by Lisa Kessler
“Aye.” John crossed his arms. “And we delivered our side of the bargain.”
David shook his head. “The thief is standing right beside you. This looks a helluva lot like an inside job. She works for your company, John. Doesn’t take a genius to connect the dots here.”
“Fuck you.” John bolted forward, knocking David off-balance and backward a step. “You know damned well I didn’t know anything about the Digi Robins.”
“Do I?” David lifted the case, shaking his head. “It’s my own fault. I was naive to think I could trust a band of pirates.”
David started to move his arm to dangle the case overboard, but his swing was cut short. He turned to find Captain Flynn clasping the side of the case in one hand, and a gun in the other, aimed at David’s heart.
“Enough.” Flynn arched a copper brow. “You paid us to find your box. We did. No one was more surprised to discover he employed a thief than John.”
David eyed the pistol, weighing his options. A bullet may not kill him, but it would hurt like hell and delay getting Pandora’s box safely locked away. It wasn’t worth it. He shoved the case at the captain and pinned the boatswain with a glare. “If I find out you set this up, we’re through.”
“I didn’t, but do what you like.” John shrugged. “You need us. It’s not the other way around.”
David pointed at the case in Flynn’s hand. “You don’t need that gold? It takes plenty of money to live forever.”
“I’ve helped my crew invest. We have money to last for lifetimes.” John smirked. “Your case of gold is just a perk.”
Enough of this bullshit. David sent the pilot a text to get the hell back over the boat, then crossed to Colton to take possession of the box. Already its sensual whispers teased David’s ears. You can start over. The world doesn’t appreciate you. Build a new vision. We can help. Open the lid.
He pressed his lips together, struggling to focus as he set Pandora’s box inside the container. He engaged the white noise and closed the lid. There was still a low hiss, but the words weren’t audible anymore. Improvement.
The ladder dropped in front of him. He latched the safety harness to the cable and picked up the container. After clipping it to the D ring, he narrowed his eyes at the thief. “I won’t give you a pass next time. You steal from me again, and you and your Digi Robins cohorts will be in federal prison so fast your heads will spin.”
“Go for it.” She crossed her arms. “I’d be happy to tell the world about Department 13 and how you hide weapons we think are make-believe. What if the world discovered they were real?”
David ground his teeth. “Do not threaten me.”
The whispers swelled, reaching him through the container, taunting him, luring him to release the evils. They could help him curse the wicked and protect the innocent.
Sweat broke out on his brow as he struggled to silence the voices, the temptations coming from inside the box, and he climbed up the ladder.
Pandora hadn’t been weak. Evil was strong. And getting stronger every second.
…
As the helicopter pulled up and flew back toward the shore, Drake stopped next to John. “Could you hear the siren calls from inside that cursed relic?”
“Aye.” John nodded and met the carpenter’s eyes. “Bale’s an entitled prick, but he’s also tough as nails to be anywhere near that thing.”
Harmony dropped her hands to her side. “It makes you all kinds of promises, but I tried everything I could think of and I couldn’t get the lid open. Maybe it’s empty or locked with magic or something.”
“I’m glad it’s gone.” John took her hand, grateful she didn’t jerk it free. “Can we talk?”
Drake quickly excused himself to the lower deck to finish work on the replica, leaving them alone. The captain and Colton followed with the briefcase of gold bars.
John bided his time, waiting until she finally lifted her chin, meeting his eyes. “There’s really nothing to say. You betrayed our partnership when you told everyone about my plan to go through with the sale for the Digi Robins.”
Her words were a solid punch to his gut. He hadn’t seen it that way. Her safety had been at the forefront of his mind when he consulted Char. Betrayal hadn’t been remotely in his heart, and besides, his crew would never reveal her secret deal.
But she didn’t know that.
He walked her forward, toward the bow. “I’m sorry. My intention wasn’t to betray you, it was to protect you. My crew is my family, Harmony. They’re never going to tell anyone about this transaction for your band of thieves.”
“Says you.” She gripped the railing, staring into the darkness ahead.
The wind ran its fingers through her black hair, and he memorized the curves of her face. Even dressed in his oversized clothes, Harmony was stunning.
He covered her hand with his and followed her gaze to the horizon. “In hindsight, I should have discussed it with you first, but in my defense, I’ve never served two mistresses before.”
She glanced his way with a raised brow. “Excuse me?”
He chuckled. “My loyalty has always been to my crew. I’ve never offered it to anyone else before.”
Her eyes scanned his face, her tone softening a little. “Betrayal might’ve been an exaggeration, but this is exactly why I don’t rely on other people.” She blew out a frustrated breath, pulling her hair back from her forehead. “Look, I haven’t had much sleep the past couple of days. My fuse is probably a little short, but I wasn’t kidding about tossing you overboard if you ever make a plan behind my back again.”
He tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “For centuries, when I’ve worried about a crew member, I do what needs to be done to keep them safe.”
“Am I crew?” Her full lips quirked into a crooked smile he longed to kiss.
He cocked his head toward the riggings where Greyson and Duke shouted to each other over the wind. “You want to sail with this band of pirates?”
She shrugged and came closer, placing her hand over his heart. “Maybe just with one in particular.”
He bent to kiss her, enjoying the way her lips parted, welcoming his exploration of her delicious mouth. Every touch, every taste, enticed him further away from his emotional mooring, and right now he didn’t give a flying fuck. He wrapped his arms around her, clutching her tight against his body. She fit perfectly. Made for him to hold.
Someone cleared his throat. John broke the kiss, cursing under his breath, and she smiled up at him. He turned to find Drake behind him, not even bothering to show a little remorse.
“Flynn is still below deck, alone with a briefcase full of gold.”
“Shit.” John stepped back, raking his hand through his hair as he looked over at Harmony. “Flynn can’t be trusted to resist the temptation of gold without his boatswain present. I’ll be right back.”
He bumped Drake’s shoulder with a chuckle. “Best wipe that smug look off yer face.”
Drake grinned with a shrug. “I didn’t say a word.”
But he didn’t have to. “I told you so” was written all over Drake’s face.
And he was right. When Harmony sold the replica of the box, John wasn’t going to be able to return to his role as her boss, to fade into the background as she lived her life and married some bastard who would clip her wings.
The thought soured his stomach. John navigated the roll of the ship and disappeared below deck.
Chapter Fourteen
John disappeared below the deck, and Harmony took a slow breath. At least she wasn’t cold anymore. He had that effect on her. The pirate was a damned fine kisser. Lifetimes of practice, she supposed.
She stared up at Drake and cleared her throat. “John told me you helped Colton build this ship. She’s a beauty.”
Drake nodded, staring up at the full sails. “Aye.”
Another pirate approached with a gun on one hip and an honest-to-god sword on the other. He was John’s height, a couple inches sho
rter than Drake, with long brown hair, hazel eyes, and a grin she’d definitely classify as piratical.
She racked her brain for a name. “Greyson?”
“Aye.” He took in her fashionable ensemble of John’s oversized clothes, his grin widening. “Seems you got into our boatswain’s pants, literally.”
She laughed before she could pretend to be offended. “We got caught in the rainstorm earlier, and I didn’t have any spare clothes.”
“Yer about to be in another one.” He winked as the first sprinkle hit her cheek. Greyson gripped Drake’s shoulder. “Colton wants to sail back to port before this bitch of a storm gathers enough steam to make us work to stay afloat.”
“We’re going to tack into this wind?” Harmony asked. Turning a sailing ship was difficult, and into the wind with a skeleton crew and a storm on their heels made it even more dicey.
Greyson’s jaw dropped. “The thief is a sailor?”
“Aye.” Drake chuckled. “She already helped me weigh anchor.”
Harmony’s pulse jumped as she eyed the ratlines. “I’ve never tacked anything this big, but I’m itching to give it a try.”
Greyson laughed with a spark in his eyes. “Come on, I’ll give you a boost up to the lines.” He paused, his smile fading as he looked her up and down. “You sure you’re up to this? John will make my life a living hell if you fall.”
“Please.” She rolled her eyes. “Sailing is in my blood.”
He nodded with a twinkle in his eyes. “No wonder our boatswain’s taking a shine to you, lass. You’ve got spunk.”
She followed Drake and Greyson across the deck, her pulse thrumming with adrenaline. When they reached the mainsail, Greyson stopped, looking down at her. “Last chance. You sure about this?”
“Aye,” she replied in her best pirate impression.
Greyson chuckled and put his hands on her waist. “Ready?”
Harmony nodded, reaching for the ratlines. He boosted her up like she weighed nothing. She gripped the wet ropes and started climbing. Somewhere in the back of her mind, her boating safety courses bemoaned her lack of a life vest or safety harness, but the pull of adventure drowned out the warnings. No risk, no reward.
She hadn’t been lying earlier. Sailing was in her DNA, and instead of fear, joy filled her heart to overflowing. She glanced to her right as Drake made his way up the rungs beside her.
“You all right?” Drake shouted.
She waited for him to catch up to her and grinned. “Race you to the top!”
Pushing her legs to keep climbing, she stayed focused on the top beam of the mainsail. Her hands burned as the ropes cut into her skin. She forgot gloves, too.
And she didn’t care.
When she clasped the top, Greyson whooped from her other side. “I’m impressed. Yer no lubber.”
And coming from a real pirate, that was a damned fine compliment.
She straddled the top beam of the sail and grinned as the rain started in earnest, soaking John’s clothes to her like a second skin. “Let’s tack these sails.”
…
When John rounded the corner to his tiny room below deck, Captain Flynn already had the case opened on the desk.
“Do I need to check yer pockets, Cap’n?”
Flynn chuffed. “Someone needed to be sure Bale wasn’t robbing us. Seems my boatswain was too busy entertaining his next lay.”
John grabbed Flynn’s shirt and shoved him backward. “Why are you such an insufferable prick, Ian?” He searched his captain’s unreadable blue eyes. “Each lifetime is a chance to change, and yet, you never do.”
Flynn clenched his teeth, knocking John’s hands off his chest. “Fuck you.” He glanced toward the stairs. “You’re smarter than this. That thief up there is going to get herself killed, and you’re not dying with her, John. Not even if you wanted to. That wild gleam in her eyes challenges all your plans and schemes. You’re not going to tame her, and if you don’t change course soon, her death will drag you into a hell you never realized existed.”
Every word Flynn spoke rang true, but John was in no mood to hear it. He jerked back and strode behind his desk. He took out his ledger and went to fucking work.
Work might be the only thing that could save him now.
When John finally finished his tally of the gold bars and divisions among the crew as he had for…centuries, Flynn was still leaning against the opposite wall, one foot up, arms crossed, waiting.
“What?” John asked.
Flynn came over to John’s desk. “How do you do it?”
“Do what?” John glanced up from his ledger.
“This.” He gestured to the lines of figures, his fingers swirling over it like it was some ancient foreign language. “You’ve been counting money and taking inventory for more lifetimes than I care to count. Why?”
John frowned with a shrug. “It’s my job.” He glanced at the door. “Keegan still pilots the ship. Caleb still navigates and plots our courses. I keep the books for the crew, being sure every man gets his fair share.”
Flynn shook his head. “Keegan also fronts a rock band for Christ’s sakes, and Caleb teaches at the university.” Flynn paused as if John might find the answer, but he still wasn’t sure of the question. Flynn cursed under his breath. “You still count money and plan investments as you always have.” He pointed to the upper deck. “That woman up there, that thief, is the first time I’ve ever seen you deviate off course in this orderly existence you’ve imprisoned yourself inside.”
John leaned back in his chair, digesting the captain’s words. “She surprises me, and I usually hate that.” He closed the ledger. “But when I’m with her, I forget who I am, who I’ve always been. I feel…alive.”
Flynn almost smiled as he turned for the door. “Enjoy it while you can. Nothing lasts forever but us.”
“Wait.” John frowned.
Flynn looked back over his shoulder.
“Why do you care?” Honest question.
“I may not be captain of this vessel, but the welfare of my crew still rests solidly on my shoulders.” He cleared his throat and started up the stairs, his voice echoing behind him. “Don’t let that thief anywhere near our booty, or I’ll gut you myself.”
There was the pirate captain he knew. John smirked, closing the briefcase. He carried the case to the safe in the corner and locked it inside, but it had nothing to do with Harmony. Like the captain, John was responsible for the fortunes of his crew, and he’d never betray them by losing a million dollars’ worth of gold bars.
He jogged up the stairs and into a gale wind. The raindrops stung his cheeks like tiny projectiles. The stay rope, supporting the main mast, groaned as the sail swung around to catch the wind from a new angle.
He went to the wheel and shouted over the storm at Keegan. “We’re changing course?”
“Aye!” His grip tightened on the wooden pegs around the wheel as he fought for control of the ship against the turbulent ocean. “Colton wants us back at port before the storm gets angrier.” Keegan met John’s eyes with a grin. “Your lady is a pirate at heart.”
John scanned the slick deck. Colton and Duke were tying down the lines after tacking the Sea Dog into the wind, but there was no sign of Harmony. He peered down toward the stern. Light came through the windows of the captain’s quarters.
He turned to Keegan again. “Are the women in Colton’s cabin?”
Keegan chuckled. “Char and Skye are.” He pointed straight up. “But your lass had other plans.”
John looked up, struggling to see through the rain and inky darkness. Her voice carried on the wind. “Boom about!”
Instinctively, John ducked as the boom swooped across the deck, but his gaze never left the woman straddling the beam at the top of the mainsail.
Drake shouted back, “Aye!”
“Come about!” Colton ordered from the deck. “Come about!”
John’s heart palpitated in his chest as the Sea Dog creaked, fighting i
nto the wind and raging waves. He grabbed Keegan’s shoulder. “She’s up in the riggings.”
“Aye.” Keegan nodded. “She beat Drake to the top.”
While part of John was inclined to respect her skills, most of him wanted to race up there and carry her back down to safety. He ground his teeth, barely able to keep his voice steady. “She’s up there with no life vest, and the Grail is locked away in Savannah. What if she falls?”
Keegan sobered. “You know Drake and Greyson would never let her fall.”
“Not on purpose. Fuck.” John raced to the wet ratlines and, in one jump, pulled himself up onto the rungs. His pace was quick but controlled. When he neared the top, he looked up.
“What are you doing up here?” she asked. Harmony’s smile, the gleam in her eyes, swamped him with emotions he wasn’t sure what to do with.
“I’m rescuing you.”
She raised a brow. “Do I look like I need to be rescued?”
“You look like you didn’t have enough sense not to climb up here without a life vest or a safety harness.” He made his way up and sat on the beam of the mainsail beside her, instinctively wrapping a line around his arm just in case.
At least she’d had the sense to do that.
Her eyes narrowed. “Do not tell me you came all the way up here to lecture me on boat safety.”
Drake and Greyson finished tying the sail. Greyson shouted over the wind, “See you two on deck.”
“Every pirate on this crew can fall overboard and won’t drown.” A muscle clenched in his cheek. “Can you say the same?”
“Give me a break, John.” Harmony pushed her wet hair back from her face and met his eyes. “Do you even have any life vests on this ship?”
“Aye. We have to for our insurance for school tours.”
“Fine.” She rolled her eyes. “This was risky, I’ll give you that, but I know what I’m doing.”
He reached over to cup her cheek. “My crew forgets what mortality is all about sometimes. You could have fallen overboard, or just fallen period.”
“And I could have gotten hit crossing the street after we had ice cream earlier today. It’s called living, John. Dying is always an option, we just hope our number doesn’t come up. That risk…that’s what being alive is all about.” She covered his hand with hers, and the onslaught of rain lightened.