door behind him as he left, then pulled out his cell phone as he walked to his car. “Kingsley? I’m going to need a warrant for Ashley Storrey. We’re not working with her. Her ass is going to jail
