“That was only because he wanted my connections to the Digi Robins.” Harmony opened both of her hands. “Now you’re all stuck with me!”
Heather grinned, taking in the circle of women who had become her friends over the past couple of months. Although they hardly knew her, after the battle with Ashley the three of them had brought over food and helped her with her recovery. They quickly circled around her and made her feel like family. There were days when she couldn’t believe how much her world had changed. Drake had moved into her place, although he did keep his workshop and his dock on the river, and now she had a group of non-virtual friends who looked at her as an equal instead of an oddity.
“Never dreamed I’d be part of an immortal pirate crew.” It didn’t escape her notice that the crew waited for the sun to go down before the vote on the deck of the Sea Dog. It had taken a few weeks for the sunburn to fade from her skin after her fight with Ashley. She wasn’t eager to be in the sunlight again anytime soon.
Skye chuckled. “Not all of us are immortal.”
“True,” Heather agreed. She and Skye had both refused a sip from the Holy Grail. Char and Harmony were as immortal as the rest of the pirates.
A knock on the door to the captain’s quarters drew all their attention.
“Come in,” Skye called.
David stepped inside, wearing his typical black suit, white shirt, and black tie. Heather had no idea why he was on the Sea Dog tonight. As far as she knew, he didn’t get a vote on new crew members.
“Hi.” He stood tall as he took in the room. “Could I get a minute alone with Heather?”
The others turned her way, and she nodded her approval. “Sure.”
“We’ll see if Flynn has arrived yet so we can get this show on the road.” Skye stood and led the others out.
When they were alone, David cleared his throat. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
“Thanks. Me too.” Years ago things hadn’t been so awkward between them. With all the changes in her life, her relationship with David had become strained to say the least. “I didn’t get to thank you for getting me to the hospital in the helicopter.”
“You don’t need to. I was glad to help.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’m not sure what Drake has told you about being part of the Sea Dog crew. Department 13 has partnered with them a few times in the past to find artifacts, and after this…incident…with your sister, I’ve come to realize the crew wasn’t involved in the Digi Robins double cross.”
“Good. And that means?” She vaguely understood her sister’s dark web adventures, and she had been with David the night his brother’s descendant died in the Bonaventure Cemetery. How it all tied in with the Sea Dog crew was foggy at best.
“What I’m trying to say is, if you throw your hat in with the crew, you need to know you will be involved in dangerous situations in the future.” He crossed his arms and shifted his weight, his gaze never leaving hers. “I’m saying you can be in a relationship with Drake and not have to be a part of this crew.”
Heather blinked. “You mean like it was with you and me?” She crossed her arms, adopting his stance. “Like when I thought we were in a relationship, even though you kept me in the dark about the most important thing in your life, Department 13? No, thank you.” She raised her chin. “You can’t be in love with parts of someone. Drake’s not keeping me out of the chambers of his heart. We’re there for each other, no matter what. He trusts me and I trust him.”
She sighed and dropped her arms. “If there’s danger ahead, we’ll face it together.” She patted David’s arm as she passed by. “I don’t expect you to understand.”
…
Drake watched as Agent Bale left the ship without a word to anyone. Good riddance. He didn’t know what Bale had needed to talk to Heather about, but he’d bet his hammer the agent was warning her away from joining the pirate crew.
A minute later, Flynn crossed the gangplank, his red hair slicked back into a tight ponytail. His eyes narrowed as he sized up the crew. If the captain thought he could turn them against Heather, he had another thing coming. One-Eyed Bob had known Heather and her family since she was a girl, and Skye had already claimed her as the sister she never had. Greyson and Colton were also staunchly in her corner.
“Where’s the carpenter’s woman?”
“If you mean Heather Storrey, I’m right here.” Heather strode down the deck toward the bow, her hooded robe fanning out behind her like the queen she was.
God, she was a vision. He was the luckiest man on the planet. She shot a smile at Drake before focusing on the captain again.
“I’m eager to join your crew.” She paused, then added, “Oh, and you’re not getting my house. Turns out I found the figurehead without your help.”
Flynn chuckled, gesturing to Heather as he faced the crew. “You see? She’s already backing out of our bargain. She has no honor for a pirate’s bond.”
Before Drake could jump to her defense, Heather’s eyes narrowed. “Where’s Duke?”
Flynn’s copper brow arched. “Do you know our first mate?”
Heather shrugged. “I thought he’s your bodyguard.”
Flynn crossed his arms, his expression rattled. “How did you…? Never mind.”
Drake watched Heather. He couldn’t recall ever telling her that Flynn had chosen his first mate for his size. Flynn named Duke as first mate to protect himself from mutiny, not for Duke’s sailing skills.
Heather couldn’t have known any of that…unless someone else was helping her.
The corners of Drake’s mouth tugged as he held back a proud grin. She was playing the captain. A literal ghost from Flynn’s past had to be communicating with her.
Flynn dropped his hands to
