by Lisa Kessler
“Plaything? Seriously?” Char raised a brow. “Last time I checked, the United States government asked me to help this crew because you needed me. I’m not here to play, Captain. Far from it.”
The corners of Keegan’s mouth twitched. Damn, she had a wild spirit inside that mild-mannered facade she wore so well.
Flynn clenched his jaw, and Keegan tightened his grip on the wheel, imagining it was his captain’s throat. Keegan glared at Flynn. “Char saved my life. She’s the only reason you have this information about the Grail’s location. We’d be no closer to finding the cup without her help.”
“Her assistance is appreciated.” Flynn clenched his jaw. “That doesn’t make her crew, or welcome on this mission.”
Keegan took two steps in Flynn’s direction before Colton caught his arm. “We don’t have time for this.” The quartermaster looked between the two of them. “This is my ship. I call the shots.”
Keegan jerked free of Colton’s grip and went back to the helm. Char came over, standing beside him.
Colton scanned the crew. “I’m no king, and neither is Flynn. We vote like we always have, but first I’ll remind all of you that my fiancée, Skye, was made a member of this crew, and her psychic abilities have been an asset.” He glanced at Char. “Keegan says the historian saved his life and helped him bring back the information on the Grail’s location. I think that earns her a cut of the bounty.”
Keegan caught Char’s hand. Her fingers laced with his. If the crew knew about her deadly ability, he had no doubt she would have every vote, even Flynn’s, but it wasn’t his place to reveal her secret.
Skye came forward, interrupting Colton. “I should add one thing.”
Colton’s fiancée had the sight, psychic visions of the future, and over the past few weeks, the crew had come to respect her gift. Her violet eyes cast a spell over the unruly group, silencing the murmurs and discussions on the deck.
Once she had everyone’s attention, Skye turned toward Char. “There is more to you. I’ve seen glimpses and sensed the energy bound to you.” She gestured to the others on deck. “These men are about to vote on adding you to the crew. They’re going to decide if what you bring to this family is worth protecting with their lives.”
She lowered her voice, focused completely on Char. “And you have to make a choice to trust this crew with your life…and your secrets.”
…
David sat in his unmarked sedan across the street from the Brotherhood Apartments. Behind his dark glasses, his attention shifted from the high-rise to the office building next door. Once the sun set, he’d make his move to slip inside. For now, he just jotted a few notes about the people coming and going.
Of which 99 percent of them were men. No surprise, really. If the intel from Pokey was correct, and this was the hive for the Serpent Society, then it would stand to reason he might not see any women. The fanatics believed females were weak, daughters of Eve who caused humanity’s banishment from the Garden of Eden. They’d never welcome females into their circle.
But he did notice one woman. She’d passed by twice so far, entering and exiting the apartment building. Maybe someone’s girlfriend? She was petite with a dark complexion, brown eyes, and long black hair tied up in a ponytail. It wasn’t her looks that drew his attention, though—it was a tattoo. He’d caught only a glimpse of it for a second when she adjusted her sweatshirt.
On her shoulder, just above her biceps, he noticed the mark of the Digi Robins. The underground internet group ran an anonymous message board similar to 4chan, but this community saw themselves as digital Robin Hoods. Of course, they didn’t steal gold coins like their namesake.
The Digi Robins trolled the black market dark webs like David’s department did, but instead of recovering objects to protect American citizens, the Robins sold off the items to eager regimes and collectors. Since their inception, the theft ring had collected a bounty estimated at millions of dollars. According to David’s sources, the Digi Robins redistributed all the money to communities the group considered to be marginalized for medical care and treatments.
Although some might see their mission as humanitarian, David recognized them for the opportunists they were. And if this woman with the tattoo of a red-breasted robin on her shoulder was one of them, it was safe to say, the Robins were after the same thing as Department 13.
What more valuable treasure could there be to steal than the Lord’s cup?
Unlike the Serpent Society, the Robins had no religious superstitions. Money was their motivator, and nations were their customers. If they procured the Grail before David and the pirate crew, the reality that a foreign power could wield an immortal army was closer than David wanted to consider.
The shadows lengthened as the sun dipped below the horizon. The woman vanished into the hedges along the office building. David groaned as he got out of his car. Breaking into the building would have to wait. First, he’d have to deal with his unexpected spectator. Maybe her tattoo was simply a rendering of a lost pet and not the mark of a silent thief from a virtual den.
He slipped his hand into his jacket, his fingers caressing the butt of his Glock before patting the inner pocket for the pouch of immortality herbs. Checking for cross traffic, he jogged across the street and into the shadows.
Pressing his back to the wall of the office building, he peered around the corner. Something moved low to the ground. He drew his handgun, quietly pursuing her.
She stopped, and he followed suit, holding his breath. Finally, she looked back, her dark eyes meeting his. Instead of fear, her lips curved into a grin, a wild glint lighting her eyes.
“You’re from the secret antiquities department, aren’t you?” she whispered. “So it is here.”
“Don’t move,” David grunted, keeping his weapon leveled on her. “I’m an agent of the United States government.”
“Save your breath.” Her smile widened. “Your suit gave you away.” Her gaze flicked toward the street.
“Don’t even think about it.”
She glanced his way. “Too late.” She bolted out as a truck rolled by. In one fluid movement, she caught the tailgate and vaulted into the back.
David chased after her, but he couldn’t fire without endangering the driver. “Fuck.”
Behind him, a door opened. He’d worry about the thief later. Right now, he needed to verify he’d found the serpents’ nest.
He rushed back as the door was closing and slipped inside. Crouched in the corner, he reached into his pants pocket. He rubbed his thumb across a black stone, whispering a hushed incantation. His skin tingled with magic, and he rose to his full height. As long as he didn’t touch anything, the invisibility spell would last for about an hour. He had to hurry.
…
Charlotte tightened her grip on Keegan’s hand as she stared at Skye. She barely knew the psychic, but it was clear from her announcement to the crew that Skye sensed there was more to Charlotte than just being a maritime museum historian.
Charlotte glanced up at Keegan. He trusted these men, loved them as family. Maybe not Flynn, but Keegan still respected his place with the crew.
The big question was…could she trust them?
All eyes were on her. Charlotte’s stomach twisted. Sharing personal secrets wasn’t her strong suit. Besides, what if it didn’t help? What if it frightened them?
Maybe it should.
Flynn cocked a red eyebrow. “Am I to believe there is more to you than a healthy ability to research and document history?” He crossed his arms, watching his crew. “Because unless you have more to offer, my vote is nay.”
Keegan shook his head, his voice low and menacing. “Ye’d vote nay on yer own brother, greedy arse.”
“I’m not a privateer for charity.” Flynn chuckled. “None of us is. Every member of the crew brings value to our band or he doesn’t deserve to step onto this deck.” His gaze landed on Charlotte. “Why should I split my share with you?”
Char
lotte’s heart raced. In all her years of researching Captain Flynn, his reputation for a mercurial rage and bloodthirsty wrath was legendary, but his commitment to his crew never wavered. She met Keegan’s eyes and squeezed his hand. Keegan knew her secret, but it was clear he wasn’t going to make this decision for her.
She scanned the crew. These were the men from her research, and while none of them was perfect, this was a crew known for their loyalty to each other as well as an uncommon code of conduct. Flynn tolerated no violence against innocents, rare for a band of privateers. But this crew was still together long after they lost their ship, and centuries after the rest of the world forgot them.
Her breath hitched as she forced the words out. “I’m still learning to control it, but I do have an ability, and if I can master it, I could protect this crew.” Her voice grew in strength as her gaze focused on Captain Flynn. “And after my assistance gets you the Grail, I expect a swallow from that cup, too.”
“This ability sounds magnificent.” Flynn cocked a brow, running his tongue along his teeth. “But I’ll need a demonstration before you get my vote.”
Her hand trembled at her side. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Flynn chuckled. “Of course you don’t.” He sobered, his voice tight. “Because you don’t have anything of value to offer us.”
Keegan dropped her hand and shoved Flynn back. “Fuck you, Ian.”
Colton came between the two men before Flynn could retaliate. “Enough.” Colton glanced over at Charlotte. “I don’t think it’s too much to ask to see a demonstration.”
Keegan shook his head. “You don’t need to prove anything, Char.”
But she did. Not just to them but to herself. “All right.”
Keegan’s eyes widened, but he didn’t say anything.
Charlotte’s pulse raced. She did her best to keep her expression neutral. “Give me ten minutes.”
She caught Keegan’s hand and marched back to the captain’s quarters.
He kept his voice hushed as they hurried down the deck. “You don’t have to go through with this.”
“Yes, I do.” She ducked into the back room and turned to face him. “And if something goes wrong or it looks like I’m going to hurt someone, I need you to wake me up.”
“We don’t even know if that’s how it works.” He ground his teeth, his eyes tracking her every move. “You sure you’re ready for this?”
“Yeah.” She went to the bed. “Enough of being afraid. If whatever is inside me can help us, then I should learn how to control it.”
She lay down and stared up at the ceiling, slowing her breathing. Keegan sat on the edge and leaned over to kiss her forehead. “Knock Flynn on his arse for me, love.”
Unexpected laughter escaped her lips as she looked up into his gorgeous green eyes. “Consider it done.”
Chapter Twenty
David jogged down the halls, oblivious to the security cameras mounted in every corner of the building. While he was protected by the invisibility spell, he didn’t have to worry about being caught. He just needed to be sure not to touch anything and be out before the magic wore off.
Two men chatted in hushed tones in an open conference room. David moved inside, standing a couple of feet away. It didn’t take long to realize Pokey had been right. This was the lair of the Serpent Society. Once he had control of the Grail, he could send a team in to sweep the place, but he would need to move fast. The Serpent Society would vanish under the radar and move again if they realized Department 13 had discovered them.
He followed the men out of the conference room, choosing to pursue the one who kept mentioning their “leader.” When he rounded the corner at the end of a long gray hallway, David found himself staring at a middle-aged, balding man with a thick goatee and round bifocals with thin silver frames.
This wasn’t the same man who killed David’s father. That man would’ve been more than one hundred years old now. But being this close to the heart of the fanatics who stole his father from him, leaving him cowering in the shadows, brought back a hunger for revenge that battled against his lifetime of training as a special agent.
David clenched his fists, struggling to keep still. If he broke the invisibility spell by touching someone, he’d be outnumbered.
He hadn’t come this far to lose.
The man behind the desk closed his laptop. “Did you call others for the meeting tomorrow night?”
“Yes,” the younger guy in the hooded robe answered.
“Good.” The older man leaned forward. “Be sure the package is intercepted and brought back here to the vault.”
The other man frowned. “You told us the temptation was too great.”
“Yes, but I’m afraid it’s a risk we must take.” The older man folded his hands. “If the location of the Grail were discovered before the fire took Brother Kyle and Brother Isaac, then there’s no time to waste. We can’t lose that relic.”
“All right.” The younger guy didn’t look completely convinced. “We don’t know which package contains the cup.”
“You will lead one group to Tubby’s, and Thaddeus will take another to Tybee Island. The boxes are not to be opened until you’re all safely inside these walls.” He narrowed his eyes. “Understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
David’s pulse thrummed. They were going to bring both packages here tomorrow night. He could tip off the pirate crew and have them steal the boxes without the government being implicated in the sticky situation. Nothing could expose a top secret division of the government as fast as a tenacious sheriff’s department investigating a robbery.
Biding his time in the corner, David wished he could force his will onto the younger man. His time was running short. Finally, the man turned to leave the room, and David slipped out behind him as the door swung closed. Getting out of the building was going to be tricky. As soon as he touched the door handle, the spell would be broken, plus he’d have to make it past the security cameras. Unless he got lucky to slip out the door with someone, he was going to have to break the spell and run.
The hallway was deserted. Minutes ticked by. Shit. Across the hall, the door to the men’s room was propped open. He ducked inside. After checking the stalls, he ground his teeth. Empty. He was racking his brain for another idea when a man in a hooded robe came in and went to the sink.
David caught him in a sleeper hold, his reflection suddenly filling the mirror. The robed man struggled, landing an elbow into David’s gut, but David had a good six inches of height over the wriggling robed man. He wasn’t about to let him go.
Gradually, the man went limp in David’s arms. He quickly removed the robe and left the unconscious man propped on the toilet seat. He put on the robe and, taking a deep breath, he lifted the hood over his head. The robe was too short, but no one would be able to identify him by his pants legs, and at least his face would be hidden from the security cameras.
Tipping his head down, he opened the door and stepped into the hall. He didn’t hesitate, walking straight out the door and into the night. Once he was inside his car, he sent a text to Colton.
Tell the crew the Serpent Society will have the Grail in their main building tomorrow night. Keegan knows where it is. Once you have it, I’ll meet you on board the Sea Dog.
He shrugged out of the robe and drove away. With any luck, he might get some sleep tonight.
…
Charlotte stared up at Keegan. “You’ll wake me if anything goes wrong.”
He sat on the edge of Colton’s bed and nodded. “I’ll be right here, love.”
“Good.” She sighed as she closed her eyes. “I hope this works.”
She did her best to clear her thoughts, sinking into a light meditation like she had with her dad. Once her heartbeat slowed, she imagined the bow of the Sea Dog. Nothing happened. Shit. Nerves and doubts blossomed in her mind.
“Who are you protecting?” Keegan whispered in her ear.
She frowned
without opening her eyes. “I’m not protecting anyone.”
He replied, “This has only worked when you needed it. It’s not for show.”
Keegan was right. She slowed her breathing as the realization dawned. This demonstration was to earn her a chance to drink from the cup. He was willing to give up his immortality for her, but if she could take a sip with the rest of the crew, they could have eternity. So in a way…she was defending Keegan from having to face death again.
Her limbs tingled. She opened her eyes to find herself staring down at her body on the bed, Keegan holding her hand. It worked.
Her spirit slipped out through the window, and in the blink of an eye, she was on the forward deck. Flynn was talking to the crew about plans. She moved closer, reaching out to flip his hair.
Nothing. Damn it.
Fear clawed its way out of the shadows. What if she really was dangerous? She could kill a man, but she couldn’t mess with them to let them know she was among them. It didn’t make sense. She should be in control.
The night in the barn, she’d seen the man point a gun at Keegan, and the emotion powered the hay hook across the space to stop him. The realization settled heavily on her shoulders. She had to remember she didn’t have a physical body. Right now, she was pure energy and emotion, nothing more.
She focused on Flynn as he turned to Colton. “I think we’ve waited long enough. I have an appointment with a new investor from Reno in the morning. I can’t afford to sail all night waiting for a magic trick. If you don’t call Keegan back here, I will. We need to make a plan.”
Colton glanced at Skye and then back to the captain. “If Keegan says Char can be an asset to this crew, I believe him.”
“Please.” Flynn chuffed. “Our ship’s pilot has always thought with his pants more than his brain.”
His comment sent a hot flash of rage through Charlotte, sparking her power. The door to the galley opened, and One-Eyed Bob came out with a tray full of hushpuppies. She focused on Flynn, and suddenly a hushpuppy flew off the tray, nailing the captain right between the eyes. All around the group, jaws dropped, and a few snickers escaped the crew.